Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey won't change its antiterrorism legislation for the sake of visa-free travel to Europe for its citizens.
Erdogan's statement on May 6 came a day after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who had negotiated the deal, stepped down over a reported rift with the president.
Addressing European countries, Erdogan said: "We'll go our way, you go yours."
The EU is asking Turkey to revise its terrorism laws as a condition for allowing Turkish citizens to travel to Europe without visas on short stays. Erdogan has been pressing for a broader definition of terrorism.
"When Turkey is under attack from terrorist organizations and the powers that support them directly, or indirectly, the EU is telling us to change the law on terrorism," Erdogan said in a speech at the opening of a local government office in the conservative Istanbul district of Eyup.
"They say 'I am going to abolish visas and this is the condition.' I'm sorry, we'll go our way, you go yours. Agree with whoever you can agree," he said.
