EU violates principles with Egypt coup reaction, Turkish PM says

ISTANBUL

In this Sept. 30, 2012 file photo, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, right, and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi salute the congress of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party in Ankara. AP Photo

The European Union has once again disregarded its own principles with its “double-standard” view on unfolding events in Egypt, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said July 5.

“Isn’t the West siding with democracy and making efforts to implement democracy in countries? This is a test of sincerity and the West failed the class again. There is no such thing as a ‘democratic coup’,” the prime minister said in Istanbul at the Congress of Turkish Scientists Living Abroad, putting special emphasis on the European Union.

“Especially the European Union disregarded its own values once again by not calling the army’s coup a coup. I want them to read the EU acquis communautaire. Democracy does not accept double standards,” the prime minister said in an apparent reference to member countries’ harsh criticisms of the Turkish government’s crackdown on Gezi Park protesters last month.

The United Nations, the United States, the European Union and world powers did not condemn Morsi’s removal as a military coup. The prime minister also praised the African Union’s step to suspend Egypt’s membership after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi on July 3.

Erdoğan said democracy must be swiftly implemented in Egypt and all political segments must join elections. “Those who exert efforts to cover up coups and remain silent to them, were as responsible as the coup makers,” he said, giving examples in Turkish history.

“Coup makers in Turkish history have succeeded in taking over administration but never reached their ultimate goals. Leaders and supporters of coups in Egypt must remember those realities from Turkish history,” the prime minister said, adding that Morsi shouldn’t pay a price for his mistakes. “Morsi made mistakes; he can make mistakes. Is there anyone who did not make any mistake? It is the people who are paying the price,” the premier said while bashing the army.

“The army’s attitude cannot be defined within democracy. Those who trust the power of weapons cannot build a democracy.”