Turkey is a key country with regard to managing the massive refugee crisis and with regard to our political efforts to bring the horrendous civil war in Syria to an end.

Germany and Europe are already working closely with Ankara. But we would like to, and indeed must cooperate with Turkey yet more on these questions in a spirit of partnership, not just some time soon, but right now, even though the forthcoming elections naturally mean that the political situation within Turkey is not straightforward.

I am therefore travelling to Ankara to hold talks with political leaders there and to find out what additional support Germany could provide.

Only together can we succeed in finding sensible, humane and truly workable solutions to the major challenges we face today.