EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs EU: Erdogan April 19, 2016 - 17:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union needs Turkey more than Ankara needs the bloc, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday, April 19, denouncing a new European Parliament report that was sharply critical of the rule of law in his country, AFP reports. His comments come amid controversy in Europe over a deal between Brussels and Turkey to stop the flow of migrants from war-torn Syria and other troubled countries to EU territory. "The European Union needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the European Union," Erdogan said to cheers in a televised speech to municipal leaders in Ankara, denouncing as "provocative" last week's European Parliament report which accused Ankara of backsliding on democracy. He lashed out at the report for not praising Turkey's hosting of some 2.7 million refugees from the war in neighbouring Syria, AFP says. "Three million people have been looked after in this country so they don't disturb the Europeans. Is there anything about this in the report?" said Erdogan. "At a time when our relations with the European Union are in a positive phase regarding the migrants... it is provocative to come out with a report like that," he added. Turkey has been given a string of promises from the European Union in return for stepping up work to stop migrants crossing to EU territory and also taking them back. Read also:Turkey must first meet criteria for visa-free travel, EU’s Juncker says  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan  A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia.U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel.Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |
