Turkish president accuses Europe of surrendering to terrorism

Image
IANS Istanbul
Last Updated : Mar 18 2016 | 7:58 PM IST

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused European countries of backing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed by Turkey.

The president criticised Belgium for allowing PKK supporters to pitch tents behind the European Council building in Brussels prior to a summit between the European Union and Turkey, Xinhua reported.

"This is called surrendering to terrorism," he said, warning that there is no reason to believe that a bomb that exploded in Ankara will not explode in Brussels.

"Despite this clear reality, European countries are paying no attention, as if dancing in a minefield," the Turkish leader said.

"You can never know when you are stepping on a mine, but it is clear that this is an inevitable end."

A car laden with explosives exploded on Sunday at the heart of Ankara, killing 37 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, a radical Kurdish group linked to PKK, has claimed responsibility.

Turkish security forces have been fighting against PKK militants in the country's southeast since July last year, where the group is seeking to establish an autonomous region.

The PKK has been listed as a terrorist group as well by the EU and the US.

The EU-Turkey summit was aiming to flesh out a deal seeking to stem the flow of migrants into European countries via Turkey.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 18 2016 | 7:50 PM IST

Next Story