Speaking yesterday on CNN Turk, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vocalized a tough stance against the PKK, stating firmly that the Turkish armed forces were prepared to hit back at Kurdish militants beyond Turkish borders if necessary.

International law recognizes our rights here

PM Erdogan also spoke about the recent statements by an unnamed US authority, statements which appeared to approve of Turkish military operations against the PKK only when carried out within Turkey’s borders. Said Erdogan, “I do not think it’s right for a person who did not even identify themselves to go before the press with statements like this….International laws govern the right to carry out military operations beyond borders. When the time is right, a country may go ahead with such operations. If the situation calls for such action, we will do it. Not when nothing has happened of course, but if something happens which calls for operations beyond our borders, we will do it. We hope that it will not be necessary though.”

Speaking about the recent increase in terrorism within Turkey, Erdogan said this: “Terror is growing again. This may have to do with support its receiving from different countries. You cannot just fight terrorists by putting them on a list though. And if you do put them on a list, and then you capture them, you have to actually do something about it. If you don’t do anything, terror will strike at you. We tell not just the US, but EU countries too, “try these people.” But they don’t. And then, where do politicians from some of those countries go when they come to my country? Diyarbakir, Hakkari. If you want to speak, come to Ankara. What are you doing, going to such regions? What is your reason?

I don’t say “good for you” to another country’s separationists

In response to the interviewer’s question “When you go to Spain, do you visit the Basque region?,” Erdogan replied “I go to Barcelona, but how can I enter relations with illegal forces? I cannot go and say “good for you” to another country’s separationists.”