‘Europe should make a choice,’ says Turkish PM

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

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Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Nov. 26 urged European leaders to “decide on with whom to cooperate,” calling them to make a choice between his country and “terror groups.”

“First of all, the EU should decide on whether it will ally with Turkey or terror organizations that are freely wandering around in Europe. Turkish nation is waiting for this [decision]. You will always say that ‘Turkey is key for Europe’s security’ but then will ally with terror organizations that tries to dissolve Turkey. We will never accept this,” said Yıldırım, speaking during Istanbul Health Expo in Istanbul.

"It should be borne in mind that Turkey is the country that welcomes and gives a safe haven for millions of refugees fleeing their homes due to the tragedy of humanity in Syria and Iraq....Watch the situation in Europe if Turkey does not protect these refugees…Humanity is in Turkey, Turkey is the country in which humanity has not died."

Yıldırım also said the EU would not care about the European Parliament’s decision to call for a freeze in talks for his country’s accession to the community.

"I hope there are still leaders in Europe who will not consent to a half-century of EU-Turkey relations being damaged," he added.