Those against whom we said ‘one minute’ are now delighted, says PM over Gezi Park protests

ANKARA

Erdoğan reportedly watched a video showing damage inflicted on the shops of tradesman during the Gezi Park protests, alongside the chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Craftsmen and Tradesmen. AA photo

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated his belief that the Gezi Park protests have external connections, adding that the interest lobby and foreign news outlets were also involved. “Those against whom we said ‘one minute’ are now delighted,” Erdoğan was quoted as saying during a meeting with the chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Craftsmen and Tradesmen (TESK) Bendevi Palandöken on June 12. 

Erdoğan notoriously reacted by uttering “one minute” to Israeli President Shimon Peres during the 2009 Davos Economic Forum.

“Even if not in such a manner, we had foreseen these events as a series of conspiracies three months ago. We had received some intelligence reports,” Erdoğan also said.

Instruction to 'finish' protests in 24 hours

The Turkish prime minister reportedly watched with Palandöken a video showing the damages inflicted on the shops of tradesman during the Gezi Park protests. “The security forces will behave very differently from now onward. [Those who damaged the shops] will render account. The tradesman should be vigilant. The interests of the interest lobby don’t match theirs,” he said.

According to daily Hürriyet, Erdoğan also said during the meeting that he had told the Interior Minister to “finish” the protests in the next 24 hours, without young people at Gezi Park being hurt.

Erdoğan also met on June 12 a group of 11 people, including artists, academics and students that were invited by the government as representatives of the Gezi Park protesters