‘One of the largest earthquakes we have seen’
EU THE EXPRESSION in the title belongs to Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC) Director Hans Das.
Das expressed these words at the heart of the operation center to a group of Turkish journalists, who visited Brussels at the invitation of the EU Delegation to Turkey to determine the point and direction of Turkey-EU relations.
The big map of Turkey behind him made it clear that the country which the EU has mobilized for emergency has been Turkey this time. Hans Das, who said Turkey made a request from the EU only one and half hours after the first earthquake, stated that they delivered this to the EU member states and received a quick reply from them and the EU rescue teams arrived in Turkey 12 hours after the request was made.
A total of around 1,200 search and rescue teams along with all their equipment and 78 specially trained rescue-search dogs from many EU countries were in Turkey in the first 36 hours.
In the meantime, it’s noteworthy to emphasize that Turkey is an official member of the ERCC.
BORRELL’S MINUTE OF SILENCE
It’s reminded in Brussels that Turkey is the candidate country in such emergencies even if it isn’t a full member of the EU. The reflection of this was the fact that Joseph Borrell, whom we can define as the ‘Foreign Minister’ of the EU, called everyone for a moment of silence for those who have affected by the earthquake in Turkey at the first meeting held after the earthquake.
However, the problems between Turkey and the EU are so complex, the viewpoint of Turkey is so negative that the sympathy ambiance widely disappeared after what Borrell told Turkish journalists at the meeting held after a few hours.
TURKISH̞ RUSSIAN TRADE EXAMINED BY THE EU
From the perspective of Brussels, one of the ‘problems’ is the trade relations between Turkey and Russia that have increased in the recent period. Borrell clearly expressed concern over the possibility that goods exported from Turkey to Russia could be used to violate the EU sanctions.
The normalized relations with Syria aren’t welcomed that much in the EU as well. Borrell, who said they don’t think it is the right time for normalization with Assad, mentioned this too.
The different tones of statements by Turkey and the EU about Libya are another issue that separates Ankara and Brussels from each other in terms of foreign policy. An example of this is the fact that Borrell mentioned in a diplomatic manner that they expect the Turkish military presence to withdraw from Libya.
“BACKSLIDING...”
The current state of democracy in Turkey came out of Borrell’s mouth as a concern. The most used word about Turkey in Brussels is ‘backsliding ’. This expression is used for the democratic situation in Turkey and is on everyone’s lips.
Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, the inexecution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions, and lawsuits filed against journalists and citizens inconsistently with the freedom of expression are the backsliding elements that Borrell clearly expressed.
EUROPE ASSOCIATES THE HDP CASE WITH FAIR ELECTION
There is more. Borrell also stated that the elections should be held in a free and fair way in Turkey. Mentioning the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), against which the closure case was opened, with its name, he said the participation of HDP in the democratic processes is very important.
Apparently, the EU closely monitors the closure case against HDP.
This issue also seems to be discussed in terms of the legitimacy of the elections in the international arena. It’s worthy to note the following statement of German Greens Deputy Sergey Lagodinsky, who is the Chair of the EP (European Parliament) Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee: “Whenever we talk about the election results in Turkey, we’ll also talk about the developments before the elections. The election isn’t just about the election day. Peaceful and democratic rules must be obeyed before the elections.”
Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor spoke more clearly than both Lagodinsky and Borrell.
“Election actually starts with laws and regulations on this subject. It starts with the custody of the HDP mayors. The election is actually a democratic process, and it isn’t a single day,” Amor said. His next message was clearer. “Anyone who observes the election will consider how the votes of the six million pollers, who voted for HDP will be banned, how a few hundred politicians and HDP will be banned…”
On one hand, the grief caused by the earthquake, on the other hand, the election process to be experienced in the shade of the state of emergency… As a country, we have a very difficult period ahead of us.