Bağış: CHP must apologize to EU commissioners over bribery remarks

“The CHP leader is insulting European friends of Turkey by raising these baseless claims. Esteemed EU officials do not have the low moral character to accept bribes, and the Turkish government does not have a policy to pay bribes to convince foreign officials,” he said, calling on Kılıçdaroğlu to immediately issue an apology to the EU officials.

In a recent TV appearance Kılıçdaroğlu suggested that EP parliamentarians, including EP Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten, were given expensive gifts during their visit to Turkey and were provided with a stretch limousine during their stay. “What gifts were given to these people? Where were they taken during their stay? Who provided stretch limousine services to these people? These claims should be investigated,” he said.

Oomen-Ruijten said last week the approval of the constitutional reform package to be voted on in a referendum on Sept. 12 will be a significant step forward for Turkey’s further democratization and modernization and expressed sadness over reports that some political parties in Turkey had been calling on their supporters to boycott the referendum.

Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to have talks with EU officials during a visit to Brussels scheduled to take place following the Sept. 12 referendum. In response to Kılıçdaroğlu’s allegations, the co-president of the European Greens-European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a pro-Turkey politician also known as Danny the Red, was quoted by the Star daily on Sunday as saying, “We heard he will visit Brussels and we’ll tell him these allegations are crazy, stupid and baseless.”

The daily also quoted former co-chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Joost Lagendijk saying that Kılıçdaroğlu was talking nonsense, having lost whatever hope he had to prevent the constitutional amendment package from passing. “No one in Brussels will take him seriously anymore,” said Lagendijk.

In the meantime Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu welcomed the main opposition leader’s planned visit to Brussels. However, he dared him to criticize the constitutional package there as well. “If he can say in Brussels ‘These articles are against the European Union,’ then let him say the same thing in Ankara, in Tunceli and in İzmir, too,” Davutoğlu said. “If he can’t say this in Brussels, then he should not say it in Turkey, either,” the minister added.

Bağış appeals to anti-Sarkozy-Merkel sentiment

Bağış called on voters in his own hometown in the southern province of Siirt on Saturday not to bring joy to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both staunchly opposed to Turkey’s bid to join to the 27-nation bloc, by voting down the EU-endorsed constitutional changes in the upcoming referendum on Sept 12.

“I’m sure both Sarkozy and Merkel have their fingers crossed in hopes that the Turkish people reject major changes that will bring this country to the EU acquis. If that happens, they will surely capitalize and campaign on the recalcitrant attitude of the Turkish public to move on the EU path,” he said to a group of voters in a public rally. “I beg you not to let both leaders be happy with the results of the referendum and please vote wholeheartedly for the approval of major changes to the constitution,” he stressed.

If the changes were rejected, this will strengthen the hands of people like Sarkozy and Merkel, he underlined. “Then they’ll say: ‘We knew all along Turks were not ready for full membership in the EU. They have already rejected major changes to bring the country in line with European standards’.”

“Please do not provide these people with ammunition to fire on Turkey by turning down constitutional reforms that will ensure human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Turkey,” Bağış added. He also called on Sarkozy-minded politicians in Turkey to reveal their true colors and said, “Apparently, they seem to be endorsing Turkey’s EU bid but in fact they are erecting every obstacle to prevent the candidacy of Turkey.” “Providing everybody with the opportunity to express themselves is a principle of democracy,” Oomen-Ruijten said in a written statement, encouraging all citizens of Turkey to go to the ballot box.

Oomen-Ruijten’s statement was apparently referring to the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) stance concerning the referendum. The BDP is urging its followers to boycott the Sept. 12 referendum that would amend the constitution. But the BDP and the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, are attempting to use the referendum as a bargaining tool, sending the message that if their demands are met, they may tell their supporters to vote in favor of the constitutional amendments.

Another key EU official, Johannes Swoboda, vice president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, in a recent interview with the Austrian newspaper Der Standard said he was unconvinced by allegations that the reform package was aimed at putting pressure on the high judiciary and criticized the main opposition CHP.

“I wish the CHP would reach reconciliation with the government by putting forth alternatives instead of putting forth these claims,” Swoboda was quoted as saying. Prospects of a civilian dictatorship are “not convincing,” Swoboda said, adding: “Here the basic question is: What has the opposition put forth?” He also said the opposition parties should support the government in its efforts for EU membership, resolving the Kurdish issue and rapprochement with Armenia instead of blocking such efforts.

Turkey’s Constitution, dating back to 1982, is a legacy of the coup d’état of Sept. 12, 1980, a military intervention that has had long-lasting implications for Turkey. Prior moves to change provisions protecting the generals behind the coup have ended in misery for those involved. Attempts to pass a new and more democratic constitution have been blocked, and efforts to limit the military’s control over politics -- the strongest legacy of the Sept. 12 coup -- have all failed. “The constitutional amendments are the first significant step for Turkey’s further democratization and modernization. The constitutional amendments will help increase the welfare of both Turkey and its people,” Oomen-Ruijten said.