EU minister warns of 'anti-Turkish' rhetoric

By Ecenur Colak

TALLINN, Estonia (AA) - Turkey's EU minister on Thursday urged European politicians to stand against anti-Turkish rhetoric which could harm the bloc's fundamental values.

Speaking at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute in Tallinn, Omer Celik said tolerating far-right parties which campaigned with anti-Turkey and anti-Islam language was strengthening anti-EU movements.

"Even if we have a strong military and security capacity to protect ourselves from external enemies, the problem arises from within today," Celik said.

The minister noted that there would be bigger threats to European democracies if strong internal reforms were not initiated, warning the extreme right could rise even further.

He said restrictive decisions targeting Islam had strengthened radicalization.