Ankara on Sunday criticized a call by Austria鈥檚 new government for a halt to Turkey鈥檚 EU accession negotiations, saying it shows a discriminatory attitude that ignores Turkey鈥檚 rights.
鈥淭his unfortunate and short-sighted statement in Austria鈥檚 new government program unfortunately confirms our concerns about a political movement based on discrimination,鈥� said a Foreign Ministry statement.
The Austrian statement is an unfriendly and dishonest attempt to avoid obligations arising out of agreements between the EU and Turkey, the ministry added, also blasting Austria saying it would seek allies to push ending Turkey鈥檚 accession talks.
This move 鈥渋gnoring our country鈥檚 legitimate rights鈥� also 鈥渇louts political and diplomatic morals,鈥� said the ministry.
Austria鈥檚 move 鈥渢ests the boundaries of Turkey鈥檚 friendship鈥� and, if put into practice, will lead to a decisive response, the ministry said.
Turkey's EU Minister聽Omer聽Celik also criticized Austria鈥檚 stance.
鈥淭he new Austrian Government formed by central right (?) and far right started attacking fundamental democratic values without delay,鈥� he wrote in English on Twitter.
Stating that the coalition government鈥檚 program intends to end Turkey鈥檚 accession negotiations and is seeking allies towards this end, he said:
鈥淭his 鈥榮eeking for allies鈥� reminds us of very bad memories from history. With this coalition, the far right comes to power in the EU [for the] first time ever. They even announce that they will be working to drag the EU to the fate of the Weimar Republic,鈥� the shaky republic in Germany between the world wars.
- 'Pro-European orientation?'
He added that despite this program, Johannes Hahn, the聽Austrian-born EU commissioner for enlargement, has expressed his happiness at having a 鈥減ro-European orientation鈥�
鈥淲hich pro-European orientation?鈥� asked Celik.
Taking such an attitude while ignoring the racist Austrian government program shows 鈥渨eakness,鈥� said Celik.
鈥淭hese approaches clearly show the effort to downgrade EU values to mere formalities and to exploit them as elements of power game in Europe,鈥� he said.
He also warned the bloc of rising threats from within the EU: 鈥淔or many years, threats to the EU have been expected from out of the EU. However, movements that are threatening EU values are rising [from] within the EU. Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, xenophobic and anti-migrant parties are on the rise. Now this movement is in power in Austria.鈥�
Rather than seeking allies to end Turkey鈥檚 EU negotiations, Austria should find allies to establish strong ties with Turkey, wrote Celik.
On Friday Austria鈥檚聽center-right聽OVP (People's Party) reached a deal with the far-right FPO (Freedom Party) to form a coalition government, after eight weeks of intense negotiations. On Saturday they pledged a tougher approach to migration and stronger domestic security measures.聽
By Yusuf Hatip
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr