Berlin works on a political level to prevent Turkish refugees from coming to Germany, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel stated Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports.

“We know that if there are grounds for receiving asylum, the decision on this is made during an independent legal procedure. We are first working politically on creating a situation in Turkey, which would bring to naught people’s need to seek asylum,” Merkel said.

She also added that “during the recent days we have been receiving alarming news” on the observation of human rights in Turkey, but “this will not stop us in our efforts to continue insisting on that the fundamental rights, for instance, the freedom of press, be better guaranteed than now.”