Turkish mayor targets Spain for naming PKK operation after touristic city

ISTANBUL

Central Anatolian province of Göreme. Hürriyet photo

Mayor of the Central Anatolian province of Göreme recently spoke out against the Spanish government for naming an operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) after the Cappadocia region, a touristic region home to Turkey’s famous fairy chimneys.

“It isn’t ethical to couple a region of such cultural heritage like Cappadocia with a terrorist organization,” Mayor Nuri Cingil said, according to daily Radikal. “There is no need to turn the value of this region negative by naming negative aspects after it.”

Cingil said the move may be an attempt to discredit Turkey’s tourism by the Spanish government.

“It is a disadvantage for us to have the region’s name mentioned with terror and terrorism. It isn’t good for us when the incoming tourist see Cappadocia as home to activities of terrorist organizations,” Cingil added.

Turkey’s Cappadocia region broke its tourist record last year with around 2.57 million domestic and foreign tourists coming to visit. According to a written statement by the Nevşehir Governor’s Office, the Central Anatolian region had received 2.51 million tourists the previous year.