MHP favored motion to allow military actions against terror, deputy chair says

ANKARA

AA Photo

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) approved a motion granting the government authorization to undertake potential military action in Iraq and Syria because the mandate “allowed security forces to act against regional cross border-threats,” deputy party chair Şefkat Çetin announced Oct. 3.

The motion that was passed with the support of the MHP creates the opportunity for a more active fight against the activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and other terrorist organizations that Turkey must confront, he said.

The fact that one of the terrorist organizations the motion is targeting is the PKK indicates that the government’s policies on the Kurdish issue have been proven wrong, Çetin said.

He suggested that the government enhanced compromises in the peace process due to fears that the motion could damage its “cooperation” with the PKK, Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of Syrian Kurds.

Çetin stressed that his party had concerns about deploying foreign troops in Turkey, especially in terms of their aims, how they will be used and the problems they may cause.