Turkey asks EU for 'unprejudiced' political approach

Turkey asks EU for unprejudiced political approach
Date: 1.6.2017 11:20

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has highlighted the need for EU to approach Turkey "without political prejudices".

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 Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has highlighted the need for EU to approach Turkey "without political prejudices".
 
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, Cavusoglu said only a "few countries" oppose Turkey's membership in the EU.
 
"Austria wanted to halt Turkey's accession bid. They were left alone. The other 27 members opposed this," Cavusoglu said.
 
Relations between Turkey -- a NATO member since 1952 -- and Austria have soured after Vienna voiced criticism against Ankara and its EU accession process.
 
"We want the European Union to approach us without its inner political prejudices," the foreign minister said, adding: "When they do that, they will see Turkey in a better way."
 
Turkey has so far met most requirements for visa liberalization, but the EU’s demands for change in Ankara’s anti-terrorism laws led to a deadlock in negotiations.
 
Turkish authorities previously said the refugee deal could collapse if the EU fails to provide Turkey with the promised visa liberalization by the end of this year.
 
Cavusoglu also highlighted Slovenia's "close cooperation" with Turkey in the country's EU accession bid.
 
Weapons for YPG criticized
 
About the U.S. sending weapons to PKK/PYD in Syria, Cavusoglu said the weapons could be used not only against Turkey, but "all humanity".
 
The U.S. on Tuesday confirmed it has begun transferring small arms, ammunition and vehicles to PKK/PYD.
 
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway acknowledged the shipments to "Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)", but did not detail what kinds of arms or vehicles had been sent to the group.
 
The SDF is a multi-ethnic coalition of forces that the U.S. has partnered with to carry out the ground war against Daesh in northern Syria, vexing Ankara due to the PKK/PYD's prominent role.
 
The Turkish government considers the PYD and its armed wing YPG to be the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization in Turkey and the U.S.
 
But the U.S. does not view the PKK/PYD similarly, instead relying on the group extensively in the battle against Daesh in northern Syria.
 
The U.S. decision to directly arm the group, announced just one week before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Washington, strained relations with Ankara.
 
The Pentagon had said earlier the U.S. is "keenly aware" of Turkey's security concerns.

YEREL HABERLER

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