PM Erdoğan slams BDP over 'straining ties'

ANKARA

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticizes Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) for the comments on the Justice Minister over a visit to the PKK chief. DHA photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) officials not to fall out with the Justice Ministry. 

The warning comes in response to the party co-chair’s critical statements about the ministry, which turned down his request for permission to join a meeting on Imralı Island with the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Demirtaş labeled the Justice Ministry’s delaying of permission for the İmralı visit as “infantile behavior.” 

“If they continue in this tone [referring to Demirtaş’s criticism], the link would break up in the negotiations,” Erdoğan said while leaving the Eid prayer. “We cannot approve of these provocative messages that cross the limits.”

Meanwhile, when asked about the alleged resignations in the Turkish Navy in protest of the verdict of the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) case, Erdoğan said he could “not understand” how a patriotic general or admiral could do this and said he was “not expecting” such resignations, avoiding further comment.