Turkey doesn't take EP vote seriously: Turkish Minister

Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik said that Turkey doesn't take European Parliament vote seriously.

Çelik made the comments in a news conference after EU lawmakers voted in favour of a non-binding motion urging the largely symbolic freeze in the 11 year-old talks because of Ankara's "disproportionate" reaction to a July failed coup.

"With its decision, Europe once again proved how it applies double standards. They should know that we will never pay attention to such a decision," he said.

"We will never let Europe underestimate Turkey's reforms and efforts for the protection of human rights. Every party should understand that we protect both our territorial integrity and the security of Europe with the security measures that we imply," Çelik said.

"EU Parliament loses perspective when it comes to Turkey," the Minister said. Turkish EU minister described the motion of EP's motion to halt Turkey talks as 'null and void.

He also said that EU Parliament needs to watch language when they were talking about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The EU lawmakers' move is to temporarily halt the EU membership talks with Turkey was justified with what they call “Ankara's disproportionate" reaction to the July 15 coup bid as Ankara has been fighting against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) following the coup bid by dismissing tens of thousands of state employees over their link with FETÖ terrorist organization.