Turkey calls EP's recent resolution 'null and void'

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed the European Parliament's resolution titled "Current human rights situation in Turkey" and said the resolution adopted on Feb. 8 "is far from understanding the current conditions Turkey faces."

Turkey defined the resolution as "null and void" and said: "As an institution allowing the rags of the terror organization to be hung in its own buildings, it is not surprising that such a resolution has been adopted by the European Parliament.

“This is also the clearest indicator of our country’s and the Turkish people’s rightfulness in no longer being able to take seriously the EP which has long lost its credibility. Therefore, this resolution is null and void for us."

Responding to the EP's criticisms regarding Turkey's state of emergency, the Foreign Ministry said: "Adopting effective measures such as the State of Emergency, which is needed to fully eliminate the threats against the existence of our State and our nation’s right to democratic life, is the duty and an incontestable right of the Republic of Turkey.”

"Measures taken as part of the State of Emergency are conducted within the laws and in conformity with our international obligations. These measures are continuously reviewed; our cooperation based on transparency with international organizations continues on these subjects," it added.

The statement stressed on Turkey's regional challenges in terms of security conditions, and stated the resolution "is nothing but a patchwork of ungrounded claims compiled one after the other from various sources, just for the sake of criticism."

"The resolution is yet another reflection of the twisted perspective that overlooks the fact that the terrorist coup attempt of FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] on 15 July 2016 in our country targeted, above all, our democratic and legitimate Government and our Constitutional system…”

The statement added the terrorist coup plotters violated Turkish citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms -- first and foremost the right to life -- and they attempted to establish an oppressive government.

Regarding Turkey's recently launched Operation Olive Branch against PYD/PKK terrorists in Syria's Afrin, the ministry reasserted that the operation "is fully conducted in line with the international law and based on the right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, as well as the relevant UNSC Resolutions."

"From the outset, Turkey clearly expressed its legitimate security concerns, as well as the target, end-goal and principles of the operation... All necessary precautions are taken to avoid collateral damage and any harm to civilians."

Turkey refuted the EP's criticisms regarding the country's fight against terrorism and asserted that Turkey's "great devotion" in counter-terrorism "demonstrates that some elements within the EP are incapable of comprehending the vital importance of this fight for Europe as well."