Prague, July 18 (CTK) – Czech politicians whom CTK addressed yesterday expressed concern over the arrests of thousands of soldiers and judges in Turkey after a recent failed coup and they said the European Union and NATO need the country to remain stable.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said yesterday 6038 soldiers, 755 judges and prosecutors, 100 police officers and 650 civilians have been arrested because of the coup and some 9000 officials have been dismissed.
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) told public Czech Radio (CRo) he hopes that the Turkish government will not abuse the attempted coup to suppress its political critics, although some of its steps indicate that this may be happening.
Sobotka said the latest events are likely to delay Turkey’s possible EU entry.
Though the armed putsch must be rejected, the Turkish government should act in line with the constitution and the rule of law,” he said.
“Capital punishment must not be introduced retroactively and the principle of collective guilt must not be applied,” Sobotka said.
The reintroduction of capital punishment would practically prevent further negotiations about the country’s EU accession from being held, he said.
The international community needs Turkey to be stable and able to cooperate in dealing with the migration crisis and the situation in Syria, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Belobradek (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) said it is alarming that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the failed coup to suppress political opposition and carry out purges in the army and the judiciary.
“The rule of law does not look like this,” Belobradek said, pointing out the lynching of ordinary soldiers, calls for the reintroduction of capital punishment, and the removing of nearly 3000 judges whose list was apparently prepared well in advance.
The EU and Turkey have signed a number of agreements and Brussels has instruments to press on Erdogan to maintain the rule of law and observe human rights and freedoms, he said.
NATO should check Erdogan’s interventions in the military, which is the second strongest army in the Alliance, Belobradek said.
“With all respect to the sovereignty of Turkey, NATO should demand consultations and assurances that the Turkish army will remain a valid and effective allied force,” he said.
Marek Zenisek, deputy chairman of the right-wing opposition TOP 09, said the number of people arrested makes him wonder whether Erdogan knew of the putsch in advance or whether he even triggered it.
Zenisek said Turkey radically changed its policy towards Russia and Syria in the past two weeks. Erdogan made peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin and indicated that he does not insist on the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The EU should react to the situation, Zenisek said. “As Turkey is moving towards regular dictatorship, it can expect no visa liberalisation and no continuation in the accession talks,” he said.
Civic Democrat (right-wing opposition ODS) leader Petr Fiala said the international community should reject both the planned putsch and Erdogan’s subsequent steps. “It is unacceptable for the military to define politics by force in democratic countries, but it is equally unacceptable for the government to suppress the opposition that had nothing in common with the military coup,” Fiala told CTK.
He said the development in Turkey shows that it was a mistake to launch the accession talks with Ankara and get ready for a liberalisation of the visa regime.
It is crucial that Turkey is a stable ally in NATO and that it respects the rule of law, Fiala said.
