Hundreds greet Turkish PM Erdoğan in Brussels

BRUSSELS – Anadolu Agency

Erdoğan addressed his supporters who gathered in Stephanie Square. AA Photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Brussels on Jan. 20 for one-day talks in the EU headquarters with hundreds of Turkish citizens greeting him in front of the hotel where he was to stay.

Erdoğan addressed his supporters who gathered in Stephanie Square, urging Western countries to take action against the violence in Syria after a report emerged amid evidence of large-scale killing and torture in the war-torn country.

“Are we going to stay in silence against Syria where 150,000 people were killed?” Erdoğan asked. “We all have to collaborate against this violence. The West now should raise their voices. I believe the Geneva II talks will be a meeting in which necessary steps will be taken.”

Erdoğan also said the citizens should not worry about the corruption operations, as the AKP government was strong enough to overcome slander.

Erdoğan’s visit to Brussels marks his first visit to the EU’s capital since 2009. Erdoğan is set to hold tough talks on the future of Turkey’s accession process, in the face of mounting criticism over the government’s recent steps to curb judicial independence, restrict the use of the Internet, and limit freedom of expression.