Initial statements from the US and EU concerning the constitutional referendum in Turkey state that they will wait for the observation report of OSCE.
The first statement of the EU concerning the
constitutional referendum in Turkey was released.
Signed by European Commission President Juncker, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn, the statement reads: "We are awaiting the assessment of the OSCE/ODIHR International Observation Mission, also with regard to alleged irregularities.
The constitutional amendments, and especially their practical implementation, will be assessed in light of Turkey's obligations as a European Union candidate country and as a member of the Council of Europe.
We encourage Turkey to address the Council of Europe's concerns and recommendations, including with regards to the State of Emergency. In view of the close referendum result and the far-reaching implications of the constitutional amendments, we also call on the Turkish authorities to seek the broadest possible national consensus in their implementation."
The US Secretary of State also stated that they will make no comments until OSCE released its report involving the initial findings concerning the referendum in Turkey.
The Council of Europe: “Turkish leadership should consider the next steps carefully”
Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland made a statement and pointed out the tight vote:
“In view of the close result the Turkish leadership should consider the next steps carefully.
It is of utmost importance to secure the independence of the judiciary in line with the principle of rule of law enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of Europe, of which Turkey is a full member, stands ready to support the country in this process."
OSCE to release the preliminary report today
It is announced that international referendum
observers in Turkey will release their preliminary report today in a
press conference.
International Observation Mission is a cooperation of OSCE/ODIHR (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It is expected that the chair of the PACE Monitoring Committee Cezar Florin Preda and the head of the ODIHR election observation mission Tana de Zulueta will make statements. This mission consists of 23 parliamentarians and officials from PACE and 40 long-term observers and 63 experts from OSCE/ODIHR. There are observers from 26 countries.
