24.02.13: At the start of her two-day visit to Turkey the Chancellor visited the Gazi Barracks in Kahramanmaras, where she was welcomed by the Turkish commanding officer, Colonel Kazaz.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
German Patriot Systems were transported to Kahramanmaras in December 2012. The Chancellor visited the Patriot Systems with the Turkish Defence Minister Yilmaz and Colonel Ellermann.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
The Patriot defence systems are to protect Turkey against any Syrian missile attacks.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Turkish Defence Minister visit a Patriot System.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
German troops are in Turkey as part of a NATO missile defence mission. The aim is to protect Turkish citizens and Turkish territory. Turkey is an ally and a fellow member of NATO.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
About 320 German soldiers are currently stationed in Kahramanmaras. The Chancellor thanked them all.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
At the same time Angela Merkel stressed that a political solution is needed to the conflict in Syria.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
On the second day of her visit the Chancellor visited the Church of St. John the Baptist in Göreme National Park in the region of Cappadocia
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
A Bundeswehr Airbus was waiting to take the Chancellor from Nevesehir Airport to Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
A visit to Anıtkabir Atatürk Memorial was the next point on the Chancellor's itinerary.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
Anıtkabir houses the memorial to Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish state. Angela Merkel laid a wreath at his tomb.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
The Chancellor leaves the Atatürk Mausoleum with an officer of the guard of honour.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
It was the Chancellor's third official visit to Turkey.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
Following her visit to the Atatürk Memorial, the Chancellor met Turkish President Abdullah Gül.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Chancellor Angela Merkel with military honours.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
On the agenda were international issues including Syria, Mali and Iran's nuclear programme, but also the resumption of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
At the press conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chancellor Angela Merkel advocated the continuation of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
The Chancellor then attended a German-Turkish Business Forum in Ankara along with Turkish Economics Minister Safer Caglayan.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
In the evening Angela Merkel met representatives of Turkish religious communities.
