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Turkey says EU exercising democracy selectively

March 14, 2017 at 10:35 am

Turkey’s foreign ministry today slammed the European Union for telling Ankara to refrain from excessive statements, saying it was very grave for the bloc to stand by the Netherlands which has violated human rights and European values.

A row over Turkish campaigning in the Netherlands has escalated into a full-blown crisis between the two NATO allies. Yesterday, Ankara said it would suspend high-level diplomatic relations after Dutch authorities prevented its ministers from speaking at rallies of expatriate Turks. The dispute also raised tensions with the EU which Turkey aspires to join.

Read: Turkey should tell Europe where to stow its arrogance

In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said the European Union was exercising democratic values and basic rights and freedoms selectively and that its comments calling for calm had no value for Ankara.