Brussels, 14/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 14 June Peter Stano, the spokesperson for Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, welcomed the “constructive and positive” signals coming from Turkey “over the last 24 hours” - including a further meeting between Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and representatives from civil society. On 13 June, Erdogan met representatives from the protesters, after meeting an initial group the previous day.
“We welcome the clear commitment from the government to suspend the construction plans for Gezi Park (in Istanbul) while the appeals court decides on the case”, Stano continued.
The European Commission also welcomes the investigation into “the excessive use of force against people peacefully making use of their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression”, Stano added.
Elsewhere, Stano said that discussions are under way between the member states on opening the regional policy chapter. A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the same day that “there is no direct link between the events in Turkey and the technical process of this country's accession negotiations for the EU”. (CG/transl.fl)