IPI urges EU leaders to stress importance of free press in Turkey

The International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday appealed to European Commission leaders to make press freedom a priority in ongoing membership talks with Turkey amid concerns over verbal attacks on news organizations and continued legal hurdles to free expression. IPI Director David Dadge held meetings with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and other officials to stress the EU's influence in seeking reforms during Turkey's membership talks. The meetings follow concerns expressed by the IPI and other organizations about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's public complaints about coverage of his government, and his appeals to supporters to stop buying newspapers that, as he told one rally, stand by others rather than himself. "The IPI hopes the European Commission can use its influence to encourage Erdogan to take a step back from his position of criticizing the media and calling for boycotts," Dadge said after the meetings. "The EU can play a central role in ensuring free expression and pluralistic media in candidate countries such as Turkey."