European leaders no-shows since coup bid: Pres. aide

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin decried Thursday European heads of state’s failure to visit Turkey to express their solidarity following the foiled July 15 coup.

"Not a single European head of state has visited Turkey since the failed putsch to express solidarity," Kalin, a top aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said in guest op-ed for Politico.com headlined, “Turkey: Brussels, you’ve got a problem.”

"The EU portrays itself as a guardian of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, but its weak response to the most serious attack against democracy in any candidate country was disappointing," Kalin added.

Kalin said former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt was the "sole exception" who urged Europe to stand up for Turkish democracy.

He also criticized Brussels for missing out on Turkey’s "newfound spirit of solidarity." Kalin said the coup attempt marked a "turning point" not only for Turkish people but also for relations between Turkey and Brussels.

"Some of the first statements from EU leaders were ambiguous, leading to anger and even conspiracy theories," he added.

Kalin charged: "Instead of unequivocally condemning the coup and supporting the elected government’s efforts to bring the putschists to justice, Europe chose to attack Turkey’s leaders for holding the would-be junta accountable for their crimes.

"The EU’s reputation as an advocate of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is on the line. By giving Turkey the cold shoulder, Brussels not only alienates a major ally; it also betrays its values and principles."

He added that Brussels should show "greater sympathy" to the Turkish people, who defended democracy and freedom during the coup attempt.

Kalin called on European heads of states to cooperate and communicate "more closely" with Turkish officials before making public statements.

"And they must do their homework and recognize the destruction the Gulenists have caused," Kalin added.

He stressed that army officers have confessed and admitted that they are members of the Gulenist cult.

"It is neither realistic nor ethical to expect Turkey to carry on this fight on its own. The country’s European and American allies should come to its aid. EU membership remains a strategic goal for Turkey, but it takes two to tango," Kalin added.

Ankara accuses Fetullah Gulen, the leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), of masterminding the failed coup, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.