BATAK CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES -- Amid turmoIl in the European Union due to the inability of the 27 nation-bloc's leaders to hold the union together, Turkey has sent a stern warning to the EU, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said there could be a referendum in the near future to exit membership talks.
"You officially made a promise to Turkey in 1963. It's been 53 years. You are still wasting time. Why are you wasting time? … They are discriminating against Turkey. If the EU dismisses Turkey, we will go to the people. We'll ask if Turkey should continue membership talks with the EU," he said on Wednesday, adding that he thinks the reason why the EU has been stalling Turkey's accession process is because Turkey has a large Muslim population.
"[The referendum] is not blackmail or a threat. We want what is our right. Our citizens also deserve it," Çavuşoğlu said Tuesday, adding that Turkey could hold a referendum if the promises are not met.
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"You officially made a promise to Turkey in 1963. It's been 53 years. You are still wasting time. Why are you wasting time? … They are discriminating against Turkey. If the EU dismisses Turkey, we will go to the people. We'll ask if Turkey should continue membership talks with the EU," he said on Wednesday, adding that he thinks the reason why the EU has been stalling Turkey's accession process is because Turkey has a large Muslim population.
"[The referendum] is not blackmail or a threat. We want what is our right. Our citizens also deserve it," Çavuşoğlu said Tuesday, adding that Turkey could hold a referendum if the promises are not met.
More
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