(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- The European Union Friday expressed "alarm" over the detention this morning in Turkey of several prominent academics and civil society representatives.
"Repeated detentions of critical voices and the continued widespread pressure on civil society representatives run counter to the Turkish government's declared commitment to human rights and to fundamental freedoms," said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, in a statement.
"Beyond these cases Turkey needs to release immediately all those detained without due process," she said and added that the EU will continue to raise these serious issues, including at the forthcoming High-Level Political Dialogue.
On 22 November, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn will be in Turkey for the High Level Political Dialogue between the European Union and Turkey.
The Turkish delegation will be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, now also in charge of EU Affairs.
At the Dialogue, they will discuss all issues of common interest and concern, among them key foreign policy issues such as developments in Syria, Iran, and Iraq.
They will also discuss bilateral relations between the EU and Turkey, cooperation on migration and counter-terrorism and other important issues, noted a separate statement. (end) nk.ibi
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