Turkey has European future despite unrest, says Italy

ROME

Hürriyet Daily News photo by Emrah Gürel

Italy firmly believes in Turkey's European prospects despite the "disproportionate use of force" by police against demonstrators in mass anti-government protests, Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said Tuesday.

"Italy continues to firmly believe in Turkey's European prospects and its essential role in terms of stability and security in the region," Bonino said in a statement.
 
"We are confident that Turkey will overcome this difficult moment, proving itself to be a mature democracy," she added.
 
Bonino said allegations of heavy-handed police action against the demonstrators were "very worrying", adding that "disproportionate use of force on the part of the police cannot be an acceptable answer to protests." "The right to peacefully protest is a pillar of democracy, as is pluralism and tolerance," said Bonino, calling on "all parties to end the violence".
 
Predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular Turkey has been rocked by mass street protests in the worst political crisis in a decade which has left at least two people dead and hundreds wounded.