EU is humiliating Turkey rather than helping: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the European Union was humiliating Ankara instead of supporting Turkey following the July 15 bloody coup attempt.

In an interview with the German daily, Bild, Çavuşoğlu said the EU only threatens Ankara despite all efforts to become a member of the 28-state bloc and obtain visa free travel.

He stated the Turkish nation was “traumatized” by the failed putsch on July 15, but Europe did not stand beside them.

"Rather than helping Turkey, (European nations) are humiliating us," he said.

According to Çavuşoğlu, Turkey has made intense efforts, "like few other nations, to fulfil the conditions of accession to the EU".

In return, Turkey has received "only threats, insults and a total blockage" from the 28-nation union.

"I ask myself, what crime have we committed? Why this hostility?" said Çavuşoğlu, who on Wednesday accused the EU of "encouraging" the coup plotters.

He again raised Turkey´s demand for visa-free travel for its citizens in the EU, in return for upholding a deal reached in March to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.

The EU should grant Turks visa-free travel in October or the migrant deal should put be put aside, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said.

"It is clear: either we apply all the agreements together, or we set them all aside," he added.

Asked whether hundreds of thousands of refugees in Turkey would head to Europe if the EU did not grant Turks visa freedom from October, he replied “I don't want to talk about the worst case scenario. Talks with the EU are continuing, but it's clear that we either apply all treaties at the same time or we put them all aside.”

While referring to claims of Ankara's withdrawal from NATO alliance, Turkey's foreign minister dismissed the speculation saying the idea is being raised "by anti-Turkish circles, not by us."

Turkey is "one of NATO's biggest supporters,” he added.

Ankara needs defense cooperation with countries outside NATO because some Western partners are unwilling to sell his nation equipment or exchange information, according to Çavuşoğlu.

Çavuşoğlu said: "It is clear that we must also cooperate with other partners on buying and selling weapons systems. Because there are NATO partners who, for example, deny us the sale of air defense systems or exchange of information."