Özgür Özel reacts to Tom Barrack's remarks as 'impertinence': Declares him persona non grata

Speaking within the scope of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack made assessments regarding Turkey's role in the region and described Turkey as the "only functioning NATO member in the region."

"The only thing that has worked in the Middle East has been strong leadership regimes: either benevolent monarchies or constitutional monarchy-type structures. Countries that we have targeted in the name of human rights, while wearing the cloak of democracy, have failed," said Barrack, who also noted that the harsh rhetoric between the parties regarding the tension between Turkey and Israel remained largely at a rhetorical level.

Stating that he believes the S-400 issue between the US and Turkey will be resolved soon, Barrack said, "Relations between the US and Turkey have never been better. I think you will see the S-400 issue resolved soon. Turkey's admission to the F-35 program does not pose a problem."

CHP Chairman and Socialist International Vice President Özgür Özel criticized Barrack in his assessment made before the two-day Global Progressive Mobilisation meeting, jointly organized by the Socialist International, the Party of European Socialists (PES), and the Progressive Alliance (PA).

RESPONSE TO BARRACK FROM CHP CHAIRMAN ÖZEL

Özel said the following:

“I will say this in the most direct way: In Antalya, which Atatürk called ‘the most beautiful city in the world,’ in a country founded by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who rejected monarchy and brought democracy to Turkey after the War of Independence, coming here to criticize democracy and praise monarchy is pure impertinence. From this moment on, for the sake of Turkish democracy, Tom Barrack is an unwanted person, an unwanted human being, a ‘persona non grata.’ And from this moment on, we declare Tom Barrack an unwanted person in the Republic of Turkey.

He can no longer represent the US here for even one more minute, nor can he come to Antalya and say, ‘There is too much democracy in these lands. Monarchy works in this region. Strong leadership is needed. We should not criticize monarchies. In fact, we should sacrifice democracy for strong leadership.’ I see these words as pure impertinence. And unless he retracts these words and apologizes to the Republic of Turkey and everyone living in this country, Tom Barrack should not perform this duty on these lands for one more minute.”

News Source: 12punto