Erdogan, Merkel to meet amid tensions, protests. Die Welt reporter Yucel, who spent over a year behind Turkish bars, slammed Berlin for "inviting a criminal to a banquet". "The German government is betraying all those in Turkey who long for a free, democratic and secular society." Pope calls on Chinese Catholics to reconcile after bishop deal

Erdogan, Merkel to meet amid tensions, protests

AFP/File / John MACDOUGALL German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a series of sharp exchanges between the two countries

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a state visit to Germany this week as the two countries seek to rebuild ties after a series of sharp spats but the controversial trip is likely to be overshadowed by protests.
It will be Erdogan's first official visit to Germany since becoming president in 2014, and follows a prolonged bout of tensions sparked by Berlin's criticism of his crackdown on opponents in the wake of a failed 2016 coup.

"The main goal of this visit is to completely leave behind this period (of tensions)," Erdogan told Turkish media.
The Turkish leader, seen as an increasingly authoritarian ruler by detractors, will land in Berlin Thursday and hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel over the following two days.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will welcome him with military honours and a state dinner at Bellevue Palace on Friday -- which several opposition politicians have vowed to boycott. Merkel too will be notably absent.
On Saturday, Erdogan will travel to Cologne to open one of Europe's largest mosques, commissioned by the Turkish-controlled Ditib organisation.
Commentators have been quick to point out that Erdogan's push for a fresh start comes as the Turkish economy is struggling and relations with the United States have worsened.
- Euro 2024 rivals -
Thousands of Erdogan critics have vowed to take to the streets across Germany to protest everything from Turkey's record on human rights and press freedom to its offensive against Kurdish militia in Syria.
Some 10,000 people are expected to rally under the motto "Erdogan Not Welcome" in Berlin on Friday alone.
With no shortage of political and economic issues hanging over the visit, the shadow of football also looms large.
Turkey and Germany are locked in a bitter race to host the Euro 2024 tournament, with the winner to be announced the day Erdogan arrives.
Germany's bid has been clouded by Turkish-origin player Mesut Ozil's resignation from the national team over perceived racism -- a move praised by Erdogan.
"Ozil's comment that he is 'German when I win, an immigrant when I lose' perfectly captures the discrimination in Germany," Erdogan told the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper group.
- 'Too soon' -
Relations between the two NATO countries plummeted after Turkish authorities arrested tens of thousands of people in a mass purge over the attempted putsch against Erdogan, including some who were also German nationals.
But a gradual rapprochement began after German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel was freed earlier this year, while journalist Mesale Tolu was allowed to return to Germany last month. Both still face terror-related charges in Turkey.
Merkel, whose country is home to a three-million-strong Turkish community, has repeatedly stressed the importance of good relations with Ankara, a partner she relies on to help stem the flow of migrants arriving on European shores.
But Germany's best-selling Bild daily said it was too soon to roll out the red carpet for Erdogan, who just 18 months ago accused Berlin of "Nazi practices" for blocking rallies supporting him ahead of a referendum that gave him sweeping new powers.
"This is too much pomp and ceremony for Erdogan. We're not there yet," it said in an editorial.
- Big rail project? -
Erdogan said he would use the visit to press Germany for "more efficiency" in the fight against "terrorist groups" like the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the movement of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the coup.
Other topics on the agenda will likely be Turkey's stalled EU membership bid and its role in the conflict in Syria.
To help smooth over the diplomatic reset, Erdogan could dangle the promise of a major project to modernise Turkey's rail infrastructure.
Der Spiegel weekly reported that German giant Siemens was in talks to lead the potential 35-billion-euro deal ($40 billion), but it was unclear whether Berlin would help finance it.
In a sign of the contentious nature of his visit, Erdogan is not scheduled to make any big public speeches in Germany.
Die Welt reporter Yucel, who spent over a year behind Turkish bars, slammed Berlin for "inviting a criminal to a banquet".
"The German government is betraying all those in Turkey who long for a free, democratic and secular society."

Pope calls on Chinese Catholics to reconcile after bishop deal

AFP / Tiziana FABI Pope Francis has sought to improve relations with China since he took office in 2013, but previous attempts foundered over Beijing's insistence that the Vatican give up recognition of Taiwan

Pope Francis called Wednesday for all Chinese Catholics to reconcile, while admitting that a historic deal with Beijing on nominating bishops may have caused "confusion".
"I now invite all Chinese Catholics to work towards reconciliation," the pope wrote in a message to Roman Catholics in the world's most populous country.

Saturday's deal has paved the way for rapprochement between the Vatican and the Communist country, despite the fears of some in the persecuted underground Church.
"Some feel doubt and perplexity, while others sense themselves somehow abandoned by the Holy See," the pope wrote.
"I am aware that this flurry of thoughts and opinions may have caused a certain confusion and prompted different reactions in the hearts of many."
Shortly after the deal, Francis recognised seven clergy appointed by Beijing, which has not had ties with the Vatican since 1951.
On Wednesday he called on the bishops to publicly reunite with the Vatican.
"Regrettably, as we know, the recent history of the Catholic Church in China has been marked by deep and painful tensions, hurts and divisions, centred especially on the figure of the bishop," he wrote.
"I ask them to express with concrete and visible gestures their restored unity with the Apostolic See."
- 'Wounds of the past' -

AFP/File / GREG BAKER A poster of the pope in a church in China, where some there has been a recent clampdown on Catholic material

There are an estimated 12 million Catholics in China, divided between a government-run association whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party and the unofficial church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.
Pope Francis has sought to improve relations with China since he took office in 2013, but previous attempts foundered over Beijing's insistence that the Vatican give up recognition of Taiwan and promise not to interfere in domestic religious issues.

The Holy See is one of only 17 countries that recognise Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, instead of having diplomatic ties with Beijing.
"I hope that a new phase can be opened in China, which helps to heal the wounds of the past," the pope wrote.
The agreement's aim is "to reestablish and preserve the full and visible unity of the Catholic community in China."
The deal was signed as churches have been destroyed in some Chinese regions in recent months, and there has been a clampdown on Bible sales.
Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed.
The Vatican cut ties with Beijing two years after the founding of the communist People's Republic.
- 'Vatican ready to abandon Taiwan' -

AFP / Anthony WALLACE Cardinal Joseph Zen, former Bishop of Hong Kong, has consistently spoken out against any agreement between the Catholic Church and China

Some have warned that China could use the accord to further crack down on Catholic faithful, and Hong Kong's firebrand Cardinal Joseph Zen warned on Wednesday that the Vatican would abandon official ties with Taiwan.
Zen, the former Bishop of Hong Kong, is well-known for his vocal opposition to political suppression and his support for democratic reform.

"The Holy See, the Vatican, is ready to abandon Taiwan," he told reporters in Hong Kong.
Taiwan officials say the Vatican has assured them the agreement will not affect diplomatic ties as Beijing makes a concerted effort to poach their dwindling allies.
Zen added the deal had also caused "spiritual suffering" in China's underground church.
"They fear that the Holy See is betraying the faith and that they want them to join this betrayal," he said.
The Chinese Communist Party is officially atheist and religious groups are tightly controlled by the state.
Asked for more information about the agreement on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said it had "no future details" beyond what was set out in a statement on Saturday.
"China is sincere about wanting to improve our relations with the Vatican and we have taken steps to achieve this," the ministry's spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.
"We will continue to maintain friendly dialogue with the Vatican to boost mutual understanding, lower mistrust and continue to move forward the improvement of our relations."
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