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MERKEL TELLS TURKEY EUROPEAN VALUES ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE
June 27, 2013 - 12:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday,
June 27, she welcomed an agreement to reopen talks with Turkey about
joining the European Union but warned in the light of the crackdown
on Turkish anti-government protests that democratic values were
non-negotiable, according to Reuters.
Merkel told the German parliament that the agreement this week to
make progress in Turkey's application for membership conditional
on respect for human rights and political reform meant the EU was
"not acting as if nothing had happened".
"This outcome makes it clear that Turkey is an important partner but
that our European values of the freedom to protest, freedom of opinion,
the rule of law and religious freedom, are always valid and are not
negotiable," said Merkel.
June 27, 2013 - 12:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday,
June 27, she welcomed an agreement to reopen talks with Turkey about
joining the European Union but warned in the light of the crackdown
on Turkish anti-government protests that democratic values were
non-negotiable, according to Reuters.
Merkel told the German parliament that the agreement this week to
make progress in Turkey's application for membership conditional
on respect for human rights and political reform meant the EU was
"not acting as if nothing had happened".
"This outcome makes it clear that Turkey is an important partner but
that our European values of the freedom to protest, freedom of opinion,
the rule of law and religious freedom, are always valid and are not
negotiable," said Merkel.