ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday that Turkey itself would take action if the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) Qandil Mountain bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan region were not closed down.
“If Iraq doesn’t address the Qandil issue we will do it,” he warned in a speech televised by Rudaw.
Referring to a deadly crackdown on the PKK that began last month -- after the group that had been in slow-moving peace talks with Ankara for two years claimed responsibility for killing two soldiers -- Erdogan said he had dealt with the PKK when the time was right.
“When the time arrived we addressed them,” he said.
Without mentioning him by name, Erdogan blasted People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas, accusing him of having an outlawed group behind him.
He referred to Demirtas as a composer that leads the PKK orchestra.
Tensions have been high between both leaders since the Turkish crackdown began late last month, with nationwide sweeps and deadly Turkish air raids in the Qandil Mountains and in Turkey’s southeastern Kurdish regions.
At least 390 PKK rebels have been killed and 400 wounded in the Qandil attacks, Turkish officials have said.
In comments meant to show this is a war against the PKK, not the Kurds, Erdogan said Friday that he saw all Turks as one nation.
“I have always said this nation is one; it has one flag and one government,” Erdogan said. “The constituents of this nation are not just Turks, there are Kurds, Laz and Circassians and Georgians in this country.”
He claimed there is no difference between Turks and others in Turkey.
And he warned that any “insurgency” would be dealt with mercilessly.
The Turkish president’s speech came as both the Kurdish Regional Government and Iraq’s Federal Government have asked for further investigations into the Turkish airstrikes, and assessment of damages.
Iraq’s foreign minister said Wednesday that his country had no deal allowing Turkey to bomb the PKK within Iraq’s borders.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Wednesday dismissed Turkish justifications for the bombings, saying “The PKK is already in Turkey, why don’t they bomb there.”
Turkey claims the attacks are “in retaliation” for the killings of the two officers.
Following the hail of airstrikes, the PKK has responded with attacks on military outposts and police positions inside Turkey.
“If Iraq doesn’t address the Qandil issue we will do it,” he warned in a speech televised by Rudaw.
Referring to a deadly crackdown on the PKK that began last month -- after the group that had been in slow-moving peace talks with Ankara for two years claimed responsibility for killing two soldiers -- Erdogan said he had dealt with the PKK when the time was right.
“When the time arrived we addressed them,” he said.
Without mentioning him by name, Erdogan blasted People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas, accusing him of having an outlawed group behind him.
He referred to Demirtas as a composer that leads the PKK orchestra.
Tensions have been high between both leaders since the Turkish crackdown began late last month, with nationwide sweeps and deadly Turkish air raids in the Qandil Mountains and in Turkey’s southeastern Kurdish regions.
At least 390 PKK rebels have been killed and 400 wounded in the Qandil attacks, Turkish officials have said.
In comments meant to show this is a war against the PKK, not the Kurds, Erdogan said Friday that he saw all Turks as one nation.
“I have always said this nation is one; it has one flag and one government,” Erdogan said. “The constituents of this nation are not just Turks, there are Kurds, Laz and Circassians and Georgians in this country.”
He claimed there is no difference between Turks and others in Turkey.
And he warned that any “insurgency” would be dealt with mercilessly.
The Turkish president’s speech came as both the Kurdish Regional Government and Iraq’s Federal Government have asked for further investigations into the Turkish airstrikes, and assessment of damages.
Iraq’s foreign minister said Wednesday that his country had no deal allowing Turkey to bomb the PKK within Iraq’s borders.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Wednesday dismissed Turkish justifications for the bombings, saying “The PKK is already in Turkey, why don’t they bomb there.”
Turkey claims the attacks are “in retaliation” for the killings of the two officers.
Following the hail of airstrikes, the PKK has responded with attacks on military outposts and police positions inside Turkey.
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