The EU officials, who had commented on the police operation against senior media figures and police officers in 13 provinces across Turkey on Dec. 14, need to get information from Turkey’s EU ministry officials before directing criticism, Bozkır said on Dec. 23 while speaking at a press conference on the “Action Plan for Strengthening the Capacity for EU-related Activities at the Local Level.”
“I do not accept these kinds of statements from individuals and organizations without them knowing the probe operation’s details,” he said.
“Turkey and the EU need each other and the EU needs to determine a new way of thinking when they consider Turkey,” Bozkır added. Turkey will continue with its EU accession process, but does not care if the 28-member bloc refuses to accept Ankara, according to the minister.
- Ankara would “pay no mind” if the EU does not let Turkey be a member of the Union, Bozkır said, adding that Turkey has opened all the EU accession chapters on its side and the country will close all those chapters within two years.
“Opening chapters is not a problem for us; it is the EU’s problem. We will be glad if they open the chapters. We have been maintaining the accession process for eight years because it is beneficial for our people,” the minister said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently slammed international critics who voiced their concerns after journalists were detained after their headquarters were raided by police.
“The EU issued a statement during a holiday. How sensitive they are to what happens in this country. Where have those who make us wait at their doorstep get such sensitivity from? When we complain about the PKK to the EU, they say this is a country of law. Isn’t Turkey one?” said the president on Dec. 20.
[hurriyetdailynews.com]
23/12/14
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Turkey will continue with its EU accession process but does not care if the 28-member bloc refuses to accept Ankara...
ReplyDeleteThis was the view of Turkey’s EU Ministry on Tuesday as Minister Volkan Bozkir criticized recent comments by EU officials regarding a probe against what the Turkish government calls the “parallel state”
A police operation was launched on December 14 against senior media figures and police officers in 13 provinces across Turkey for allegedly being affiliated with what the government describes as the "parallel state," a purported group of bureaucrats embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and the police.
More than 20 suspects were taken into custody in the operation. All the detainees were alleged to be linked with U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen and his so-called Gulen movement. Among the suspects, four people were arrested and sent to prison.
After the operation, some senior EU officials criticized the Turkish government over the detentions and arrests.
Bozkir said that the EU officials who commented need to get information from the Turkey’s EU ministry officials before directing criticism against the government.
“I do not accept these kinds of statements from individuals and organizations without them knowing the probe operation’s details,” he said.
“Turkey and the EU need each other and the EU needs to determine new thinking when they consider Turkey,” he added.
Bozkir also stressed that Turkey had opened all the EU accession chapters on its side and said the country will close all the chapters within two years............................http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/439777--turkey-will-continue-eu-progress-minister
23/12/14
European Union is seeking ways to further strengthen relations with Turkey, the 28-nation bloc said in a statement Tuesday...
ReplyDeleteEuropean Council President Donald Tusk spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday morning, the statement said.
''It was a good opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen relations between the European Union and Turkey, which is a common priority,'' Tusk said.
''I welcomed Turkey's recently adopted EU strategy and expressed my hope that good progress will be made in 2015,'' he added.
Tusk statement comes after Erdogan slammed the EU for its criticism of an ongoing judicial probe against "the parallel state," which has seen the arrests of high-profile media members and police officers in Turkey.................http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/440137--strong-eu-turkey-relations-common-priority-says-tusk
24/12/14
Erdogan tells Europe to stop criticizing press crackdown in Turkey ...
ReplyDeleteTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed European countries on Friday for criticizing deteriorating press freedom in Turkey and said they should instead try to find a solution for what he said was increasing Islamophobia in the continent.
Turkish police earlier this month raided media outlets close to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan accuses of forming a 'parallel state' to undermine his rule and orchestrating a graft scandal targeting his inner circle.
The European Union, which Turkey has been seeking to join for decades, said the media raids ran counter to European values, a criticism already dismissed by Erdogan. On Friday, the President repeated his discontent, with a visibly harsher tone.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Erdogan-tells-Europe-to-stop-criticizing-press-crackdown-in-Turkey-385857
26/12/14