ANKARA (FNA) – Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala met with his German counterpart, Thomas de Maiziere, to discuss recent claims that Germany has been spying on Turkey for years.

Ala reiterated Turkey’s stance on the issue, saying that spying between allies is not acceptable. He said the two countries are in close contact and continue to negotiate the spying claims. Maiziere said he understands the concerns of the Turkish government on the issue and added that he believes the intelligence agencies of Turkey and Germany will manage to solve the problem, Today’s Zaman reported Friday.

German magazine Der Spiegel reported last weekend that the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) has been spying on Turkey since 2009. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has since said that, in the light of increased threats, Germany’s need for the work of intelligence organizations will continue. She added that she expects everyone to understand this need. It is not clear whether her comment means that Germany will continue its eavesdropping on Turkey or not, given the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the alleged close ties between Turkey and ISIL.