Main opposition leader to EU ambassadors: Turkey has problems with democratic standards

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Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Sept. 29 met with ambassadors of the European Union member states.

The meeting was hosted by Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, head of the EU Turkey Delegation and saw the attendance of also CHP Spokesperson Faik Öztrak, CHP Group Deputy Chair Engin Özkoç and Chief Advisor to the Chairman Ünal Çeviköz.

Landrut said that he was pleased to host the CHP politicians to talk about economic, foreign affairs and politics. “This is our first meeting. I am happy to see all of you here,” he said.

For his part, Kılıçdaroğlu said that he will try to answer all of the questions of the EU ambassadors with sincerity. “We would also like to convey the works we are conducting to the EU delegation. We have problems, but we have a determined will to solve these problems. We have problems with regards to the issue of democratic standards,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

After the two sides' comments, the meeting continued closed to the press.

The EU Delegation to Turkey said on its Twitter account that "current issues" were discussed. 

Turkey is said to be moving away from democratic discourses and practices, especially in the last few years. This break from democracy has been stimulated by the dominant political and bureaucratic actors under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The abuse of democracy under the AKP is especially harsh when it comes to the political trials and the imprisonment of critics.

The EU has been calling on Turkey to put an end to laws and practices that contravene democratic standards and reminding the country of its obligations arising from international agreements.

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