Turkey believes that the leaders of some European countries are trying to use the situation around the coup to keep the country out of the EU, the Turkish ambassador to Russia, Ümit Yardym, said during an interview to the TV channel Russia 24.
"The plan to join the EU is just one of the goals, one of the challenges that we face. And we have a lot of these tasks. Of course, it is unacceptable and unnecessary to take seriously the statements made by the leaders of the EU and certain politicians in connection with this situation. Probably it is an indication of the double standards of the community, which can afford such things,’’ the ambassador said, commenting on the Western reaction to the attempted military coup.
At the same time Umit Yardym drew attention to the fact that some countries, which consider themselves the bearers of such values as democracy, are creating favorable conditions for Nazism, fascism and radicalism to rear their heads.
"However, I'm curious to know what those people who believe that they supposedly protect democracy, the values of democracy, would do if their parliaments were bombed, or what they would think if there was an attempt to assassinate their president,’’ the diplomat said, adding that the West criticizes Ankara for the measures that it undertook in thwarting the putschists.
At the conclusion of the interview, the ambassador thanked Russia for its support during the coup attempt.
"Of course, we appreciate this approach and believe that other countries and certain circles should learn this lesson. To defend the values of democracy means not to engage in verbiage, but to define its position clearly,’’ Ümit Yardym stated.
