Parliamentary opposition parties say Turkish president ruins relations with U.S.

Following the recent U.S.-Turkey row escalating with travel and visa restrictions, CHP offers a common roadmap to the both sides while HDP argues that Turkey has decreased to the position of a third world country due to President Erdoğan's policies
"Only Erdoğan and AKP are responsible for this condition of the U.S.-Turkey relations" says HDP MP Meral Danış Beştaş.
Tuesday, 10 October 2017 06:03

As the U.S.-Turkey row escalates with mutual travel and visa restrictions, Turkey’s parliamentary main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish opposition Democratic Peoples’ Party (HDP) made statements regarding the crisis.

"We have never witnessed such a big tension in the relations of the United States of America and Turkey. The process that began with an official from the [U.S.] Consulate General in İstanbul has become a deeper matter. It is a crisis situation," CHP deputy chair Öztürk Yılmaz said during a press conference in the Turkish parliament:

CHP: 'WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRISIS SITUATION'

Yılmaz continued: "The ruling party’s attempt to create a perception that the U.S. played a role during the coup attempt [of July 15, 2016], Fethullah Gülen, the case of Reza Zarrab [Turkish-Iranian businessman arrested in the U.S.] and Halkbank, the Syrian process in Astana, the rapprochement with Russia regarding the S-400 missile defense system, the process regarding the Consulate General, the U.S. decision to provide the [Syrian Kurdish] PYD with arms, the incident of Brooking Institute, the incident regarding the guards of [Turkish] President during a U.S. visit, the statements from the U.S. ambassador and the contra-statements have all led up the process to this point."

Stating that they are concerned about the crisis situation that will continue with mutual provocative steps if the process is not well administrated, Yılmaz said: "The deterioration of relations between the two countries are not for the benefit of both countries. We see no possible way other than searching for a resolution by means of talking about the problems through dialogue on the basis of gentleness and diplomacy. We disapprove of the U.S. visa decision to punish all the Turkish people."

Offering a common roadmap to the both sides, Yılmaz concluded that some allegations suggesting that Turkey becomes distanced from the NATO alliance would appear if the crisis atmosphere continued.

HDP: 'THE U.S. DOES NOT TRUST AKP AND ERDOĞAN'

On the other hand, pro-Kurdish HDP party lawmaker Meral Danış Beştaş also held a press in the parliament about the U.S-Turkey row.

"The world is aware of everything. Even if they hide their head in the sand, a shake occurs every day following new developments. The picture in Turkey shows that 'I can arrest or take into custody the citizens of other countries'. With this move, the U.S. apparently says to Turkey, 'We do not trust you AKP party and Erdoğan,'. Do not take him [Erdoğan] seriously whilst saying 'We have no problem between us,' That is the main opinion, that is the politics; they say, 'We do not trust you'."

Referring to Erdoğan, Beştaş continued: "The president likes to talk about prestige. Now, Turkey’s prestige has gone through the floor. Turkey has decreased to the position of a third world country with this move. Only Erdoğan and AKP are responsible for this condition of the U.S.-Turkey relations. But the peoples will pay the price. The people will pay the economic price with taxes."