Daily Cumhuriyet’s interview with Ms Kader Sevinc, the European Union representative of main opposition CHP.

Excerpt:

“The EU has taken its first step toward a gradual sanctions process and instructed its institutions to begin work on sanctions. That the decision also includes instructions for a detailed review of economic and trade relations indicates that this is a preliminary effort geared towards what’s to come.” She then added, “Ibrahim Kalin’s visit was extremely ineffective and lowkey. A statement made by Erdogan right around that time, declaring, "We see our future in Europe," was regarded by both Brussels and EU capitals as woefully insincere. Just imagine: You say the kinds of things and hurl the kinds of insults that I would avoid repeating even here at these countries and then, right before the EU summit, expect them to find sincerity in your words of sympathy to Europe that completely contradict your previous position. This is the product of a mindset that has lost all touch with reality.” According to Sevinc, President Erdogan and his policies are very well-suited to the motivations of a clique operating inside the EU, who rub their hands together with glee the more he speaks. “This group includes those who do not wish to see Turkey in the EU and the Christian Democrats led by Merkel’s party. What they’ve come to discover since 3 October, 2005 is as follows: It’s extremely difficult for Turkey to join the EU under an AKP government or Erdogan’s leadership, because their actions and policies will not carry them toward the EU. They will only give the nod to a "privileged partnership". And Mr. Erdogan’s policies have done just that: Put us a on a path to a "privileged partnership". And that is a system of colonialism. Only colonies would agree to execute decisions made at the negotiating table without having a say-so in the decision-making process. That’s the definition of a privileged partnership,” she said. Sevinc also said the Turkish government should inform the Parliament on the secret talks in Berlin between Greece and Turkey with Germany acting as mediator, Cumhuriyet headlined. She said, “A major scandal took place last summer. News emerged of secret talks in Berlin between Greece and Turkey with Germany acting as mediator. It’s not out of the ordinary for countries to hold such talks within the framework of diplomacy, but they need to be shared with Parliament in a closed session. Mr. Erdogan sent one of his people along with a few others to Berlin on multiple occasions to attend these negotiations and there were even reports of a memorandum of understanding comprised of 10 items. But things went south when the foreign minister somehow disclosed these secret talks. This was widely reported in the German and Greek media, but was seldom heard about in Turkey due to the media blackout. I openly asked the government and members of the public about why these talks might have been kept secret. The CHP also posed the question in a written motion. The government, meanwhile, maintains its silence. Why would a government hold talks with Greece on such an important national issue and keep it from parliament? We need an answer to this question.”

Full interview:

https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/chp-ab-temsilcisi-kader-sevinc-eskimis-taktiklerle-martin-sonu-kisa-donebilir-1798432

Cumhuriyet 14 Aralık 2020.pdf