IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu: ‘‘We have a call to EU officials: come to Turkey. Show the World and the Turkish public that you stand besides Turkey.  Give the message both to friend and foe that Turkey is part of Europe and will remain that way.’’

President of IKV Board of Directors Ayhan Zeytinoğlu also underlined that Turkey is recovering from its wounds after July 15 coup attempt and that we should be in solidarity with our European friends in a period in which necessary steps are being taken to eliminate clandestine Gulenist organization from all of the government institutions in order to prevent any attempt of this kind to happen again.

IKV Chairman said the following:

‘In these difficult days our friends from the EU should stand by Turkey, an EU candidate and a custom union partner. EU is built upon values such as democracy, freedom, equality. EU urges upon candidate countries that they adopt principles such as, efficient working state institutions, public appointments based on merit and equality and principle of good governance. It is of grave importance that all clandestine Gulenist organization members should be removed from all institutions in order for all government institutions work efficiently and that good governance is formed in its full meaning. This is a necessity for a public administration based on merit and equality. Furthermore, cleaning the members of this clandestine organisation who have penetrated critical institutions such as the educational system, judiciary and the armed forces will open the way for the establishment understanding of governance that is compatible with EU norms in its full sense. In this sense, EU’s not only moral support and solidarity but also technical assistance seems necessary for Turkey in this process.’

‘Secretary General of the Council of Europe Jagland’s visit is an important step; We also Expect EU officials to visit Turkey’

Chairman Zeytinoğlu also commented on Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thornbjorn Jagland’s visit of Turkey and pointed to the importance of a similar visit by officials of the EU that we carry on accession negotiations with.

‘The Council of Europe, including 47 European countries and in which Turkey became a 13th. Member in 13 April 1950, is an organization which represents European values such as democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms.  Turkey since 1987 also has recognized individual application to the European Court of Human Rights incorporated by Council of Europe. Council of Europe membership once again confirms that Turkey is a European country. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thornbjorn Jagland visit is important in this respect. Jagland not only supports Turkey in this difficult period but also makes self-criticism in that inadequate response was shown by Europe to the unlawfulness in the cases of Ergenekon and Balyoz. Jagland also claims if a coup attempt similar to the one in Turkey were to take place in any European country same measures would have been taken. Jagland’s warnings that state of emergency must be with the standards of Council of Europe and investigations regarding the coup should comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and case law of European Court of Human Rights, must also be taken into consideration.’

Zeytinoğlu lastly made a call also to the EU officials and leaders of the EU member states:

‘I am calling out to “Mr. Juncker, Mr.  Tusk, Mr. Schulz, Ms. Mogherini, Mr. Hahn, Ms. Merkel, Mr. Renzi, Mr. Hollande and to other leaders. Come to Turkey. In this difficult period that Turkey is passing engage with our government. Give advice, offer help. There is a saying in Turkish: out of sight, out of mind. We all know the critical importance of Turkey’s EU perspective both for EU and Turkey. For this perspective continue to be effective in shaping the future of Turkey, show the World and the Turkish public that you stand besides Turkey.  Tell both to friend and foe that Turkey is part of Europe and will remain that way.’