An observer mission that has been monitoring the Turkish referendum campaign and vote on expanding presidential powers says the procedures used "fell short" of international standards. The monitoring group described a series of irregularities in the referendum, including a skewed pre-vote campaign in favor of the "yes" vote, intimidation of the "no" campaign and the fact that the referendum question was not listed on the ballot. Gabriel said the EU would first wait for the opinion of international observers of Turkey's referendum, adding that "We will be able to assist Turkey in its economic development only if it remains a democracy" and not if it reintroduces the death penalty. Hollande said in a statement Monday that France "takes note" of accusations of substantial voting irregularities in Sunday's referendum giving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping powers. The French leader warned that if Turkey reinstates the death penalty, that would "constitute a rupture" with Turkey's pledges to respect human rights as part of efforts to join European institutions. A leading German lawmaker has called on Turkish immigrants to show more commitment to Germany's democratic values after a clear majority of the 1.4 million Turkish immigrants who were eligible to vote in the Turkish referendum cast their ballot in favor of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to state-run Anadolu Agency, 63.07 percent of the Turks in Germany voted in favor of Erdogan's plans to greatly expand the powers of his office. Cem Ozdemir, one of the heads of the Green Party and a son of Turkish immigrants himself, told German news agency dpa on Monday the strong support for Erdogan was also the result of decades of failed integration policies in Germany, which as a society never gave Turks a sense of fully belonging. A Greek Cypriot official says that irrespective of the outcome of Turkey's referendum on expanding presidential powers, the Cyprus government is hopeful that Turkey will "positively and effectively" contribute to ongoing talks aimed at reunifying the ethnically divided island. Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides told the Associated Press Monday that it's hoped Turkey's stance will move the peace talks forward toward the stated goal of reunifying the island as a federation. Christodoulides said Turkey should refrain from throwing up obstacles to the process, like making the "unacceptable demand" of granting Turkish citizens the right to relocate and transfer money, services and goods to Cyprus as part of any peace deal. Bulent Tezcan, deputy chairman of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, is citing irregularities in Sunday's referendum which approved constitutional changes that will grant the country's president greater powers. Germany has called on the Turkish government to engage in a "respectful dialogue with all political and civilian forces of the country" after "the narrow outcome of the referendum showed how deeply Turkish society is divided." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a joint statement Sunday the German government respects the Turkish people's right to decide over their constitution.
 |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.sfgate.com |
