My message to the European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) overwhelmingly decided to freeze negotiations on Turkey's EU accession. Even though the decision is not "legally binding," the current outcome is more than that. I disagree with EU Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik's statement that the decision is "null and void." On the contrary, this is the decision, and from now on, we must consider and remember this outcome, while we are deciding our own direction, just as the EP preaches a direction to the EU. The representative of the EP, which made a legally nonbinding decision, visited our country merely one month after 241 of our people were killed. The arrogant president of the EP, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," had previously said their addressee was not President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, but then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. He thought it was his right to warn Erdoğan, calling on him to "not to make arbitrary decisions" 12 hours after the coup. They cared for neither our dead nor our survivors.
Kati Piri, the rapporteur for Turkey at the EP, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," embraced every terrorist organization, especially the PKK, in all the reports she prepared, calling for the release of members of terrorist organizations.
The PKK freely held an exhibition in the corridors of the EP, which made "a legally nonbinding decision." Just outside the European Parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," the PKK displayed propaganda for freedom with flags, posters and "guerrilla halays [dances]" for days. The PKK also staged a protest on the streets of the parliament's member states, in addition to its march and even a rally. Moreover, the PKK's leaders were invited to deliver video conferences during those meetings as if they were politicians. However, Erdoğan was prevented from addressing a meeting held by Turks in Cologne via video conference several months ago.
The members of parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," have never been disturbed by PKK propaganda, but they inflicted all kinds of oppression on our citizens who wanted to protest the coup, from menacing to detention. The parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," previously objected to a visa exemption agreement because we had not toned down our anti-terrorism laws. The parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," and its union appreciated the potential of our country to be "‘disciplined" about terror rather than the democratization of the country. Moreover, they are too blind to see that the tower, on which they position themselves like a "colonial governor" to Turkey, is disintegrating. Britain, the strongest country in the union, escaped and saved itself. Germany is grappling with economic recession after the Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank crises. France has been administrated by a state of emergency for a year; however, unlike us, it is deploying soldiers on the streets from Paris to Marseille. The same goes for Brussels as well. The French economy is declining, and Italy has neared the brink of bankruptcy, not to mention Greece and Spain. The anti-EU wave is on the rise. Even the Italian prime minister tried to appeal to the public by removing a EU flag from a press conference. Because of racism and Islamophobia, the will to live together is disappearing with every passing day. European countries, which see just a small part of the refugee crisis because Turkey protects its borders, are overwhelmed by a hatred that makes them ready to start fighting each other.
Despite this, they are continuing to advise us "not to judge terrorists and continue to prevent refugees' right to travel." They preach this to a country where more than 60 percent of the public objects to EU accession. I think, as a Turk, you understand what my message to the European Parliament is.
Kati Piri, the rapporteur for Turkey at the EP, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," embraced every terrorist organization, especially the PKK, in all the reports she prepared, calling for the release of members of terrorist organizations.
The PKK freely held an exhibition in the corridors of the EP, which made "a legally nonbinding decision." Just outside the European Parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," the PKK displayed propaganda for freedom with flags, posters and "guerrilla halays [dances]" for days. The PKK also staged a protest on the streets of the parliament's member states, in addition to its march and even a rally. Moreover, the PKK's leaders were invited to deliver video conferences during those meetings as if they were politicians. However, Erdoğan was prevented from addressing a meeting held by Turks in Cologne via video conference several months ago.
The members of parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," have never been disturbed by PKK propaganda, but they inflicted all kinds of oppression on our citizens who wanted to protest the coup, from menacing to detention. The parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," previously objected to a visa exemption agreement because we had not toned down our anti-terrorism laws. The parliament, which made "a legally nonbinding decision," and its union appreciated the potential of our country to be "‘disciplined" about terror rather than the democratization of the country. Moreover, they are too blind to see that the tower, on which they position themselves like a "colonial governor" to Turkey, is disintegrating. Britain, the strongest country in the union, escaped and saved itself. Germany is grappling with economic recession after the Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank crises. France has been administrated by a state of emergency for a year; however, unlike us, it is deploying soldiers on the streets from Paris to Marseille. The same goes for Brussels as well. The French economy is declining, and Italy has neared the brink of bankruptcy, not to mention Greece and Spain. The anti-EU wave is on the rise. Even the Italian prime minister tried to appeal to the public by removing a EU flag from a press conference. Because of racism and Islamophobia, the will to live together is disappearing with every passing day. European countries, which see just a small part of the refugee crisis because Turkey protects its borders, are overwhelmed by a hatred that makes them ready to start fighting each other.
Despite this, they are continuing to advise us "not to judge terrorists and continue to prevent refugees' right to travel." They preach this to a country where more than 60 percent of the public objects to EU accession. I think, as a Turk, you understand what my message to the European Parliament is.