Kerry urges Turkey to maintain democratic principles after coup attempt
Source: Washington Post
BRUSSELS Secretary of State John F. Kerry said NATO will be scrutinizing Turkey in coming days to ensure that it fulfills the alliances requirements for democracy and the rule of law following a failed coup attempt.
NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy, Kerry told reporters after European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned Turkey not to execute coup plotters. She noted that countries with the death penalty cannot join the European Union, as Turkey, a NATO member, has sought to do.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said that while NATO will be watching Turkey carefully, its too soon to say that their membership is at risk.
Kerry said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly assured him that the government will respect democracy and the law. Kerry warned that NATO will measure its actions.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-warns-turkey-nato-membership-potentially-at-stake-in-crackdown/2016/07/18/f427ba8a-4850-11e6-8dac-0c6e4accc5b1_story.html
The WaPo emailed out a 'correction' on the original headline which said Kerry was warning Turkey that its NATO membership was in jeopardy.
Seems the original headline was correct.
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Let's be serious. He can declare himself Sultan and start up a harem and Turkey won't be kicked out of NATO.
It's too important geo-politically, and Erdogan knows that -- hence his audacity in the current purge.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Once the oil's gone the EU and North America will lose interest in the middle east.
uawchild
(2,208 posts)it's always, well mostly, been about "containing" Russia.
That still seems the case, so Erdogan can PURGE to his hearts content with assured continued immunity.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Now it doesn't share a border with Russia.
Middle East--and the refugee situation there--have taken precedence lately.
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Thanks for discussing them.
ananda
(28,876 posts)Sure.
Nihil
(13,508 posts)As others have noted upthread, there isn't a chance that they'd kick Turkey out
of NATO - this is just more pointless posturing by Kerry to maintain the pretence
that anyone in power actually cares about "justice" or "law" in Turkey.