Turkey urges EU to take principled stand against terror

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called on the EU and other European countries to take a “principled and honorable” stand against terrorism.

Erdogan spoke at a meeting in Turkey’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaras where he said no treacherous activities against Turkey would succeed either on the field or at the table.

Erdogan said last month’s Belgian court ruling that blocked the prosecution of 36 suspects linked to YPG/PKK terrorist group reflected the “insincere, unprincipled and distorted” stance of the EU and the European countries on terrorism.

Last week, Turkey condemned the European Parliament for holding an event attended by ringleaders of the PKK terror group and its supporters.

The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East, and the Kurds conference was held in Brussels last Wednesday.

Some leaders of the terror group -- Adem Uzun, Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar -- who are in the red category of Turkey’s wanted terrorist list -- were in attendance of the conference.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the YPG/PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., as well as the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

After the meeting, President Erdogan attended a dinner given by his party and said the coronavirus in China needs to be handled properly.

“The problems caused by China's virus crisis not only affect the parties but the entire system,” he said, adding that “if we work well and take the right steps, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity for our country.”

*Havva Kara Aydin contributed to this story from Ankara