Turkey’s democracy deserves applause from Europe: EU Minister Çelik

ANKARA

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Turkey deserves applause from Europe for its performance in “defending democracy against the July 2016 coup attempt,” European Union Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik has stated.

Turkey observes Council of Europe norms and the rule of law, Çelik told reporters on Jan. 24 after meeting U.K. Minister of State for International Trade Mark Price.

“If democratic values are the principle articles of the joint agenda between Turkey and the European Union, then Turkey should be applauded,” he said, citing “protection of democracy” on the night of July 15, 2016 coup attempt. 

His remarks came after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted against taking Turkey’s democratic direction under “monitoring” for the first time in 12 years. 

Çelik also praised Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland as “a good statesman” and said discussions on taking Turkey under a monitoring process were “unfounded.”