![Turkey EU minister says 'not end of road' for membership bid](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469287547.jpg)
Turkey EU Minister Says 'not End Of Road' For Membership Bid
Fakhir Rizvi Published July 23, 2016 | 08:25 PM
![Turkey EU minister says 'not end of road' for membership bid](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469287547.jpg)
ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23th july, 2016) - Turkey on Saturday denied its bid to join the European Union was at an end, after suggestions Ankara could reinstate capital punishment after the failed coup prompted warnings of a terminal blow to its embattled application. Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik also insisted that a key deal to limit the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe was proceeding "without a hitch" despite the coup. "We don't believe this is the end of the road, it is time to start brand new momentum," Celik told reporters in Ankara, asked if the membership bid was still a strategic aim. However the minister said the situation has now changed after the failed coup, after Turks poured into the streets to counter the plotters in what officials see as a victory for democracy. "I believe this situation should be a milestone for a new process (in EU membership)," said Celik. He lamented that no EU leaders had come to Turkey in the wake of the coup to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Turkish leadership. "More solidarity should be shown for a people that embraces democracy," said Celik. Turkey blames the coup on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Celik described as being worse than both the slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Islamic State militants. "Osama bin Laden talked directly about terrorist threats," he said.
"This individual (Gulen) always teaches tolerance, disguising himself to pursue terror attacks," he added. "He is more brutal that Daesh (IS) ...
this Fethullah Gulen tries to occupy the state apparatus in different echelons of command." Referring to the viral game, he said some EU officials think the coup "is just a Pokemon game." "Come here and see how serious this is! Those who look at Turkey from far away think it is Pokemon game," he added. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier charged that the European Union has a "biased and prejudiced" stance on Turkey, following stinging EU criticism over a crackdown in the wake of the failed coup. - Refugee deal undeterred - =========================== Turkey's longstanding EU bid is hanging in the balance after Erdogan suggested it may reintroduce the death penalty in the wake of the attempted putsch, a move which would instantly disqualify it from EU membership. But Celik added that the coup had inflicted no damage on the landmark deal with the EU to stem the flow of migrants to Europe. "The refugee deal continues without any hitch despite the coup in Turkey," he said. "We have continued to smoothly implement the agreement," he added. Turkey's EU membership bid dates back to 1963, with its formal application made in 1987 and negotiations starting in 2005.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
![Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019914.jpg)
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
![Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on refor ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019922.jpg)
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
![Finland says Russian vessel violated its territori ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019912.jpg)
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
![Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019266.jpg)
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
![West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019264.jpg)
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
![Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murde ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019262.jpg)
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
![Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris ope ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019015.jpg)
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
![Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inau ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019638.jpg)
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
![Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Z ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019637.jpg)
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
![Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019635.jpg)
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
![Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019013.jpg)
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
!['Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019634.jpg)
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From World
-
Biden talks Gaza ceasefire efforts with king of Jordan
5 hours ago -
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
5 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked ex-presidents going to observe polls
5 hours ago -
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
5 hours ago -
Khan Yunis fighting displaces 180,000 Gazans in four days: UN
5 hours ago -
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
5 hours ago
-
Obama & his wife, Michelle, officially endorse US VP Kamala Harris for president
5 hours ago -
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
5 hours ago -
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
5 hours ago -
S.African police detain 95 Libyans at suspected military camp
6 hours ago -
'Slapping therapist' guilty over UK diabetic woman's death
6 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked flight of ex-presidents going to observe polls
6 hours ago