28% of Turkeys population believes EU membership is a good thing for Turkey. Down 10% from just six months ago according to Eurobarometer.
Federica Mogherini-European Commission High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, recently lashed out at the Turkish criminal justice system.
Using the undefinable and worn out trite phrase- against “European values”, leaving many to wonder if “European values” are merely instructions from Washington on what is politically acceptable.
What the high muckety mucks are hysterical about isnt the 4,600 civilian deaths in Ukraine. Apparently the daily onslaught of civilian casualties there is acceptable to their “values”.
Federica and Johannes are extremely concerned about a Turkish criminal investigation.
In Turkey there was a police operation launched recently against certain media personalities and police officers in 13 provinces.
Seen as subversive and embedded elements within Turkey which have conspired to manipulate and impede justice this “parallel state” has allegedly committed grave crimes including murder with police protection.
Viewed by casual observers the Gulen movement is merely a quasi religious group who’s cult like followers are governed by Gulen. (currently residing in the US and believed to be close to or controlled by a US intelligence agency.)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has responded to critics from the EU at the General Assembly of Foreign Economic Relations Board or DEIK in Istanbul, on Saturday, 20 December 2014. Some highlights from his speech are questions and remarks concerning an apparent European double standard applied to Turkey and his Administration. Recently as a part of an ongoing probe into corruption, journalists were among those detained which the EU has denounced as being against “European values”.
HIGHLIGHTS
The President said: “Turkey is not a country whose agenda is determined by others………….. It is a not a country which gained its international dignity through headlines or fake reports.”
“They say the detained people are journalists. Do journalists not commit crimes?” Erdogan said.
“EU delivered a statement on its non-business day. How sensitive they are over this country!” (A remark referring to Saturday when EU Commission offices are closed for the weekend.)“Like it or not, you will respect the decisions of Turkish judiciary and the rule of law.” Erdogan said speaking as though to European and world leaders as well as others who have been seen as meddling in Turkey’s internal affairs.
“They kept silent over the biggest torture claims of the history. We watched the events in Guantanamo……. If all of these happened in Turkey, would they keep silent like that?”
“Israel killed 16 journalists this year. Why did you keep silent?…… In Egypt, dozens of journalists including Turkish ones were taken into custody. Why did not you say anything?”
“While 50 journalists are questioned in related to UK’s phone hacking scandal, why did not you say the press are silenced?”
Reminding an arson attack on a house of Turkish citizens in Sindelfingen, Germany last year, Erdogan said: “There are still no perpetrators. Can you answer for this? Then, which justice are you talking about?”
A development concerning this ongoing situation is an arrest warrant being issued for Gulen.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/159834
Turkish Prosecutors Request Arrest Warrant for Erdogan Foe Gulen
Turkish prosecutors on Friday requested an Istanbul court to issue an arrest warrant for the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who has emerged as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s number one foe.
The request by prosecutors said Gulen, who has lived in exile since 1999, led a “criminal” group acting against the “rules and laws in media, economy and bureaucracy,” the state Anatolia news agency reported.
State television TRT reported earlier that the court had already delivered an arrest warrant for Gulen but later withdrew its report.
According to a copy of the request published in Turkish media, Gulen is charged with setting up and directing an “armed terrorist organization” as well as using intimidation to deprive a person of their freedom.
The court will now have to give its approval for the arrest warrant to be issued.
Erdogan accuses Gulen of running a “parallel state” and being behind sensational corruption allegations against his inner circle that broke on December 17 last year.
But the United States has so far paid little attention to repeated requests from Turkey for Gulen’s extradition from his secluded compound in the state of Pennsylvania.
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