People gathered in front of the German Embassy in Ankara, on Friday to protest against the recent search operation on board the Turkish Rosaline A, a cargo ship which was held by the team of a German frigate which is working for the EU's Irini operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
The protest was organised by activists of the youth wing of the non-governmental left-nationalist party Vatan (the Motherland).
The protesters were holding banners reading "Do not imitate the United States, do not become a pirate of the Atlantic!" and banners with the EU flag and skull and bones depicted on it.
The party's secretary-general, Ferdi Tanhan, has issued a press statement accusing Germany and other EU countries of conducting an operation against Turkey.
The official has called the EU's actions "an attempt at occupation" and "a violation of international law".
"The name and flag of the EU must be changed after the incident. From now on, it is not the European Union, but the Union of European Pirates. We brought its flag with us. The skull and bones against the background of the stars symbolise the decline and decay of Europe. Congratulations on the new flag and the new name," he stated.
Tanhan has expressed a desire to hold drills with the fleets of Russia, China and Iran in the Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey denied that the ship was carrying weapons and fired back by claiming that the search was unauthorised and, therefore, illegal.
Operation Irini was established on 31 March to monitor the Libyan arms embargo but ended up attracting severe criticism over its failure to accomplish the task.
