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Turkish PM Erdogan: The PKK doesn’t speak for Kurds |
13 April 2005The New Anatolian / Ankara
The Turkish prime minister steps up criticisms of the terror PKK, while PKK militants throw eggs at him in Norway
Interrupting a person claiming to represent the 'National Congress of Kurdistan,' Erdogan says, 'The PKK doesn't speak on behalf of the Kurds'
'How dare you talk about ending the war,' Erdogan rejoined. 'Do you think that there's a separate state within Turkey?'
Under attack both verbally and physically by radical Kurds in Norway yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not shrink from the challenge, openly lashing out at his antagonists and questioning their right to speak for other Kurds.
The first altercation came when a questioner identifying himself as a representative of the "National Congress of Kurdistan," a group linked to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), tried to engage the prime minister at the Nobel Institute in Oslo after Erdogan delivered a speech.
After the premier opened the floor for questions, the "National Congress of Kurdistan" representative began his question with the phrase, "We will end the war with Turkey. ..."
But Erdogan immediately interjected, "The PKK don't speak on behalf of the Kurds."
"Who are you to dare talk about ending the war," thundered Erdogan. "Do you think that there's a separate state within Turkey?"
Adding that there was no Kurdish problem within Turkey, Erdogan said: "I simply cannot understand your prejudiced thoughts. Moreover, our security forces will not shirk their duty to respond to terrorist activities."
Erdogan also downplayed the Kurdish problem only an "illusory problem."
"There isn't a Kurdish problem in Turkey. Are there only Kurdish citizens living in Turkey?" he asked. "Besides them, there are also Turkish, Laz [Black Sea], Georgian and Caucasian compatriots in my country. There are almost 30 distinct ethnic groups living in Turkey. But you choose not to see them, and claim that there is only one region in Turkey where Kurds live. It is impossible for me to accept that."
Raising his voice, Erdogan proceeded to ask the supposed National Congress of Kurdistan representative questions of his own: "You used a phrase. It's a very offensive phrase. 'We will end the war,' you said. Who are you to end the war? Do you think that there's a separate state within Turkey? So you will end the war? This only means that you accept terrorism. And I see you as a source of terror. I see you as a radical."
Erdogan pelted with eggs
But the assaults on the prime minister didn't end there. Outside the Nobel Institute, protestors chanting PKK slogans and waving PKK banners tried to pelt Erdogan with eggs when he emerged from the building after his speech.
His bodyguards and close adviser, Egemen Bagis, quickly moved to screen the premier from the attack. Erdogan left the scene unscathed, but the same cannot be said for the bodyguards who rushed to protect him.
'No religion permits killing people'
Earlier, during his address to the institute, Erdogan denounced any move to use religion to justify terrorism. "No religion allow terrorism," he said. "Neither Islam, nor Christianity nor any of the other religions. None of them. I think it's unfair to use any religion as part of the name for a terrorist group or activity."
Emphasizing that terrorism was not a problem unique to any one country or religious group, Erdogan characterized terrorism as a worldwide problem.
"Terrorism is a phenomenon attributable to no single country, religion, nation or ethnicity," he said. "I speak as the prime minister of the country which has lost the most victims to terrorist activities. We have long felt alone in our struggle against terrorism."
Erdogan called for the establishment of a common front against terrorism.
He also said that citizenship in the Republic of Turkey is the common denominator for all people living in its borders. "This is our primary identity," he added. "All ethnic groups are included in this primary identity. My government takes the same position towards every distinct religious or ethnic group. We will continue to do so."
Iraq is a priority
Erdogan also shared his view about the situation in Iraq during his address. Calling Iraq the priority region within the Middle East, Erdogan described Iraq's January elections as part of their "transition to democracy."
"These elections showed that the Iraqi people are ready to embrace democratic principles and values," he said. "Turkey is ready to do whatever it can to help establish Iraq's stability."
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13 April 2005
The New Anatolian
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