Erdogan says not to recognize EP resolution

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that he did not recognize any decision that the parliament of the European Union will make on Turkey over Gezi Park protests. Reiterating that a meeting was held on Wednesday with a group of Taksim Gezi Park activists, Erdogan said he had offered a plebiscite for the future of Gezi Park, adding, "Some of the friends at the meeting were happy about it and some were not. However, you are either going to say 'yes' to the plebiscite or 'yes' to our implementations." Defying a non-binding resolution by the European Parliament which expressed concern over "the disproportionate and excessive use of force" by Turkish police, Erdogan said, "l do not recognize any decision that the parliament of the European Union makes on Turkey," adding, "They (the EU) have this guy who is responsible for enlargement. He visits Turkey frequently and holds talks with us. He is unable to present an antithesis before me but he posts on Twitter against us. Do you think this is moral? And on the other hand, there is this social democrat who previously criticized Turkey's main opposition. Now he is making a new statement criticizing us this time to correct his supposed mistake. Does he really know what is going on here in Turkey?" Erdogan also said that more than 30 protesters were arrested during the protests against the G-8 just yesterday and the day before in Britain. "What did the European Parliament say about Britain, their own member? Right now Turkey is not a member of the EU, it is a negotiator. How come you can make a decision about me? Is this within your limits?" Erdogan added.