EU Ankara negotiator calls for suspending Turkey accession talksApril 26, 2017 - 16:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union should formally suspend Turkey's long-stalled talks on membership if it adopts constitutional changes backed at a referendum last week, a leading member of the EU parliament responsible for dealings with Ankara said on Wednesday, April 26, Reuters reports. Kati Piri said ahead of a plenary debate on the matter that if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan implemented his new charter, giving him even more powers, Turkey would close the door on membership. Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey would not wait forever to join the bloc, just a day after the EU executive's top official for membership talks asked Europe's foreign ministers to consider other types of ties with Turkey when they meet on Friday. Ties between EU states and their NATO ally Turkey soured in the aftermath of a failed coup last July as the bloc was taken aback by Erdogan's sweeping security crackdown that followed. Piri, a Dutch center-left European lawmaker, said, "As Turkey with such a constitution cannot become a member of the EU, it also doesn't make sense to continue the discussion on integration with the current government," "The EU should officially suspend the accession talks if the constitutional changes are implemented unchanged," she told reporters, after the legislature last year passed a non-binding resolution calling for such a move. Piri said any suspension should only come if and when the "authoritarian constitution" is enacted, which would happen after Turkey holds the next election, now due in late 2019. She said Erdogan could bring them forward to swiftly assume more powers, though the Turkish leader said that was not on the agenda now. Piri stressed, however, the process should be suspended rather than ended altogether: "I don't want to take that perspective away from the Turkish population." "Turkey should remain a candidate country but we're negotiating with the government. It's become clear over the last two years that this government doesn't want to meet criteria." 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 | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |