(VOVworld) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for calm on Monday in response to comments by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend in which he referred to Germany’s cancellation of several German-Turk rallies as "Nazi practices".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: EPA/VNA)

Steffen Seibert, the German chancellor’s spokesman, told reporters that Erdorgan’s comparison was absurd and out of place. He said he looks forward to open talks between Germany and Turkey and underscored the special significance of their close relationship.

Germany has warned of retaliation if Turkey doesn’t apologize for Erdogan’s comments about the banning of political rallies aimed at drumming up support for Erdogan’s constitutional reform referendum among the 1.5 million Turkish citizens in Germany.