Tensions continue to grow between Turkey and Germany, an Armenia turkologyst said on Saturday.

“The relations between these two states aggravated especially in 2016, when the German Bundestag recognized the Armenian Genocide. The tensions in the German-Turkish relations were also triggered by the failed military coup in Turkey, after which many Turkish soldiers fled to Germany and were granted asylum there. These issues angered Turkey, which decided to deny German lawmakers permission to visit their soldiers at the Incirlik air force base,” Yerevan-based turkologist Mushegh Khudaverdyan told the reporters at a news conference on August 5.

According to the expert, the Turkey-EU crisis further deepened, which in its turn hampered the German-Turkish relations, leading to increasing arrests and persecutions against the German media representatives in Turkey.

“Their relations are under severe strain currently, which has grown to a point when the German and Turkish authorities trade insults when making calls,” Mr. Khudaverdyan said.

He noted that the row led Germany to impose both political and military sanctions on Turkey. “Germany banned arms sales to Turkey and blocked the further development of the economic and military projects. The country warned its citizens about travel to Turkey,” the expert added.

According to Mushegh Khudaverdyan, the Netherlands and Austria add fuel to the flames, repeatedly encouraging Germany to continue sanctions targeting Turkey.

In conclusion, the speaker added that Armenia pursues no interests or intentions regarding Turkey-Germany crisis.