Italian FM: Neither Turks are Arab, nor Taksim is Tahrir

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said, "Neither Turks are Arab, nor Taksim is Tahrir." Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino briefed the Italian parliament about the Gezi Park events, during a special session of House of Representatives General Council. Emphasizing that Gezi Park events should not be read as "Turkish Spring" or continuation of Arab Spring, Bonino said, "Neither Turks are Arab, nor Taksim is Tahrir." On the contrary, Bonino likened the Gezi Park events to ''Occupy Wall Street'' or others which occur in European countries. Bonino also said, excessive use of force by police and detainment of lawyers cannot be accepted, adding, the protests continued without any direction or leading, and neither opposition parties, nor military took role in the demonstrations. Expressing Italy's support for a dialogue between the government and the protesters, Bonino defined the events as "first serious test for Turkey in EU accession road and democratization." He added, "We need to encourage Turkey at issues of democracy and plurality, if we support their democratization process. Italy wants to see a fully democratic Turkey as part of EU."