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  3. QA-32, 20 April 2018, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in response to a question on the remarks of U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert expressing concerns that the early elections in Turkey will be held under the state of emergency
QA-32, 20 April 2018, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in response to a question on the remarks of U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert expressing concerns that the early elections in Turkey will be held under the state of emergency

The fact that all the elections in Turkey have been conducted in a democratic, free, fair and transparent manner has been confirmed by relevant international monitoring reports. The constitutional referendum of 2017 which was held under the state of emergency is the latest proof of this fact. Disregarding this truth and claiming that the state of emergency will make the upcoming elections fall behind the democratic standards is an approach with ulterior motives.

The state of emergency targets nothing but the activities of the terrorists who threaten the unity of our country and the survival of our state. In Turkey, nobody’s fundamental rights and freedoms have been limited with the exception of the terrorists.

I also would like to remind that elections were held under the state of emergency in many other countries.

One of the latest example of this fact is the elections held in France in 2017. Such prejudiced comments of those countries who claim to have adopted democracy and supremacy of law, demonstrate another example of the double standards which apply when it comes to Turkey.

Furthermore, making statements on the elections that are yet to be held constitutes an intervention on the free will of the people and is unacceptable.