TODAY.AZ / World news

Ankara criticizes PACE decision for being 'politically motivated'

26 April 2017 [16:11] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Kamila Aliyeva

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)'s decision to reopen a political monitoring process against Turkey following the April 16 referendum on constitutional reform has drawn criticism from many politicians, who called it 'politically motivated' and 'unjust.'

This may potentially lead to deterioration of ties between Ankara and Brussels.

The PACE voted in favor of restarting its monitoring of Turkey's respect for fundamental freedoms, which concluded in 2004, with 113 of the assembly's lawmakers voting in favor, 45 against and 12 abstained.

The report called on Ankara to lift its state of emergency and release those arrested in the wake of the failed coup in July 2016 under its anti-terrorism laws.

Ankara immediately reacted to the decision, announcing that "such a decision leaves no choice to Turkey but to reconsider its relations with this institution."

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus described PACE's decision as politicized and not corresponding to reality.

"Unfortunately, this decision is the result of a phased, racist, fascist, anti-Turkic, anti-Islamic, anti-Turkish campaign," Kurtulmus said.

Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli also criticized the decision and said it is null and void for Turkey.

"The decision taken by political motivations is baseless and is null and void" Bahçeli said, adding that he strongly condemns the "unacceptable" decision.

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik named PACE’s decision a historical mistake for both the Council of Europe and the PACE

"Turkey withdrew from monitoring in 2004 and has implemented a number of important reforms since then, after which this decision is erroneous and extremely unfair," Celik said in an interview with Anadolu news agency.

The Minister noted that he was extremely surprised by such a verdict since it was adopted at a meeting in which only half of the PACE MPs participated.

"The decision taken with respect to such a large state as Turkey, and with such number of participants, is extremely erroneous," he stressed.

Head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov, who participated in the meeting, said this decision serves interests of the forces seeking the deepening of the crisis within the assembly.

He said Turkey is now facing a tough challenge, adding that “we must support the country at this point”. Seyidov said that a positive approach and support is what is much needed with respect to Turkey now, rather that its isolation or the return to the monitoring process.

He described the decision to restart the monitoring process as “inadequate response to Turkey’s readiness for cooperation”. “On the contrary, it is a punitive measure,” Seyidov added.

The Council of Europe applies its monitoring scheme to all countries when they join, but this was the first time it has been reopened against any member of the body, infuriating the Ankara government.

Back in 2004, the EU informed Ankara that Turkey would have to exit the monitoring process, which has been in place since 1996, in order for it to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, the standard of rules that decide if a country is eligible to join the EU.

Later, the monitoring process was lifted and in December the EU agreed to start full membership negotiations but talks which began in October 2005 made only little progress since then.

The EU lawmakers will debate relations with Turkey on April 26 and the bloc's foreign ministers will discuss the situation on April 28.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/160569.html

Print version

Views: 1698

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: