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YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said NATO will be scrutinizing Turkey in coming days to ensure that it fulfills the alliance’s requirements for democracy and the rule of law following a failed coup attempt, Washington Post reports.
“NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry told reporters after European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned Turkey not to execute coup plotters. She noted that countries with the death penalty cannot join the European Union, as Turkey, a NATO member, has sought to do.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said that while NATO will be watching Turkey carefully, “it’s too soon to say that their membership is at risk.”
Kerry said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly assured him that the government will respect democracy and the law. Kerry warned that NATO will “measure” its actions.