Main opposition urges Merkel not to block Turkey’s EU path

ISTANBUL

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has written a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging her not to block Turkey’s EU accession talks. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has written a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging her not to block Turkey’s EU accession talks.

“It would be an unjust, improper and wrong approach to take the attitude that Turkey won’t be able join the European Union,” CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wrote in the letter. Merkel’s conservatives rejected Turkish membership of the European Union in their election program, saying the country would “overburden” the bloc because of its size and economy.

‘EU countries should be honest’

Kılıçdaroğlu backed Germany’s reactions over the “regressive situation [of Turkey] in the domains of democracy, freedoms and human rights” in the letter. “These criticisms would certainly have an impact on the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP government. However, it would be an unjust, improper and wrong manner if these criticisms addressed to the AKP were to slow Turkey – EU ties, especially Turkey’s accession process to the EU. The opening of new and important chapters that would strengthen Turkey’s democratic base would renew the Turkish people’s commitment to the EU,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ criticized Germany’s stance and stressed that EU countries always found excuses to bloc Turkey’s EU membership. “The countries that are members of the European Union should be honest. Even though we completed all the requirements we have been asked for perfectly, they always block Turkey’s way with excuses every time,” Bozdağ said, noting that Turkey would soon stand as the sixth biggest economy in Europe.