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Turkey tells EU it will not change anti-terror laws

BRUSSELS – Turkey has officially refused to change its anti-terror laws to satisfy European Union demands as part of its efforts to secure visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens.

Turkey’s European Affairs Minister, Volkan Bozkir, said Wednesday “this change in an anti-terror law is completely impossible.”

The EU says Turkey must narrow its definition of “terrorist” and “terrorist act” to secure a visa waiver. The EU is concerned that journalists and political dissenters could be targeted.

Bozkir’s remarks came after talks with European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

Schulz said the scope of Turkey’s anti-terror laws “is so far reaching that we think that some of the measures are touching not directly the fight against terrorism but, for example, the freedom of expression and of media.”

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