Ankara is moving a little further away from the European Union (EU). “Turkey no longer expects anything from the European Union which has made us wait at its door for forty years”said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, October 1.
“We have kept all the promises we made to the European Union, but they have kept almost none of theirs”denounced the head of state before the inaugural session of Parliament, adding that he “will not tolerate new requirements or conditions to the membership process” of Turkey.
“If they do not reverse certain injustices such as the imposition of visas, which they use as a latent sanction, if they do not correct their errors […]they will completely lose the right to express political, social, economic or military expectations from us., he warned. And to add: “If the European Union intends to end the accession process which only exists on paper, that will be their decision. »
Pinned by the European Court of Human Rights
The president’s anger also stems from the latest judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which singled out Turkey this week: it accuses him of having condemned a man for belonging to an armed terrorist organization by based on his simple use of the encrypted messaging application Bylock.
Bylock is considered by Ankara to be the preferred communications tool for those allegedly responsible for the failed 2016 putsch, which left 250 dead and was followed by mass arrests and purges unprecedented in Turkey’s modern history.
The Turkish government attributed the coup attempt to the FETO organization, the acronym used by Ankara to designate the“Fethullah Supporters Terrorist Organization” Gülen, whose ally he was once, accused of being the preacher of the putsch.
“The decision of the ECHR is the last straw that broke the camel’s back, added Mr. Erdogan. Members of the terrorist organization and their supporters who are encouraged by this decision should not hope in vain. This decision will bring no relief to the scoundrel members of the FETO. » “Turkey will not turn back in its fight against this gang of traitors. It will not allow any return to the past”he insisted.