Martin Schulz Calls On Turkey to Respect the Rule of Law
19:53 - 20 Ιουλίου 2016
European Parliament President Martin Schulz calls on Erdogan to respect democratic values and the rule or law, threatening to cancel close EU- Turkey cooperation otherwise. Schulz stressed in a video message, that close EU - Turkey ties can be uphold, only if Turkey respects the EU`s binding principles, Cyprus News Agency reports.
Schulz also accused Erdogan of preparing well ahead of today`s actions, listing his enemies and now executing his plan of revenge.
"The European Parliament strongly condemns the military coup and we are happy that it failed, but on the other hand we are very worried about the recent development during the last days and it is not only worrying me up because of the death penalty and the debate about it, but also 13.000 people suspended from their jobs, 6.000 arrested, which shows that obviously the government was well prepared and what we are seeing is a kind of revenge",said the EP president
"This is not the way we think that the results of the coup should be dealt with. Therefore, we hope that the rules of democratic behavior, freedom of media, freedom of press, the guarantee of a fair trial and the protection of individual rights, these are the key elements the European Union is based on - that it is respected now in this for sure very dramatic and difficult time", stressed Schulz.
"Therefore, I call upon the President of the Turkish Republic and the government to respect the fundamental rules and the rule of law for the country. On the other hand, one thing is absolutely clear: nobody, no one has the rights and for sure not some of the army, to put down the democracy and the constitution of the Republic of Turkey, which is and remains to be a key partner of the European Union - that’s an applicant country. And I want therefore to clarify one thing: Turkey can rely on the close cooperation of the European Union as long as the government is respecting also the rules which are binding for the European Union itself and the alliance of the Union", concluded his statement