Turkish leader tells NATO partners his country is a 'barrier' between terror, Europe
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Turkey’s president has called on the international community to stop terrorist organizations using their countries as bases for propaganda and illegal activities.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking at the 62nd session of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul on Monday.
Erdogan said Turkey, as a victim of terrorism, could not tolerate how groups like the PKK -- an illegal organization in the EU -- could be “comfortable” in European countries.
Belgium in particular has been criticized by Turkey, which has accused it of failing to act against the PKK.
In August, the group's supporters in Brussels were allowed to celebrate the anniversary of the terror organization's first attack. Five months earlier, PKK sympathizers set up tents outside EU buildings ahead of a Turkey-EU summit.
Aside from Belgium, the PKK is also active in other EU countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece.
Erdogan went on to advise “our friends” to take steps against illegal groups at home lest their presence in those respective countries come back to haunt them.
WB
