EP's Ruijten: "If the AKP is closed down, Turkey will pay dearly"

Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament, yesterday met with visiting deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People's Party, and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). "Turkey is falling behind in the Copenhagen Criteria," she said. "If the AKP is shut down, negotiations with the European Union will be suspended." Ruijten, who will prepare the progress report on Turkey this June, signaled that if the AKP is closed, Turkey would pay a heavy price.