ANKARA
The Council of Europe’s decision to monitor Turkey was condemned as a “disgrace” by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The council’s parliamentary assembly announced that it was placing Turkey on a political monitoring watch list earlier Tuesday following an investigation into the country’s democratic institutions.
The assembly adopted the recommendations of observers by 113 votes to 45, with 12 abstentions.
In a statement, the ministry said the decision to re-impose monitoring “under the guidance of malicious circles… is a disgrace to this organ, which claims to be the cradle of democracy.”
It was the second time Turkey has been placed under monitoring, having previously been monitored from 1996 to 2004.
“We strongly condemn this unjust decision of PACE [the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe], taken with political motives in contravention of the established procedures,” the ministry said.
The statement went on to outline the threats Turkey faced from terrorism.
“Our country is simultaneously countering the most brutal terrorist organizations, such as PKK, FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] and Daesh,” it said.
Turkey blames FETO for the coup attempt of last July which martyred 249 people and wounded some 2,200 others.
“While adhering to our international commitments, we take necessary and proportionate measures against the dangers targeting our constitutional order and the survival of our nation.
“This constitutes the most fundamental obligation and legitimate right of a state."
'Reflects anti-Turkish bias'
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also objected strongly to the decision, blasting it as "political" and "excessive".
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, he accused anti-Turkish bias in the European Union -- a distinct bloc -- of influencing the CoE's decision. "The EU should have a clear vision... This [decision] shows an anti-Turkish reflection within PACE," Yildirim said.
The premier said the decision was made by "some lawmakers of countries that are working to remove a terrorist organization [the PKK], which is trying to divide Turkey, from the [official] terrorist list".
"Our Peoples' Democratic Party [HDP] deputies also joined them, we are not surprised," Yildirim said, citing a political party the government has accused of having PKK terrorist ties.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU. It resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015 and has since been responsible for the deaths of around 1,200 people, including women and children.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin joined the chorus of condemnation, saying, "The Council of Europe's decision is an operation of circles who are Turkey's enemies".
"We condemn this intentional decision, which has nothing to do with reality and fairness," Kalin said on Twitter.
A 'historic mistake'
EU Minister Omer Celik also condemned the decision, calling it "unfair" and "wrong".
"This is a historic mistake both for the Council of Europe, and PACE," Celik told Anadolu Agency and state-broadcaster TRT reporters in Ankara.
"Instead of producing any kind of solidarity, they, unfortunately, came up with an unfair approach towards Turkish democracy, which keeps the freedom-security balance under very difficult circumstances," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus lashed out at the decision, urging the Council of Europe to take steps towards fixing it.
"This, unfortunately, is seen as a result of a gradually growing racist, fascist, anti-Turkish, anti-Islam, and anti-Turkey campaign. It is a completely political decision. It does not fit any reality," Kurtulmus told a news conference.
On March 8, the assembly’s Monitoring Committee called for the monitoring procedure to be re-opened to strengthen “co-operation with the Turkish authorities and all forces in the country and thus ensure respect for fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and democracy.”
In a statement, the committee noted a “serious deterioration of the functioning of democratic institutions” following last July’s coup attempt.
It highlighted “disproportionate measures” such as the dismissal of thousands of civil servants and violations of media freedom, as well as the earlier lifting of lawmakers’ immunity.
