Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to the Republic of Turkey, Ankara. Press point with Binali YILDIRIM, Prime Minister&nbsp;

press point

EU - Türkiye (T)

official visit

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

Ankara

Türkiye

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to the Republic of Turkey: extracts from the press point with Binali YILDIRIM, Prime Minister

Arrival of Martin SCHULZ, EP President and Binali YILDIRIM, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, Ladies and Gentlemen I have had an extensive and intensive exchange of views with Prime Minister YILDIRIM, we have been over all that we agree upon and all controversies. It has been very intensive and constructive. I would also like to express here that my visit underlines the full solidarity of the European Union with the Turkish people. We stand on the the side of a people that have lived through a very difficult attack on the integrity of their country. We have all seen, I think it was a deeply moving moment, that a freely elected President of a country, under exceptional circumstances, over an i-phone of a courgeous journalist called his country to ask them to stand up against a military coup.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, We have seen how the people, the men and women of this country, notwithstanding their political colour, notwithstanding which their stance, profession or social layer, went out into the streets and with their bare bodies, without weapons, stood in the way of this brutal military attack. It is an important day in the history of the Turkish nation, that a freely elected President calls upon his people and the people follow him. It is also an extraordinary moment in European history that we will never forget.

SOUNDBITE (Turkish), Binali YILDIRIM, Turkish Prime Minister, <p>Evaluation of the meeting, explaining his initial disappointment on the first reaction from EU regarding July 15, then stating EU&rsquo;s current sensitivity on the issue which had a positive impact on Turkish-EU relations.</p>

SOUNDBITE (Turkish), Binali YILDIRIM, Turkish Prime Minister, <p>We frequently hear some news and critics from Europe that the freedom of these journalists and media officers are restricted and that they are arrested. Please understand, no journalist would support a terrorist organization or participate in their activities. If they do not do these, then they really are journalists and they do not need to worry at all. But in this case it is different. These people get their press cards but then they directly support separatist terrorist groups and FETO(Fethullah Terrorist Organisation). They support these groups in every way. They do not only praise these groups also serve them for their logistic needs. Are you going to welcome someone who is inside these groups, killing the people and children of this country just because they own a press card? Noone should expect this from us. Journalism is a respected occupation, but having terrorist activities disguised as a journalist is something entirely different.</p>

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, I believe that freedom of opinion and the freedom of the press to work is one of the main measures of the quality and stability of a democracy.When you you see exceptions from this you have to speak about them, that we have also done, Turkey should do so with journalists as with all the other cases, that was a point that we spoke about as regards follow up. Each case should be individually treated and as member of the Council of Europe (Turkey) it should guarantee basic rights, each case should be treated according to the rule of law. Turkey as a member of the Council of Europe and surely feels that as such it has a duty to make sure that each case is treated according to the rule of law following the examination of proof. We have spoken about the controversial cases and the prime minister can here testify to this.