EU parliament vote on Turkey breaches European values, Ankara says

ANKARA: A vote by European Union lawmakers to temporarily halt Turkey's membership talks with the bloc breaches basic European values, Ankara's EU affairs minister said on Thursday, adding that Turkey does not take the vote seriously.

Omer Celik made the comments in a news conference after EU lawmakers voted in favour of a non-binding motion urging the largely symbolic freeze in the 11 year-old talks because of Ankara's "disproportionate" reaction to a July failed coup.

Celik said the EU Parliament loses perspective when it comes to Turkey and that it should watch its language when talking about President Tayyip Erdogan.