Ex-Swedish PM derides EU envoys' 'late' Ankara visit

ANKARA

The EU ambassadors’ recent visit to Turkish Parliament, almost a month after being bombed, is “better late than never,” to former Swedish Prime Minister, Carl Bildt.

"EU Ambassadors in solidarity with attacked Parliament in Ankara. Nearly a month after. Well, better late than never," Bildt tweeted Wednesday.

A group of European Union envoys visited Turkey’s parliament on Monday to witness the damage caused during the July 15 coup attempt. Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman hosted the delegation.

Bildt had formerly criticized the EU response to the coup bid, asking if Brussels was “asleep or just ignorant”.

Bildt, who served as a mediator in the 1990s Balkans conflict, said the EU leaders had “responded tepidly” to the attempted coup.

In an Aug. 2 article headlined “Europe, Stand up for Erdogan” for the Politico news website, he questioned the time it took Europe’s leaders to denounce the coup, which Turkey has said was carried out by the supporters of Fetullah Gulen, head of the FETO terrorist group.

At least 240 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 others wounded in the defeated coup.

Gulen is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.