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Austrian FM calls on EU to show clarity on status of Turkish relations

Xinhua, April 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz on Tuesday called on the European Union to show "honesty and clarity" concerning the status of its relations with Turkey.

"It would be good if the EU could clarify what future cooperation with Ankara will look like," Kurz said following talks with his Slovakian counterpart Miroslav Lajcak in Vienna.

Austria Press Agency quoted Kurz as saying that "Turkey is not a part of the European Union."

Based on developments over the past years in terms of democracy, rule of law, and human rights, Kurz argued Ankara has been continuously moving "further away from Europe."

The recent constitutional referendum was just "one further step in that direction," he said.

Lajcak said the Turkish government had for its part also showed no particular recent interest in EU accession talks. He said, however, that there is still a need for dialogue, and that both sides wish to maintain good relations. Enditem