President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday blasted countries that support the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) but not its victims.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
Erdoğan said those who praise the 2013 Gezi Park protests are supporters of terror groups like PKK and Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
Turkish security units have started to reach out to families of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists in order to convince those who live in high mountain encampments to stop violence and call them to return home.These initiatives called “persuasion operations” helped a total of 282 terrorists to defect from the PKK.According to reports, only 95 people joined the PKK since the beginning of 2018, and 723 surrendered to Turkish security forces in last two years alone.A total of 210 PKK terrorists have been “neutralized” as part of anti-terror operations across Turkey and abroad in October.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.US sends medical aid to PKK terrorists in Iraq’s Qandil
Hundreds defect from PKK terror group as Turkish ops gain pace
Addressing the 43rd mukhtars meeting at the presidential complex, Erdoğan said: "Gezi means to stand against all those efforts and projects to develop and take Turkey a step further."
In the summer of 2013, a relatively small demonstration in Istanbul’s Gezi Park grew into a nationwide wave of protests against the government that left eight protesters and a police officer dead.
The government later said the demonstrations were an attempt to overthrow it by FETÖ members who had infiltrated the the police and courts.
The United States dispatched medical aid to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization via Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah International Airport. Cargo planes landed at the airport and the aid was transported to Erbil before it was distributed to the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD).Some of the aid was provided to terrorists stationed in Iraq’s Qandil, while another portion was sent to the PKK/PYD in Syria’s north.Northern Iraq’s Qandil Mountains have been a haven for PKK terrorists over the past few decades. Considered as the main base of the PKK, which control checkpoints and entrances to the mountains, the structuring in the area is used for cover and concealment by terrorists.UAE, Saudi Arabia dispatch troops to east of the Euphrates in SyriaApart from the medical aid that was stashed in thousands of boxes, mine detectors and light arms were also provided by the U.S. to the terror group.Military sources say that the U.S. has been sending necessities and medical aid as well as heavy arms to Qandil for quite some time, in addition to the 5,000 trucks of arms it sent to PYD in Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh.Turkey reacts cautiously to US putting bounty on PKKThe U.S. has continued to aid the terror group despite placing a bounty on three key PKK terrorists in early November.Under the Rewards for Justice program, people who give information on the identification or location of PKK terrorists Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, and Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3-5 million.Hundreds of US troops deploy to PKK-occupied areas on Turkey-Syria borderThe move was a "positive but belated" step, Turkish national defense minister said.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.The U.S. and the coalition have largely ignored the PYD/YPG links to the PKK, which the U.S., EU, and Turkey list as a terrorist group.Suspected PKK terrorist arrested in southeastern TurkeyTurkish DefMin discusses Syria's Idlib with Russian counterpartSyrians continue to return to hometowns cleared of terrorists by Turkey
US sends medical aid to PKK terrorists in Iraq’s Qandil
FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt on July 15, 2016 which left 251 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.
Turkey accuses FETÖ of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Speaking about a European Court of Human Rights ruling demanding the release of Selahattin Demirtaş, jailed former co-chairman of pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Erdoğan said: "Those terrorists will direct not only their hatred but also their guns to you when you harm their interests."
The European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) ruling on the former head of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş is not our concern, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday."ECHR decisions do not bind us. There are also so many things we can do against it [ECHR's decision]. We will make a counter move," Erdoğan said."Terrorism is still continuing in Turkey and the Turkish nation is the one who pays the price," he added.The ECHR ruled earlier on Tuesday that Turkey violated the right to a speedy trial for Demirtaş, who was sentenced in September to over four years in jail on terrorism charges related to a speech he gave in 2013, after having spent nearly two years jailed while on trial.Jailed Turkish politicians get prison sentencesThe court, which awarded him 10,000 euros in damages and a further 15,000 euros in costs, ruled against a number of his other complaints and accepted that he had been arrested and detained on "reasonable suspicion" of having committed a criminal offence.Turkey says the HDP has links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.Demirtaş faces several other terrorism-related charges and a total of 142 years in prison if convicted.Turkish prosecutors launch probe against HDP co-leaderTurkey's HDP vows to name candidates 'with the people'Erdoğan to meet with MHP leaderErdoğan also said he would meet with Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Wednesday.Erdoğan stressed that he did not see any issue on the continuation of People's Alliance with MHP."We will discuss the electoral alliance [in the upcoming local elections]. I hope we will obtain a result which will be good for both sides."Local elections are set to be held across Turkey on March 31, 2019.The alliance -- formed early this year, ahead of June general elections -- includes the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the MHP as well as the much smaller BBP, or the Great Union Party.
ECHR ruling on former HDP leader Demirtaş ‘does not bind us,’ says Erdoğan
“Have you ever heard about any statement from any EU body on this individual who provoked the death of 50 innocent civilians through his statements on Oct. 6-8?" he added.
The civilians were killed during clashes called by Demirtaş on Oct. 6-8, 2014.
"We can never take it seriously when countries support PKK, recognized as a terror group by the EU, the murderer of tens of thousands of people -- from newborn babies to 80-year-olds."
Erdoğan slammed the countries supporting FETÖ, saying: "Countries which treat FETÖ respectfully, should not lecture on democracy."