Turkey still expects int’l support and solidarity one year after coup attempt: EU Minister

ANKARA

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Turkey expects support and solidarity from the international community, particularly from the United States and the European countries, the EU Minister has said, expressing Ankara’s regret over the increasing number of the acceptance of asylum applications of coup plotters in mentioned countries.

“One year after the coup attempt, Turkey achieved a great deal of progress to secure and enhance its democracy. This fight against FETÖ (Fethullahist Terror Organization) is not over and will continue in line with the principles of national and international law. Turkey will never refrain from upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” wrote EU Minister Ömer Çelik in an opinion piece for the Euoberser on July 14.

Recalling that international support in this struggle is essential, Çelik stressed the fact that most of the perpetrators of the coup are now residing in the U.S. and EU member states and are seeking asylum. “We regret to witness an increasing number of the acceptance of asylum applications of FETÖ members. It will be a grave mistake to tolerate FETÖ members in any country,” he stated.

“What we need at the anniversary of the coup attempt is not sympathy for coup plotters and members of terrorist organizations as well as biased and groundless criticism but more cooperation, dialogue and understanding. As a candidate for EU membership and part of all western institutions, we believe that more support for upholding universal values within our struggle will enhance mutual trust and solidarity,” he said.

Çelik underlined that the confessions of numerous FETÖ members who were involved in the coup attempt proved without any doubt, the heinous coup attempt was deliberately planned and carried out by Fethullah Gülen, a self-exiled cleric in the U.S., and his supporters.


Turkey undergoes a transformation

Since the coup attempt, Turkey has undergone a further transformation into a more democratic system in order to restore the damage afflicted by FETÖ members, the minister said.

“Turkey needed shock therapy to overcome this threat. Thousands of clandestine members of FETÖ have been dismissed from state services, mainly from the army, the judiciary and the police force. Inquiries revealed their tactics to capture the state structure and to conceal themselves within. With the cleansing of the members of FETÖ from the state institutions, Turkey has now become even more transparent,” he added. 

Although Turkey revoked emergency rule, it has been careful to uphold the rule of law with the effective redress mechanisms that have been established and has modified strong measures, such as the period of detention and incommunicado detention, Çelik stated.

“Turkey has kept close contact with the international community and followed the recommendations of the Council of Europe. In addition to the modifications on detention, Turkey also established an Inquiry Commission on the Emergency Measures, which was recently accepted as a legal domestic remedy by the European Court of Human Rights. The members of this commission have been designated and it will shortly become active. Applications to the commission will be made in a transparent manner and the decisions of the commission are subject to judicial review. All this demonstrates that Turkey continues its struggle for democracy even under the rule of the state of emergency,” Çelik added.


Turkey disappointed by EP vote

However, the emergency measures received harsh and unjust criticism from some parts of the international community and even the role of FETÖ in the coup attempt was not properly accepted, said Çelik.

“It was disappointing for Turkey to feel the lack of full support of its long-standing western allies after the coup. Indeed, we felt the Turkish nation deserved a better understanding. Nevertheless, we appreciate the belated efforts to condemn the attack and to show solidarity with our people. Even though the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament stood against the coup attempt, they also took steps that could undermine our efforts in the aftermath. Placing Turkey under political monitoring and calling for the suspension of accession negotiations, on the grounds of the measures of the emergency rule and constitutional amendments, is not just a mistake, but also a denial of the core values enshrined by international conventions and ignoring what has happened during the coup attempt,” he said.