In Ankara EU leaders condemn today the failed coup and express EU’s solidarity with Turkey At a meeting in Beringen (Limburg) on Thursday evening (8 September), the Turkish Member of Parliament Metin Külünk called on Belgian politicians to watch up for Gulenistes and to close Gulenist schools.
An associate of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he visited Beringen at the invitation of the European Association of Democratic Turks (UETD) to discuss the situation in his country after the failed coup on July 15. Mr. Külünk is particularly responsible for maintaining contacts with Turkish expatriates.
Beringen has a large Turkish community and the meeting was attended by more than a thousand people. Before the speeches, the Belgian and Turkish anthems were played. A film was screened with images of the failed coup and President Erdogan’s call to take action against the perpetrators of the coup.
The Belgian president of the UETD, Hamarat Basir, called on Europe to support Turkey in its fight against terrorists.
"After the attack, Turks all over the world gathered to condemn the attack. As European Turks, we expected that Europe would do the same but it didn’t happen," he said.
"Turkey has always taken part in the fight against terrorism and expects Europe to do the same against terrorists in Turkey. Europe should strongly support Turkey to fight the Islamic State in Syria.”
Külünk warned Belgian politicians, security services and media against Gulenistes, which he called "soft' terrorists", referring to the cleric Fethullah Gülen, who lives in exile in the United States and denies any involvement in the failed coup.
"I can inform you that these terrorists infiltrate everywhere in the media, the security services and in politics. They are dangerous," he said.
"I call on Belgium to close Gulenist schools and to expel them from Belgium because of their stand against Turkey," added Külünk. He also called on Turks to engage more in local politics, education and community life, so that they can give their version.
"Don’t stay only in your own society but engage also in Belgian associations."
At today’s High Level Political Dialogue in Ankara, EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn will discuss issues of common interest and concern with Turkish ministers. They will also attend a ceremony for the victims of the attempted coup.
They will reiterate the position of the European Union “which unequivocally and immediately condemned the attempted coup against the legitimate and democratically elected institutions”.
They will also take the “opportunity to stress, once again, once again and as confirmed at the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Bratislava, the full solidarity to the people and institutions of Turkey and the importance of the rule of law”.
The Brussels Times (Source: Belga and European Commission)
