Two Turkish journalists arrested this week over their reports about arms supplies to Syria urged the European Union not to compromise on human rights and freedoms as it seeks an agreement with Turkey to help stem flows of migrants to Europe. European diplomats have been measured in their criticism of media freedom in Turkey and President Tayyip Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian rule, recognising the West needs Ankara's help on the migrant crisis and as an ally in the US-led coalition against Islamic State.
European and Turkish officials hope EU leaders and Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will sign a deal to ease the migrant crisis on Sunday.
Writing from Silivri prison near Istanbul, Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper, which is left-wing, secular and often critical of the government, and senior editor Erdem Gul said in a letter to EU leaders they hope Sunday's meeting results in a lasting solution, adding: "We would also like to hope that your desire to end the crisis will not stand in the way of your sensitivity towards human rights, freedom of press and expression as fundamental values of the Western world." The two also wrote to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a spokesman for the German government confirmed.
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