Austrian minister: Turkey going in “dangerous direction”

BERLIN – Austria’s foreign minister says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking his country in a “false and dangerous direction” away from the prerequisites needed for European Union membership.

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz was quoted in Germany’s Welt newspaper Wednesday saying Erdogan’s “dealings with critics, those with different opinions and minorities is absolutely unacceptable.”

He added that Erdogan “is showing definite dictatorial features.”

Some 50,000 people have been arrested and many more dismissed from government jobs in a broad crackdown following last year’s coup attempt.

Kurz was quoted as saying that to join the EU, Turkey has to demonstrate a respect for democracy and human rights.

He says “that hasn’t been the case for a long time.”