(MENAFN- Trend News Agency ) Turkey's foreign ministry on Friday slammed the U.S. State Department over its spokeswoman's remarks on the upcoming snap elections' transparency, saying that casting doubt on a vote that is yet to be held is unacceptable, Daily Sabah reports.
The ministry said the U.S. official's statement, claiming that "it would be difficult to hold a completely free, fair and transparent election" under the state of emergency was an "ill-intentioned approach."
"International observation reports confirmed that all elections in Turkey are democratic, free, fair and transparent. The constitutional referendum held in 2017, which was also held under the state of emergency, is the latest example," the statement said.
On Thursday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that "during a state of emergency, it would be difficult to hold a completely free, fair and transparent election in Turkey."
"We have concerns about their ability to hold it during this type of state of emergency. We would certainly like to see free and fair elections, but there's a concern here," Nauert said in Washington.
Saying that holding elections during a state of emergency is not a rare case, the ministry said commenting on the elections that have not yet taken place is disrespectful to the Turkish people's will.
On April 18, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated about the need for early presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey.
"The government welcomed the proposal of Bahceli [leader of the Nationalist Movement Party] to hold early elections. The elections will be held on June 24, 2018," he said.
Devlet Bahceli previously proposed to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey. Bahceli said the early elections should be held on Aug. 26.
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