EU appears ready to tackle strained ties with Turkey
Body’s new leader endorses French overtures to Ankara.
minister, Sweden sought to have him dential candidacy of Hillary arrested in connection with Clinton. allegations of rape and assault. U.S. intelligence agencies Although Sweden is no lon- concluded that Russian hack- ger seeking his extradition, ers working for the Kremlin Assange has refused to leave, carried out the intrusions, but saying that he fears Britain Assange has always insisted would extradite him to the that he did not know the United States to face charges source of the emails, under the relating to his involvement in working rules of WikiLeaks. He multiple releases of documents has denied working for Rusthat U.S. officials say have damsia or any other government. aged national security. U.S. Attorney General Jeff
He has managed to wear out Sessions has said that arresthis welcome over the years, ing Assange is a priority. “We alienating many of his pre- professionals that have vious supporters, including been in the security business Edward Snowden, the forof the United States for many mer American intelligence years that are shocked by the contractor who leaked doc- number of leaks, and some of uments about surveillance them are quite serious,” he programs. said last year.
Assange also offended When Swedish prosecutors potential supporters in the dropped their effort to have Democratic Party by allowAssange extradited last year, ing WikiLeaks to become the they said it was not for rea- conduit for emails hacked by sons of guilt or innocence but Russia from the Democratic because they saw no hope of National Committee that were compelling him to leave the intended to harm the presi- embassy. SOFI , BULGARIA — The said it was “more realistic” European Union looks set for now to target a special to make an opening to help partnership than full-blown improve badly damaged rela- EU membership. Zaharieva tions with Turkey in the near said she would back it if an future, boosted by recent EU consensus was possible. talks between Turkish and Highlighting the difficult French and German leaders relationship between the and officials. huge Muslim country and
After more than a year the largely Christian EU has of insults and a diplomatic been the inability of both standoff between EU memsides to get close to a member nations and Turkey, Bulbership deal for Turkey first garian Foreign Minister Ekatenvisaged over 50 years ago. erina Zaharieva told a small Ties between Turkey and group of reporters Thurs- Europe worsened last year day that the EU would be amid mass arrests and firworking hard to improve ings carried out by Erdogan’s ties while her country holds government following a July the EU presidency over the 2016 coup attempt. RelaHowever, British police say next six months. tions deteriorated further that he is still subject to arrest Zaharieva said the Euroafter authorities in several on charges of jumping bail, pean Commission and Coun- countries prevented Turkand Assange faces the strong cil of member states have ish ministers from holding possibility that the United already discussed the possi- political rallies to court expaStates has issued a secret arrest bility of a high-level meeting triates’ votes in a referenand extradition warrant in con- with Turkey during the Buldum to expand the presinection with his assistance to garian presidency to reinvig- dent’s powers.
Chelsea Manning, the Army orate relations. Erdogan u nleashed a private who was convicted of She couldn’t pin down a series of insults at NATO revealing state secrets. date yet, but when pressed allies, accusing European
The decision to grant citi- whether it would happen officials of racism, harborzenship comes amid flurry of during her presidency, she ing terrorists and behaving activity suggesting the Ecua- said “We didn’t schedule the like Nazis. dorean government had date but I think ‘why not, That tone has changed in ramped up efforts to find a why not?’” the new year. solution for Assange. The Last week brought the first Bulgaria, which borders country said Tuesday it was major breakthrough when Turkey, realizes the strategic looking for a third-party medi- French President Emman- importance of its neighbor. ator who could broker a deal. uel Macron hosted Turkish Zaharieva pointed out Tur
“We’re considering, explor- President Recep Tayyip Erdo- key’s important role as a ing the possibility of a media- gan and suggested that the NATO member, a military tion,” Espinosa said, according EU develop a special partalliance to which most EU to Reuters. “No solution can nership with Turkey since nations belong. She also be reached without interna- EU membership negotiasaid that Turkey remains a tional cooperation and without tions have stalled. key partner in managing the cooperation from the United Zaharieva, who will preflow of immigrants from the Kingdom, which in addition side over all meetings of EU Middle East. And she highhas shown interest in finding foreign ministers until the lighted the economic clout a solution.” summer, backed Macron and of Ankara.
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