High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said Friday that the EU respects result of the recent presidential referendum in Turkey.
Mogherini explained that the EU "respect and recognise" the decision of the referendum on the presidential changes, "even if we acknowledge that there are appeals ongoing or foreseen."
Up to 2.5 million votes are suspected of having been manipulated during the presidential referendum that ended in a close "yes" vote for greater presidential powers, Council of Europe observer mission said after Turkey's controversial referendum. That number of votes would be almost double the margin of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's victory.
Mogherini described Turkey as a "relevant player" and said that the EU has a clear interest in a "stable, secure, economically successful and democratic Turkey".
Her remarks, following an EU foreign ministers meeting in Valletta, came after recent calls from some countries that negotiations over Turkey's potential membership of the bloc should be stopped.
After a "very frank and open" meeting with the foreign ministers, Mogherini said she was "happy to have (Turkey) in but a level of clarification" was needed from Ankara.
Mogherini, who said the EU respected the outcome of the vote, was due to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu later Friday.
