EU Progress Report 'biased': Turkey's deputy PM

ANKARA

Turkey's deputy prime minister Monday blasted the recent EU Progress Report on Turkey as "biased" and "not friendly."

Numan Kurtulmus, speaking to journalists in the capital Ankara, said that Turkey rejects the report, which was released last week, and includes the country's July 15 defeated coup and the follow-up arrests.

"I would like to point out that the idea behind this report is not really friendly," Kurtulmus said.

"It is a biased report, which could affect [negatively] Turkey's uphill fight against terrorism in diplomatic terms."

The EU’s annual Progress Report has gotten much criticism from Turkish authorities, who say it is not objective.

Kurtulmus also slammed European Parliament President Martin Schulz for signaling that the EU could impose sanctions on Turkey following its anti-terror arrests.

"It is impossible to understand Mr. Schulz’s threatening remarks," he said.

New Constitution

Kurtulmus also said his Justice and Development (AK) Party has been negotiating with the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) over a new constitution to shift Turkey from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.

Senior AK Party officials recently announced they would change the constitution with MHP support, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has repeatedly stated its opposition to changing the system.

Kurtulmus said they also want the CHP to be part of those negotiations.

His call came after CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said Saturday that their "door is always open to exchange views" on the issue – reiterating, however, that his party will not support a presidential system.

Arrests for district governor's murder

Kurtulmus said a total of 62 suspects have been arrested so far over the death of a district governor in a terrorist attack last week.

Muhammet Fatih Safiturk, the governor of Mardin's Derik district, was martyred early Friday after a PKK terrorist attack on his office in the southeastern Mardin province.

Kurtulmus said 10 suspects were released while the rest were still going through an interrogation.

He ensured that the perpetrators of the attack and whoever included will "get the most severe penalty."