Foreign journalists who were not allowed to enter the joint news conference between Jyrki Katainen, EU Commission Vice President and Berat Albayrak, Turkey’s Minister of Treasury and Finance watch conference on TV ( AP )
Grant will help fund the construction of a railway line between the southeast edge of the EU border in Bulgaria and Istanbul
At least half a dozen European journalists were barred from a press conference and signing ceremony on Thursday announcing €275 million in European Unionmoney for Turkish rail projects.
The grant will help fund the construction of a railway line between the southeast edge of the EU border in Bulgaria and the Turkish commercial capital, Istanbul.
EU Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen told reporters at the televised appearance in Istanbul that he deeply “regretted” the barring of the journalists, and insisted that the EU was working with Turkish authorities to make sure “freedom of the press is respected.”
Berat Albayrak, Turkey’s minister of energy, acknowledged some journalists seeking to enter the press conference were barred because they have not yet their press cards renewed. “As you see, the ones whose accreditations were renewed are here, and they are free and at ease to ask their questions,” he said.
The signing of the deal comes weeks before closely watched 31 March municipal elections in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) faces voters for the first time since a financial meltdown last year. Insiders say the party’s success hinges on the economy, with supporters of the AKP complaining about a loss of lucrative government building contracts.
Source: Independent
