Erdogan compares anti-Turkey statements by Germany to 鈥楴azism鈥�

This file photo taken on July 7, 2017 shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) standing next to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrives to attend the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany. (AFP)

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday compared anti-Turkey statements by German politicians to 鈥淣azism鈥� after Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would seek to end talks on Ankara鈥檚 accession to the EU.
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying you鈥檙e a Nazi, a fascist. I am explaining the incident... This incident is Nazism. This is fascism,鈥� Erdogan said, reacting to comments made by Merkel and Martin Schulz, her Social Democratic rival, during a televised debate ahead of elections on Sept. 24.
鈥淵ou have entered into the election campaign in a competition for this title,鈥� he told local ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials in Ankara.
Meanwhile, Germany has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens visiting Turkey about the risk of arbitrary detention even at tourism destinations. The move might affect the flow of German tourists to Turkey, which has already been undermined by terrorist attacks in major cities over recent years, including assaults on German tourists in Istanbul鈥檚 historical sites.
The reason behind Berlin鈥檚 advisory is the detention of two German citizens at Antalya airport last week.
Germany, which once made up the largest group of visitors to Turkey, has posted a 20 percent decline this year compared to 2016.
鈥淚 tell Merkel: If you cannot tolerate the EU鈥檚 relationship with Turkey, bravely say it and do what鈥檚 necessary!鈥� Erdogan said.
He repeated his call for ethnic Turks in Germany not to 鈥済ive your vote to Turkey enemies,鈥� which last month infuriated German politicians.
Erdogan called the EU鈥檚 stance toward Ankara鈥檚 accession bid 鈥渉ypocrisy and political immorality,鈥� and urged Brussels to make a clear decision 鈥渁t once鈥� on the process.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have any problem with the EU. You鈥檝e kept Turkey waiting. Turkey has complied with all its commitments. It鈥檚 the EU that should take a step. They must either keep their word ... or come out and say 鈥榳e don鈥檛 want to continue on this path鈥�.鈥�
Erdogan insisted that Turkey had not moved away from its 鈥渟trategic goal of EU membership鈥� and was fulfilling its duties.