Ankara voices concerns after Merkel's Customs Union remarks

Ankara has voiced its concerns over German Chancellor Angela Merkel's remarks suggesting that Berlin would not pursue an update of the Customs Union with Ankara, criticizing her comments for compromising "the benefits of the agreement for EU countries."

"It is not right for an EU-member country to behave like it is instructing EU institutions," Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalın told reporters on Aug. 17. 

"The Customs Union agreement is built on a win-win principle. We are talking about a relationship that is based on the mutual benefit of both Turkey and European countries. When it is precluded, postponed or cancelled, then all European countries will be harmed, not just Turkey," Kalın said. 

His comments came after Merkel touched on Turkey-Germany relations on a live interview on YouTube on Aug. 16.  

"We are not opening new chapters in Turkey's [EU] accession bid and we have lowered membership preparation aid to a minimum. Also, for the time being, the Customs Union deal with Turkey will not be changed or updated," Merkel said. 

Turkey's EU Minister Ömer Çelik also criticized the German chancellor for "instructing EU institutions," describing her comments as "unfortunate."

Çelik warned against allowing a bilateral dispute between Germany and Turkey to become a wider problem for Ankara and Brussels.  

"The EU Commission should not allow a problem between Turkey and Germany influence the EU. The EU resolutions are determined by principles," he said, speaking at a joint news conference with British Minister of State Alan Duncan.  

"Updating the Customs Union is not a one-sided request of Turkey. This is a matter of increasing free trade. We are not in a hurry to upgrade the Customs Union,"...