PM Yıldırım visits troops in Turkey’s Şırnak

ŞIRNAK

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Nov. 17 paid a visit to soldiers stationed at a military base in the southeastern province of Şırnak.

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Yıldırım arrived at the province at around 10 a.m. and visited the military base in the Namazdağı region where operations against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants have been ongoing for the past 12 days.

The premier inspected troops participating in the operations at the base and later headed to the Şırnak 23rd Gendarmerie Border Division Commandship.

Later in the day, Yıldırım inaugurated the Geylani Mosque, which underwent restoration after being damaged during clashes between the Turkish army and PKK militants between 2015 and 2016.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the mosque, Yıldırım vowed that the PKK would be eliminated soon.

“PKK terrorists will not harm this nation anymore, they will be eliminated soon,” Yıldırım said.

“You can be sure of that as long as we keep our province, our country, our children and our future together. I hope we will have better days ahead of us,” he added.

The premier also spoke about the investments in the province under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“The [ruling Justice and Development] AKP government has invested 10 billion Turkish Liras [$2.7 billion] in Şırnak in 15 years,” Yıldırım said.

“We are constructing a new road between Cizre and Şırnak that will open next year. This road will tie Şırnak to Siirt and even Van,” he said.