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European rights Council puts Turkey back on watchlist

SBS World News Radio: Europe's top human rights body has voted to put Turkey on a watchlist due to concerns over its governance.

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European rights Council puts Turkey back on watchlist

Turkey's relations with the European Union have soured over recent months and now a vote by the Council of Europe to resume monitoring Turkey has increased tensions.

For nearly three hours, the Council debated concerns about Turkey's failed coup attempt last year, rights violations and President Tayyip Erdogan's increasing grip on power.

It then voted 113-45 in favour of monitoring the country until human rights concerns were addressed in what it called "a satisfactory manner".

The assembly is calling on Turkey to lift the state of emergency and free jailed politicians and journalists.

Estonian member and Turkey rapporteur Marianne Mikko has also expressed disappointment that Turkish authorities are considering the reintroduction of the death penalty.

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"We were surprised and quite disappointed to hear that Turkey, which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols six and 13, is now contemplating the introduction of the death penalty. The death penalty has no place in Council of Europe's membership."

The 47-member Council of Europe is separate from the European Union, but the vote is likely to further set back Turkey's bid to join the EU.

Turkey, a founding member of the Council of Europe, has been under post-monitoring dialogue since 2004.

Russia and Azerbaijan are currently subject to monitoring of the type now demanded for Turkey, which would involve regular visits by two rapporteurs as well as debates on any progress.

Luxemborg member Anne Brasseur says the process would help strengthen dialogue with Turkey.

"All together, we must unite to defend the values -- not because of ourselves, not because of our institution -- but because of the 820 million citizens we represent here and their values, their fundamental freedoms are seriously threatened in Turkey and that is the reason why -- in order to aid Turkey, in order to help the Turks who can be proud of their country -- we want help them through the monitoring system to put an end to the authoritarian turn of events."

But Samad Seyidov, from Azerbaijan, says the measure would only serve to punish Turkey.

"We should change the monitoring procedure itself. We should, if we are going to help Turkey, we should create, for example, some ad hoc group, a group of members of the parliament, who will be able, together with our friends from Turkey, to understand how can we help Turkey? But, it seems to me that instead of this way, we're going to punish Turkey."

The decision has infuriated Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan describes the decision as "entirely political", and says Turkey would be reviewing its position on joining the EU after being kept "at the door" for 54 years.

"This decision made against Turkey is entirely political and we are not recognising this decision, regardless of how committed they are to that, and we are not blowing it out of proportion. This decision was made, it was approved, and the voting ended."

Mr Erdogan pointed to the French presidential election, in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen has threatened to take France out of the European Union, saying the bloc is "on the verge of dissolution".

"The EU has to self-criticise and self-diagnose, the EU is on the verge of dissolution, or breaking up if you will, one or two countries cannot keep the EU alive. They should know that. You need a country like Turkey, a sincere country, symbolising a different faith, this would make them very strong but the EU member states don't seem to realise this fact."

 


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