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In the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 7 September in Strasbourg, France, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius stressed that Turkey needed the international community’s support to regain stability, following a failed military coup. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted that Turkey remained a very important partner for Europe, which played a significant role in addressing the global challenges of migration, the fight against terrorism and security.

In the meeting, Linkevičius reminded that during his visit to Ankara on 22 August 2016, he was assured by the Turkish officials that Turkey’s democracy would be preserved and strengthened in accordance with the principles of the rule of law and with respect for human rights, including fundamental rights, such as the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association, as well as to freedom of the press.

Linkevičius called on the Council of Europe and Turkey to make use of the Council of Europe’s existing mechanism of protecting human rights to ensure the rights enshrined in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, particularly the right to a fair trial.

“We have to recognise that Turkey has encountered an extraordinary situation – an attempt to stage a military coup was made. The Council of Europe should be more actively involved and support Turkey in order to ensure compliance with its international obligations in the country,” stressed the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy.

In Strasbourg, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland.

The Council of Europe is a regional intergovernmental organization that has 47 member states. Estonia chairs the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from May to November 2016.