Turkey criticizes EU for ‘double standards’

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA

A Turkish minister accused the European Union of having “double standards” in cooperating with his country on fight against terrorism.

The EU does not show same solidarity with Turkey in fight against Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and PKK terrorist groups as it shows against Daesh, Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik told reporters in Sofia after meeting Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva.

Celik mentioned that some of the European leaders are yet to visit Turkey for solidarity against the last year's defeated coup.

“It is a weakness of the EU that it does not declare FETO as a terrorist organization,” he said.

The minister underlined that Turkey’s fight against Daesh, PKK and FETO is not only for its own safety but also for the security of Europe.

“Some of them are realizing it now but some will understand when it is too late,” he added.

Highlighting the importance of the country, Celik said “Turkey is a key country for the EU” in the context of economic development and security issues.

However, he said, the bloc has double standards toward Turkey in its EU membership bid.

“You demand Turkey to make political reforms and then you cut funds for the reforms. This is a double standard and the EU should give up the practice of this double standard,” he said.

The minister also criticized the EU for not providing the funds promised for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The EU has failed to fulfill the promise to pay 3+3 million euros, he said, and noted that it has also cut additional €105 million ($125 million) from Turkey’s EU pre-accession aid.

According to a March 2016 refugee deal between Ankara and the EU, the bloc agreed to provide €3 million ($3.5 million) to Turkey in an initial phase and an addition €3 million later for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Turkey has so far received only €800 million ($943 million), and has complained about the EU’s failure to keep its promises.

Celik underlined that Turkey has spent $25 billion while hosting over 3 million refugees, more than any other country in the world.

Turkey expects that the EU will give more attention to the Balkans region during Bulgaria's presidency of the bloc starting from July 1, 2018, he said.