By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday distanced itself from a controversial tweet by one of its ministers against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Berlin considers Turkey an important partner and wants to maintain a relation based on trust, a government spokesman said.

Agriculture Minister Julia Klockner posted a controversial tweet on Monday, in which she leveled heavy accusations against Erdogan and criticized German-Turkish footballer Mesut Ozil for meeting him.

Agriculture Ministry’s spokeswoman Friederike Lenz told a press conference on Wednesday that the tweet was Klockner’s “personal opinion”, and declined to make any further comment.

Government’s deputy spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer also distanced herself from Klockner’s controversial comments, and underlined the importance of ties between Germany and Turkey.

“Turkey is a close and important partner for us, and we would like to have good relations with Turkey,” she said.

“We have differences on several issues. We have had difficult and complex periods in our relations. But we also have common interests. Therefore, federal government believes that it is important to maintain a trustworthy relationship,” she added.

Political relations between Ankara and Berlin suffered several setbacks in recent years, but both sides took steps in the recent month towards normalization of ties.

Erdogan is expected to pay an official visit to Germany in autumn.