EU needs to distance itself from terrorist organizations, says Turkish PM

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures during a press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (not pictured) at government headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, 04 February 2013. EPA Photo

The European Union needs to distance itself from terrorist organizations, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said during a press conference in Prague, complaining of “the lack of support from the EU” in Turkey’s struggle against terrorism.

Erdoğan’s criticism targeted the union on the issue of terrorism, citing negligence of EU countries in recent activities, including the Feb. 1 attack of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

Erdem Şanlı, the attacker, had been living in Germany prior to the suicide bombing he carried out in front of the embassy building. Additionally, one of the three Kurdish women killed in the Jan. 9 Paris murders was wanted by Interpol, Erdoğan said, adding that they had alerted the French authorities prior to the attack.

“We cannot seem to receive the necessary support from Europe,” Erdoğan said. “Even when we alert the authorities on suspects and provide evidence of their terrorist acts, we don’t receive attention. They tell us that they are following those suspects.”

EU authorities should instead hand over the suspects to Turkey, Erdoğan added.

“We need to have a common struggle against terror. The European Union needs to distance itself from terrorist organizations,” Erdoğan told members of the press.

He also warned EU countries about what might happen in the future if terrorism continues on their soil.
 
“Terrorism is such a fire that while it burns where it falls, it may also eventually burn the tongs that hold it,” Erdoğan said.