Turkey slams European Parliament over PKK event

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

Turkey has condemned the European Parliament for holding an event attended by some of the ringleaders of the PKK terror group and its supporters.

Turkey strongly condemned the “unofficial event, which also ignores the principle of fighting terrorist organizations without discrimination,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In the scandalous event organized by the European Parliament, terrorist propaganda was spread by ringleaders of the PKK terror group and its supporters and heinous threats were made against Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the statement said.

Allowing some of the ringleaders of the PKK, a group listed as terrorist by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, to participate in an event in the European Parliament and spread terrorist propaganda means openly supporting terrorism, it added.

“We invite EU institutions and EU member states to stand firm against terrorist organizations and no longer take terrorists under its wing,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Communication Director of the Turkish Presidency, Fahrettin Altun, also slammed the event.

“Europe has been turning a blind eye to PKK’s terror activities for decades. Now, they are going further and hosting PKK/YPG terrorists in the European Parliament. If Europe is not going to stop a designated terror group and its activities, how can we talk about common security,” he asked, in a tweet on Feb. 6.

Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın described the event as “embarrassing scandal”.

Kalın said that “it is a scandal that a blind eye was turned to the open spreading of terrorist propaganda and Turkey and President Erdoğan were insulted at a conference organized by the European Parliament.”

“The European Parliament that opened its doors to the PKK, which the European Union recognized as a terrorist organization, openly supported terrorism and committed a crime," said Kalın.

“Those who let PKK terrorists speak under the roof of European Parliament became a partner in their crimes,” he added.

Ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelikalso condemned the event.

“Although they [EU] recognized [PKK] as terror group, they are tolerant to those terrorists who attack Turkey. We have warned them many times, European Parliament should not become the venue for PKK terrorists or other terrorists," said Çelik.

“These are terrorists against humanity who are wanted with a red notice,” he added.

The conference, titled “The EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds,” was held by the European Parliament in Brussels.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

It has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.