Giving PKK free rein in Europe is like cooperating with Daesh: EU Minister Çelik
Following Saturday night's terrorist attack in Istanbul carried out by the PKK-affiliated Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), Turkey's Minister of EU Affairs Ömer Çelik said the EU's demand for proportionality in Turkey's anti-terror measures implicitly encourages the PKK to continue their terrorist attacks.
Çelik said these attacks were aiming to halt "certain developments in the country," while adding these terrorist attacks cannot sway the minds of the Turkish people as they stand united against terrorism, instead of submitting themselves to terrorist organizations.
Regarding the support that the PKK receives from its European affiliates, Çelik underscored the double standards of the EU's anti-terror practices by saying "the PKK is allowed to act freely and collect funds in numerous European countries even though it is recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU."
"While Turkey is fighting against the terrorist PKK with strong determination, the terrorist organization has tens of millions of euros in revenue," said Çelik.
The minister also signified how the EU's argument for proportionality in Turkey's anti-terror measures encouraged the PKK to continue their terrorist activities.
Stating that Turkey is one of the few countries that strictly adheres to laws despite all the terrorist attacks it suffers, Çelik said Turkey as a sovereign state would never take a step back in fighting the PKK. He also added that the discussion of proportionality in the fight against the PKK, but not against Daesh, was a clear sign of double standards.
Çelik asserted that even though the intelligence agencies of different European countries know that the PKK is a violent and merciless terrorist organization, it is still allowed to propagate its discourse, presenting itself as a secular organization fighting Daesh. "However," said Çelik, "the terrorist organization is intentionally being utilized against Turkey as a part of certain political projects."
Signifying that terrorist organizations cannot be classified as benign, Çelik claimed that allowing the PKK to open an exhibition at the European Parliament or to set up a tent for propaganda in Belgium was basically the same as cooperating with Daesh, in principal, as both are terrorist organizations.
Çelik said these attacks were aiming to halt "certain developments in the country," while adding these terrorist attacks cannot sway the minds of the Turkish people as they stand united against terrorism, instead of submitting themselves to terrorist organizations.
Regarding the support that the PKK receives from its European affiliates, Çelik underscored the double standards of the EU's anti-terror practices by saying "the PKK is allowed to act freely and collect funds in numerous European countries even though it is recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU."
"While Turkey is fighting against the terrorist PKK with strong determination, the terrorist organization has tens of millions of euros in revenue," said Çelik.
The minister also signified how the EU's argument for proportionality in Turkey's anti-terror measures encouraged the PKK to continue their terrorist activities.
Stating that Turkey is one of the few countries that strictly adheres to laws despite all the terrorist attacks it suffers, Çelik said Turkey as a sovereign state would never take a step back in fighting the PKK. He also added that the discussion of proportionality in the fight against the PKK, but not against Daesh, was a clear sign of double standards.
Çelik asserted that even though the intelligence agencies of different European countries know that the PKK is a violent and merciless terrorist organization, it is still allowed to propagate its discourse, presenting itself as a secular organization fighting Daesh. "However," said Çelik, "the terrorist organization is intentionally being utilized against Turkey as a part of certain political projects."
Signifying that terrorist organizations cannot be classified as benign, Çelik claimed that allowing the PKK to open an exhibition at the European Parliament or to set up a tent for propaganda in Belgium was basically the same as cooperating with Daesh, in principal, as both are terrorist organizations.