Kerry hints that Turkey could lose its NATO membership
US Secretary of State John Kerry hinted on Monday that Turkey may lose its membership in the NATO alliance if it continues its current crackdown against the military following a coup attempt on Friday.
"NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry told reporters.
“A lot of people have been arrested and arrested very quickly,” he said, “the level of vigilance and scrutiny is obviously going to be significant in the days ahead.”
“We must be vigilant that Turkish authorities don’t put in place a political system which turns against democracy,” he insisted.
Kerry said that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had assured him that his government will respect the country’s democracy; Kerry said NATO will “measure” Turkey’s conduct.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even said on Sunday that the Turkish parliament should reconsider its abolition of the death penalty in light of the coup attempt.
He also said the coup attempt was a “gift from God because this will be a reason to cleanse our army.”
A senior Turkish official told Reuters that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg telephoned Erdogan and told him that he supports the Turkish government saying that NATO cannot tolerate military coups in member states.
Following a failed military coup in Turkey last Friday night the Turkish government detailed 6,000 people, 3,000 of whom are judges and legal officers who may not have had anything to do with that failed coup attempt.
"NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry told reporters.
“A lot of people have been arrested and arrested very quickly,” he said, “the level of vigilance and scrutiny is obviously going to be significant in the days ahead.”
“We must be vigilant that Turkish authorities don’t put in place a political system which turns against democracy,” he insisted.
Kerry said that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had assured him that his government will respect the country’s democracy; Kerry said NATO will “measure” Turkey’s conduct.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even said on Sunday that the Turkish parliament should reconsider its abolition of the death penalty in light of the coup attempt.
He also said the coup attempt was a “gift from God because this will be a reason to cleanse our army.”
A senior Turkish official told Reuters that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg telephoned Erdogan and told him that he supports the Turkish government saying that NATO cannot tolerate military coups in member states.
Following a failed military coup in Turkey last Friday night the Turkish government detailed 6,000 people, 3,000 of whom are judges and legal officers who may not have had anything to do with that failed coup attempt.