Author : Rifat Başaran , Hurriyet Dailynews
Posted : May 16, 2017
In a May 16 meeting with Danish Ambassador to Turkey Svend Olling, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu urged the European Union to open new accession chapters with Turkey regarding the judiciary.
“The 23rd and 24th chapters on the judiciary should be opened as soon as possible. The continuation of negotiations would have a positive effect on democratization in Turkey,” Kılıçdaroğlu reportedly said in the meeting held in the CHP headquarters in Ankara.
He particularly noted that members of the Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) are currently being voted on and that the judiciary is “being restructured,” further threatening the independence of the judiciary in Turkey.
“That is why it would be beneficial to open chapters on the judiciary, especially in this period,” Kılıçdaroğlu stated.
In response, Olling reportedly said he found recent statements from both Ankara and Brussels as “provocative,” stressing the need for calm.
“There are problems experienced in the relationship between the EU and Turkey. Turkey has advanced in its EU negotiations to a certain point, but a belief that accession talks cannot be continued with Turkey under the current circumstances has formed in the EU,” he told Kılıçdaroğlu.
“A calm approach would benefit both Turkey and Europe. Tension needs to be reduced as soon as possible,” the CHP head said in reply.
the SAFIA Blog 