FM Çavuşoğlu urges joint effort against extremism in Europe

Turkish foreign minister on Jan. 31 called for a joint effort to ward off extremist ideas in Europe.

"We should fight against these extremist ideas no matter in which country they are. Our common values will continue to wear off if we do not challenge movements that are racist and hate everybody except themselves," said Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.

His remarks came in a news conference alongside his Bulgarian counterpart Ekaterina Zakharieva, in the wake of a racist attack of independent Greek member of European Parliament (EP) against Turkish flag.

Addressing the EP on Jan. 29, Ioannis Lagos tore up a paper Turkish flag after blaming Turkey for illegal migration flow into Greece.

Lagos is one of the most prominent figures of the far-right racist Golden Dawn party.

He was found guilty last year of attacking a community center in Athens which was hosting asylum seekers.

"These racists are also anti-Semitic. They also hate people of other ethnic backgrounds. If we cannot prevent this today, it will be a disaster for the future of Europe," said Çavuşoğlu.

European Parliament President David Sassoli began sanction procedures against Lagos for ripping apart a Turkish flag, the institution's spokeswoman Delphine Colard told Anadolu Agency on Jan. 30.

The host official Zakharieva, for her part, said: "It is absolutely unacceptable to abuse and humiliate national symbols."

Bilateral relations between Turkey, Bulgaria

Çavuşoğlu also praised Bulgaria's role in Turkey's EU process.

"We are aware of the positive role Bulgaria plays within the EU. We are especially pleased with the attitude Bulgaria adopts towards Turkey. For us, Bulgaria...