US, EU officials react to Turkey's YouTube ban

WASHINGTON / BRUSSELS

Officials from the United States and the European Union have reacted to the Turkish government's move to block access to YouTube, hours after leaked recordings of a key security meeting were published on the video sharing website. 

Marie Harf, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson, has answered a question on the issue during the press briefing March 27. Harf repeated that Washington is against any violation of free speech and calls Ankara to unblock access to YouTube, as well as Twitter.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has raised the Turkish government's blocking of Twitter at the OSCE's Permanent Council session March 27.

After voicing concern over the ban, Daniel B. Baer, the US' ambassador to the OSCE, called Turkey to refrain from adopting similar "unlawful limitations." Revoking the Twitter ban aside, Ankara blocked YouTube, too, hours after Baer spoke at the OSCE meeting in Vienna.

Several EU officials, on the other hand, have voiced their concerns through Twitter. Here are some reactions:

1. @twitter , @YouTube - where does this end #Turkey?

— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) 27 Mart 2014

2. #Turkey: freedom of sharing information needs to be respected, any limitation needs to be proportionate

— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) 27 Mart 2014

Another desperate and depressing move in #Turkey. I support all supporters of real freedom & democracy #TurkeyblockedYouTube

— Neelie Kroes (@NeelieKroesEU) 27 Mart 2014

A fascist Turkey would be a very very bad place indeed @Akparti @cbabdullahgul #Turkiye #euwhatevernext

— Andrew Duff MEP (@Andrew_Duff_MEP) 27 Mart 2014

Its horrible for #Turkey to block Twitter & YouTube, but #censorship going on much longer, and there was too much silence esp from the US

— Marietje Schaake (@MarietjeSchaake) 27 Mart 2014