MESOP : BAD NOTES TO ERDOGAN – European Commission Calls on Turkey to Respect Freedom of Expression
European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has said the European Commission has on numerous occasions called on Turkey to fully respect freedom of expression, also criticizing the intimidating statements made by politicians against critical journalists.
Hahn responded to two questions posed by Ernest Maragall, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) who submitted enquiries to the European Parliament (EP) over the targeting of a correspondent for The New York Times in Turkey, Ceylan Ye?insu, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey’s accession talks. Hahn said the commission is aware of Ye?insu’s case, adding that “intimidating statements by politicians and cases launched against critical journalists, combined with the ownership structure of the media sector, led to widespread self-censorship by media owners and journalists, as well as the sacking of journalists”.
He said the European Commission will continue to follow these issues closely and will raise them with the Turkish authorities on all appropriate occasions.Newspapers that are controlled by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government have been targeting The New York Times reporter in Turkey, accusing her conducting a smear campaign against Turkey in spite of a call from the newspaper to ensure her safety.The government harshly responded to a recent story in The New York Times that suggested that the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which calls itself the Islamic State, draws militants from Turkey. Erdogan personally responded to the article, calling it a “lowly lie.”The Star, Akcam and Takvim dailies, all owned by businessmen that are friendly with the AK Party government, attacked Ye?insu in news reports on Friday. They accused her of being behind a “perception management operation” against Turkey and its government. On Turkey’s accession talks, Hahn said the “commission will continue to closely monitor Turkey’s progress towards fully meeting the political criteria for membership and remain engaged with Turkey including through regular dialogue on the rule of law and fundamental rights.” http://www.todayszaman.com