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To pause Turkey's EU accession talks will be a big mistake: Presidency

Presidential spokesman Kalın cautions the EU that if it decides to delay accession talks for Turkey, `they will have to live with the results`

Ersin Çelik
15:59 - 9/11/2016 Çarşamba
Update: 17:55 - 9/11/2016 Çarşamba
Yeni Şafak

Turkish Presidency Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said that the European Union would have to accept consequences if the bloc decides to pause Turkey's accession negotiation.



“It will be a big mistake if the EU thinks it can subdue Turkey with such a decision," Kalın said, in a live interview with Turkish private broadcaster Ahaber.



He also added that the EU should understand the dynamics of the region around Turkey.



"If they resort to such ways, they will have to live with the results," Kalın said.



He added: "If the EU is making threats to freeze Turkey's accession negotiations, these threats don't have any basis here… The EU will have to accept the consequences if it makes such a decision."



His comments came after the bloc's top official in charge of ties with Turkey told Reuters in an interview that Ankara must reverse its action against the coup plotters, who attempted to destroy the Turkish state and its democracy, or risk an end to accession talks.





Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also reacted against the EU official's comments, urging that EU should make its final decision on Turkey's accession quickly.



President Erdoğan to call Trump to congratulate


Kalın congratulates Donald Trump for his unpredicted victory in U.S. Presidential election and said that Turkey's President Erdoğan will call to congratulate him in upcoming hours.






The Turkish President had already sent a message to Trump congratulating him, Kalın said.



He believes that relations between leaders form the very first day is vital for cooperation and bilateral works.



While answering a question on a probable time of Trump's first visit to Turkey, he said that it will be clarified by February, 2017.





Traditionally, the U.S. Presidents pay their first visit to Turkey within couple of weeks after receiving the key to the White House.



Kalın said he expected the tradition will continue with the real-state boss Trump.



'In close touch with US on Raqqa operation'


President Erdoğan's spokesperson also touched upon the ongoing operations in Iraq's Mosul and Syria's Raqqa against the Daesh terrorist organization.



“We are in close touch with the U.S. administration regarding the Raqqa operation. Turkey will take all necessary steps in cooperation with the U.S. military," according to Kalın.



He said Ankara would not allow the Iraqi city of Sinjar to become another Qandil.



Qandil is a mountainous area in northern Iraq near the Turkish border used by the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party terrorists as their so-called headquarters.





Kalın reiterated Turkey's determination to protect the Turkmen-populated Iraqi city of Tal Afar from the PKK and Shi'ite Hashdi Shaabi terrorists group.



“Shaabi militias had yet to enter the city," he said, adding that Turkey reinforces its military power in Silopi, a border town in Şırnak province.



Regarding Turkey's military presence in a military camp near Bashiqa, on the outskirts of Mosul, Kalın said Ankara was in negotiation with Baghdad and discussing the issue.



#Turkey
#Erdoğan
#Ibrahim kalın
#Donald Trump
#US election
#EU accession talks
7 yıl önce