Council of Europe chief backs Turkey ‘clean-up’ after coup

Series Title
Series Details 03.08.16
Publication Date 03/08/2016
Content Type

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland visted Ankara on the 3-4 August 2016 for two days of meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Ismail Kahraman, and leaders of the opposition parties.

Speaking alongside Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu following abmeeting, the Secretary General said:

'There has been too little understanding in Europe about the challenges facing democracy and state institutions in Turkey after the outrageous coup attempt of 15 July.

'I fully understand that Turkey needs to investigate and prosecute those people who were behind the coup attempt, but this must be done in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the court in Strasbourg.

'Turkey is very important to Europe, and Europe is very important to Turkey. We should do all we can to help Turkey deal with this very difficult situation in the best way possible'.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had on the 2 August 2016 criticised Western allies for what he said was a lack of clear support for the government in the wake of the failed coup. He accused the West of siding with terrorism and complained that no European leaders had visited Turkey to express support after the coup.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/council-of-europe-chief-backs-turkey-clean-up-after-coup/
Related Links
Council of Europe: News, 03.08.16: Secretary General Jagland in Ankara http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-jagland-in-ankara
Council of Europe: Turkey http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/turkey
ESO: Background information: Erdogan starts dispute over migrant deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/erdogan-starts-dispute-over-migrant-deal/
ESO: Background information: Turkey’s Erdogan declares state of emergency after coup bid http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-erdogan-declares-state-of-emergency-after-coup-bid/
Hürriyet Daily News, 03.08.16: Council of Europe chief says Europe understood Turkey ‘too little’ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/council-of-europe-chief-says-europe-understood-turkey-too-little.aspx?pageID=517&nID=102449&NewsCatID=351
EUObserver, 03.08.16: West backs terrorists and plotters, says Erdogan https://euobserver.com/foreign/134566
Hürriyet Daily News, 05.08.16: Euro Council offers guidance to avoid future complaints http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/euro-council-offers-guidance-to-avoid-future-complaints-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102484&NewsCatID=351
EU: EEAS: Press Release, 04.08.16: High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini speaks to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Jagland following his visit to Turkey http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160804_01_en.htm

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