ANKARA: Turkey鈥檚 EU minister said on Thursday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel鈥檚 comments about halting the expansion of a customs union between Ankara and the European Union harmed the credibility of the bloc.
Merkel said on Wednesday there would be no expansion of the customs union and 鈥渘o kind of deepening at all鈥� in ties between Turkey and the European Union after a series of disputes linked to Turkey鈥檚 crackdown following last year鈥檚 failed coup attempt.
鈥淭his is an unfortunate statement. We should emphasize that no EU member should give orders to EU institutions or EU processes,鈥� Omer Celik told a news conference in Ankara.
鈥淭hese situations are very dangerous, they represent statements that harm the EU鈥檚 credibility.鈥�
Celik said both Turkey and the European Union would gain from changes to the customs union. 鈥淏ut they are acting as if doing so is a favor to Turkey. Let me be very clear, we are in no rush,鈥� he said.
The minister also called on Berlin to cooperate with Turkey鈥檚 request for the extradition of a theology lecturer suspected of playing a major role in the failed coup last year.
Turkish media have reported that Adil Oksuz has been spotted in Frankfurt and Ulm and given a temporary residency permit by Germany鈥檚 Baden-Wurttemberg state.
鈥淣o ally of ours can harbor a killer,鈥� Celik said. 鈥淓ven the possibility of someone with a clear tie to the coup attempt being harbored by our ally is saddening.鈥�