Turkey’s top diplomat rules out reforming its terror laws

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s foreign minister insists his country will not revise its terrorism laws and says EU pressure on Turkey over the issue is tantamount to “support for terrorism.”

The European Union says Turkey must meet several conditions, including narrowing its legal definition of terrorism, in order for Turks to enjoy visa-free travel to Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone.

Addressing Turkish businessmen in Vienna late Monday, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey would never “give in to such impositions.”

He says “telling us to change our anti-terror law when we are fighting against the PKK and Daesh amounts to supporting terrorism” — referring to Kurdish and Islamic State militants.

Cavusoglu said a “roadmap” is needed to discuss the issue with EU partners in a “sensible manner.”

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