Turkey's stance concerning the botched police action states nothing concrete, according to Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic who said after the government’s meeting on January 12, as reported by the TASR newswire: "It's formulated in general terms, there's no specific objection."
He stated that Eurojust, as well as all other countries involved in the police action, have stated that the agreement was clear but that the "Turks violated it", Lipšic said, adding that he will request cancellation of the one-year entry ban for the Czech lorry driver issued by Turkey.
"Because what happened in Turkey was not just, it was a violation of an agreement. A failure on Turkey's part," he claimed, adding that it will depend on negotiations with the Turkish side whether or not the company owning the lorry will receive any compensation.
According to the Turkish embassy the blunders in the international police action that led up to the arrest of the Czech driver were made by Slovakia.
"Unfortunately, Slovak security forces committed a couple of blunders and failed to meet the requirements and international norms our security forces are accustomed to," says the Turkish statement as quoted by TASR.
The Turkish authorities also said the statements by Slovak authorities addressed to media were disappointing and that they are particularly surprised by the statement made by Interior Minister Lipšic that Turkey is unready to be part of the EU.
"I voiced my opinion, and I stand by it," said Lipšic.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
