Turkish Army denies claims of German troops’ mistreatment.

Turkish Army denies claims of German troops’ mistreatment.(HD).(DW).The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has denied claims that German troops sent to operate Patriot batteries near the Syrian border are being treated badly.The TSK said in a statement issued on March 3 that they have not conveyed any complaints or demands to the Turkish side over the claims.

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere admitted he had noted that there were issues to address while on a visit to the site where German soldiers are deployed."Even though I tend to be shown the better side of how things are, I also perceived that there were certain problems," de Maiziere told the German mass circulation daily Bild's Saturday edition.

De Maiziere made the comments after a report by Germany's special commissioner for the armed forces, Hellmut Königshaus, which said that cooperation between the German and Turkish contingents was "perceived mainly as a problem."

The report said that meals were monotonous and that usually there was only cold food. Toilets were described as "filthy," most of them having no flush. The bodies of dead dogs, shot by the Turkish soldiers, had been left to decompose on the site. Soldiers' post was being held back so that it did not reach them for days, or even weeks, the document went on. Soldiers had to change euros in privately owned currency exchange offices, at poor rates.

He said Turkish officials have reprimanded German soldiers for contact with their Turkish counterparts. One German female soldier was allegedly pushed by a Turkish general during a visit by de Maiziere to the base at Kahramanmaras. She later complained of bruising.

De Maiziere made the visit in February with his Dutch counterpart Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaer. Kahramanmaras lies some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Syrian border, with some 300 German troops manning NATO-deployed anti-missile batteries.Germany, the Netherlands and the US are each operating two batteries to help protect Turkey from possible missiles launched in Syria.

The TSK statement denied the poor accommodation conditions, saying that German troops have been staying in four or five-star hotels since they arrived in Kahramanmaraş and are using field toilets and their own mobile toilets while on the ground.In regards to Königshaus’s claims that the ground is covered with mud, the TSK said there has been a major effort to build a new road at the request of the German side.

Denying allegations that there are problems in communication and cooperation between German and Turkish soldiers, the TSK said all services including infirmaries, sports halls, military pubs and other social facilities are being used jointly with Turkish troops.Read the full story here and here.