OSCE expresses solidarity with Turkey after coup bid

ANKARA

AP photo

Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) President Christine Muttonen, who arrived in Turkey on Aug. 16 for a two-day visit discussing the July 15 coup attempt and its aftermath, has voiced the solidarity of the OSCE PA with Turkey and its people.

“Last month’s attempted coup was possibly the clearest attack on democracy we have seen in the OSCE in modern times. Having now seen the rubble left by bombs dropped on the Turkish parliament and having heard how people personally experienced this trauma, I want to reiterate our absolute condemnation of this attack,” said Muttonen in meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other officials.

“Leaders here rightly describe the events of July 15 and 16 as a victory of the people, citing the thousands who took to the streets to stand in front of tanks to stop the overthrow of Turkey’s constitutional government. Our solidarity remains with them and with the elected leaders who have demonstrated a strong will to safeguard democratic institutions,” added Muttonen, in her first official visit since being elected president. 

The delegation was visiting Ankara exactly one month after the July 15 coup attempt. In addition to Muttonen, the delegation included OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-Presidents Isabel Santos (Portugal) and Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan), and the chair of the Assembly’s human rights committee, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (Spain), as well as Secretary General Roberto Montella and Ambassador Paul Bekkers, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General. 

The OSCE PA delegation also voiced its appreciation for the unity shown by all parties in parliament following the attacks on July 15, and strongly encouraged all democratic political forces to remain united and actively engaged. Continued engagement and robust oversight by parliament can contribute to transparency and enhance public trust as the country deals with the aftermath of the attempted coup, said the delegation.

In response to concerns raised by the OSCE PA, the Turkish authorities stressed their intention to hold those responsible for the coup attempt accountable in accordance with the rule of law, assuring of their firm resolve to fully respect all of Turkey’s international commitments, the delegation added.

The delegation was provided with information on actions taken by state authorities, including suspensions, dismissals and detentions, following the coup attempt. It also said it had taken note of concerns raised, including by opposition parties, regarding alleged over-reach by authorities.

The OSCE parliamentarians reiterated the readiness of the OSCE to support Turkey as it addresses the challenges related to the attempted coup, reminding officials of the various tools that the OSCE and its executive structures are ready to offer.

They also took particular note of the authorities’ expressed hopes that the ongoing current state of emergency, imposed for an initial three months, may be ended earlier.