Turkey slams French response to protests as a 'double standard'
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey has blasted French authorities for using "excessive force" in quelling recent so-called "yellow-vest" protests in Paris capital primarily focusing on the economy.
"We have never supported vandalism. When we witnessed vandalism in our country, we saw these [European] countries strongly supporting it through NGOs, politicians and press. Turkey remained on the agenda every day," Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying on Sunday by state-run Anadolu Agency.
He was speaking at an Antalya Association of Journalists awards ceremony. The protests in the French capital began on November 14. Backed by trade unions, they are critical of the cost of goods like fuel and low wages.
"Today, there are demonstrations in France, we occasionally see them going extreme. We are against vandalism, but the excessive force used by French police is truly a lesson," added Cavusoglu.
According to AFP, 10,000 protestors hit the streets on Saturday with about 8,000 police. Some looting has been reported, but the events have largely been spared direct confrontation. The police have used tear gas.
The foreign minister argued Europe has a double standard when it reports and covers on crackdowns by the Turkish government.
"The attitude of the European Union and countries is also a lesson. The press attitude in this context is a total disaster. That's what we call 'double standards'. That's what we call hypocrisy," he said.
Cavusoglu called Europe the most stable continent in the world.
"We don't want the economies of these [European] countries to be damaged. We are part of this continent as well and it is true that there are problems and issues we are uncomfortable with," he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron will address his nation on Monday and meet with trade and business leaders in an effort to end the protests, which analysts have said are hurting the French economy during the busy holiday season.
Macron, a banker by trade, was elected in 2017. The 40-year-old was seen as a political outsider and more centrist than alternative like Marine Le Pen.
Following the failed military coup in 2016, Turkey was under a state of emergency for two years. It expired in July following a snap election that saw the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) change its political system to a presidential one, giving far-reaching authority to its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"We have never supported vandalism. When we witnessed vandalism in our country, we saw these [European] countries strongly supporting it through NGOs, politicians and press. Turkey remained on the agenda every day," Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying on Sunday by state-run Anadolu Agency.
He was speaking at an Antalya Association of Journalists awards ceremony. The protests in the French capital began on November 14. Backed by trade unions, they are critical of the cost of goods like fuel and low wages.
"Today, there are demonstrations in France, we occasionally see them going extreme. We are against vandalism, but the excessive force used by French police is truly a lesson," added Cavusoglu.
According to AFP, 10,000 protestors hit the streets on Saturday with about 8,000 police. Some looting has been reported, but the events have largely been spared direct confrontation. The police have used tear gas.
The foreign minister argued Europe has a double standard when it reports and covers on crackdowns by the Turkish government.
"The attitude of the European Union and countries is also a lesson. The press attitude in this context is a total disaster. That's what we call 'double standards'. That's what we call hypocrisy," he said.
Cavusoglu called Europe the most stable continent in the world.
"We don't want the economies of these [European] countries to be damaged. We are part of this continent as well and it is true that there are problems and issues we are uncomfortable with," he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron will address his nation on Monday and meet with trade and business leaders in an effort to end the protests, which analysts have said are hurting the French economy during the busy holiday season.
Macron, a banker by trade, was elected in 2017. The 40-year-old was seen as a political outsider and more centrist than alternative like Marine Le Pen.
Following the failed military coup in 2016, Turkey was under a state of emergency for two years. It expired in July following a snap election that saw the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) change its political system to a presidential one, giving far-reaching authority to its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.