US and EU caution Turkey over failed coup crackdown

It is “critical we stand together”.

So says US Secretary of State John Kerry after meeting European counterparts on Monday in the wake of the Bastille Day terror attack in Nice. He described Thursday’s massacre, claimed by ISIL, as an ‘act of savagery’.

At EUCouncil, reiterated support for strong #EU, working with US on global threats, challenges & opportunities; critical we stand together.— John Kerry (JohnKerry) 18 juillet 2016

In Brussels, John Kerry also spoke out on the attempted coup in Turkey, saying that the US supports bringing those involved to justice but that Ankara must uphold the rule of law.

Respect for human rights by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government was equally stressed by European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, at a joint news conference.

Amid talk of capital punishment being restored in Turkey – which hopes to join the EU – she warned that no country can become a member if it introduces the death penalty.

pic.twitter.com/KbkUPq43MS— Federica Mogherini (@FedericaMog) 18 juillet 2016