Rome: Mass anti-government protests are “the first serious test” for Turkey in its bid to join the European Union, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said yesterday, describing the excessive use of force against demonstrators as unacceptable.
“The Turkish government is in the process of sitting a maturity test in the squares and the streets. It is probably the first serious test for the endurance of democracy in Turkey and its accession to Europe,” she told parliament.
“Some think that Turkey had passed that test thanks to its dynamic economy but much more is needed,” she said, calling for dialogue between government and the protesters.AFP
