EU Parliament attacks with PKK, FETÖ arguments: Erdoğan

İZMİR- Anadolu Agency

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 17 slammed the EU parliament (EP), saying they attack Turkey with PKK and FETÖ arguments.      

"European Parliament is attacking Turkey with the arguments of the separatist terror organization [PKK] and FETÖ.  Once they have the chance, believe me, they won't hesitate to hand this country to terror groups," Erdogan said during a campaign rally ahead of looming local elections.     

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.     

Erdoğan's remarks came after the EP's report which was passed this week urging the suspension of Turkey's EU accession process.     

He said that the parliament's decision has no value and Turkey is ready if the EU will take such a decision.     

"We are waiting for this decision of yours. Take it, we are ready, but they can't do it," the president said.     

A total of 370 members of the EP voted in favor of the decision to suspend Turkey's EU negotiations while 109 voted against and 143 abstained from voting.      

The non-binding advisory report drew reactions from Turkey.     

Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005. But negotiations stalled in 2007 due to the objections of the Greek Cypriot administration on the divided island of Cyprus as well as opposition from Germany and France.