The Turkish opposition politician Mithat Sancar praised Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) for her clear words at the meeting with her counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul.

"Direct statements and confrontation are sometimes unavoidable, not just necessary," said the co-chair of the pro-Kurdish party HDP on Saturday after talks with Baerbock in Ankara.

Cavusoglu always speaks a very clear language at such meetings.

This is now the first time that his German counterpart has behaved so clearly.

"That was fine."

The joint press conference with Cavusoglu on Friday had become an open confrontation about the expected Turkish offensive in northern Syria, the imprisonment of opposition leader Osman Kavala in Turkey and, above all, about the island dispute between Greece and Turkey.

Baerbock met several opposition politicians in Ankara on Saturday.

"Breach of international law must not remain without consequences"

Sancar called for consequences from the international community in the event of a Turkish military offensive in northern Syria.

"Breach of international law must not remain without consequences," he emphasized.

It is “very dangerous to play with the war plans.

That could have “fatal consequences” and make terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (IS) strong again.

"If that were to happen, the governments would have to seriously discuss and decide on measures," Sancar demanded.

What measures he means, he did not say.

Sancar expressed skepticism about Turkish mediation between Ukraine and Russia.

The Turkish government is "in the Ukraine-Russia case peace dove, here in the region hawk, war hawk," he said.

When asked about a ban on his party because of separatism, Sancar said he expected a ban before the parliamentary and presidential elections in June 2023 because he did not believe in a fair process.

“In this regime one cannot speak of an independent judiciary.

The decision will not be made in the courtroom, but in the presidential palace,” he said.

The government accuses the party of being an extension of the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe and the United States.

The HDP rejects this.