Ulrike Demmer, deputy spokesperson of the German government, explained the following at the government press conference on 3 March 2017 in Berlin:

• Regarding the ban on appearances by members of the Turkish government in Turkey
  

"Germany is a federal state. The German government has noted the decisions taken by the local authorities responsible in Gaggenau and in Cologne. It is not the duty of the German federal government to comment on decisions taken by these responsible authorities. Naturally we respect the decisions made at that level."

"The German government respects the decisions made by local authorities".

• Regarding freedom of the press and freedom of opinion
  "The German government bemoans the fact that freedom of opinion and freedom of the press is currently being restricted in Turkey in the conviction that this is the case. That is unacceptable. Obviously, when we deplore this development in Turkey, we must ensure that here in our country the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion, as well as freedom of assembly are upheld, naturally always within the framework laid out by our laws."