Turkey PM: EU should decide between Turkey and its enemies

The European Union should decide between Turkey and its enemies, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today, adding that Brussels should not expect Ankara to change its anti-terror laws.

Yildirim made the comment in a televised speech to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party in parliament. They coincided with an official visit by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“It cannot be expected for us to stop our fight against terror or take a step back.” Yildirim said. “EU ambassadors cannot decide how the law will work in Turkey.”

The EU published a highly critical report last week that made clear Turkey’s prospects of joining the 28-nation bloc have become more distant. “The latest report published by the EU has both saddened and disturbed us,” Yildirim said.

Relations between Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, and Brussels have been strained following an attempted coup in July. European leaders are worried that Ankara is using the failed putsch as a pretext to clamp down on dissent. Turkey, meanwhile, has been angered by what it sees as a lack of solidarity following the coup.