‘Turks safe in Germany’ following Ankara warning

German, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday said Turks are welcome to Germany, dismissing a warning from Ankara that its citizens should be careful when traveling there due to what it said was an increase in anti-Turkish sentiment following the bubbling tensions between the two countries in recent months.

I want to say very clearly that all Turkish citizens can travel here, Merkel said in the northwestern German town of Delbrueck during a campaign event ahead of a Sept. 24 election.

Markel's words came following Turkey’s warning on Saturday that came after Germany’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Germans traveling to Turkey risked arbitrary detention even in tourist areas.

No journalists get arrested here and no journalists get put in custody. Freedom of opinion and the rule of law prevail here and we’re proud of that, Merkel said.

Merkel, who is expected to win a fourth term in the upcoming election, infuriated the Turkish government last weekend when she said she would seek an end to Turkey’s membership talks with the European Union.