Bozdag: Some EU members do not want a strong Turkey

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA

Some European Union states do not want to see a Turkey with political stability and economic strength, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Tuesday.

Bozdag was speaking in an interview with Anadolu Agency’s Editors' Desk in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

In recent weeks, Germany and the Netherlands have blocked several Turkish ministers from visiting ahead of planned rallies of expat Turks.

Turkish ministers have been campaigning in support of a Yes vote in an April 16 referendum on sweeping constitutional changes. Thousands of Turkish people resident in European countries are entitled to vote in the poll.

“After observing the stance of Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and some EU countries, I understand how important our attempt to change the system is,” Bozdag said.

He said the current parliamentary system in Turkey was not providing stability.

The Turkish electorate will vote on April 16 to decide whether to approve the constitutional reforms which would boost the president's powers and abolish the post of prime minister, along with a number of other key changes.

PKK propaganda in Europe

Bozdag slammed the German government for allowing the PKK and its sympathizers to stage rallies there.

“European states, including Germany, allow the PKK terror group to organize demonstrations while Turkish ministers face bans. This is an incomprehensible situation.”

The PKK is an officially recognized terrorist group in Turkey, the EU and the U.S.

“The German government and related institutions should take action and implement the rule of law against these terrorist activities. But we do not see it right now,” Bozdag said.

He said the leadership of Western countries supported those who worked against Turkey and betrayed the country.

Extradition of Gulen

According to Bozdag, both German and the U.S. intelligence have clear information that the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its supporters planned, organized and demonstrated the coup attempt that martyred 249 people and injured 2,200 others in July last year

“I am sure about that,” he said.

Bozdag stated U.S.-based FETO leader Fetullah Gulen directly ordered the coup, adding that most of Turkey’s detained generals were Gulen supporters.

Ankara officially requested the U.S. authorities extradite Gulen to Turkey but there had been no concrete move from the administration of former President Barack Obama.

The Turkish justice minister said he would hold a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart on Tuesday evening to discuss the issue.

“I will invite him to visit Turkey,” Bozdag added.

Bozdag also said Turkey had demanded the extradition of 443 suspects from Germany and other EU countries since 2007 but only 12 had been handed over.

“For example, we requested Germany extradite 177 people but they give only two of them to us.

“We demanded 11 people from the Netherlands; they extradited one.

“None of our demanded suspects were extradited from Austria. We demanded 32 PKK members to be extradited form France; none of them are extradited,” he added.

Bozdag also criticized German Justice Minister Heiko Maas’s request to release Deniz Yucel, a Turkish-German journalist who has been detained in Turkey on charges of making terrorist propaganda.

“Twenty-nine German citizens, including seven detainees and 22 sentenced, are in Turkish prisons,” Bozdag said but added the German authorities were only focused on Yucel.

“I am wondering: ‘What is the qualification of this Deniz Yucel that makes him different from other Germans in prison?’” he asked.

Turkey’s EU membership

Regarding Turkey’s EU membership bid, Bozdag noted Ankara was still working with the same determination for full membership of the bloc.

“Turkey has not given up its EU membership process despite the double standards, clear two-faced attempts [from EU]. Now we are marching to drive Turkey forward with steps of democratization and the rule of law,” he said.