|

EU minister warns of 'anti-Turkish' rhetoric

Ömer Çelik says tolerating far-right antipathy towards minorities strengthens anti-EU movements

Ersin Çelik
13:30 - 19/10/2017 Thursday
Update: 13:32 - 19/10/2017 Thursday
AA
Turkey's EU Minister and the Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik.
Turkey's EU Minister and the Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik.

Turkey's EU minister on Thursday urged European politicians to stand against anti-Turkish rhetoric which could harm the bloc's fundamental values.

Speaking at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute in Tallinn, Ömer Çelik said tolerating far-right parties which campaigned with anti-Turkey and anti-Islam language was strengthening anti-EU movements.

"Even if we have a strong military and security capacity to protect ourselves from external enemies, the problem arises from within today," Çelik said.

The minister noted that there would be bigger threats to European democracies if strong internal reforms were not initiated, warning the extreme right could rise even further.

He said restrictive decisions targeting Islam had strengthened radicalization.

#anti-Turk rhetoric
#European Union
#Omer Celik
7 years ago