Erdogan talks tough on ISIS, makes cloaked threats

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey has the power to bring terrorists and “the so-called politicians, the so-called intellectuals and the so-called civil society representatives who support them” to justice, claimed Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdogan in a Monday press conference fresh off his ordering of airstrikes against both the Islamic State and Kurdish PKK.
 
“I pray for Major Arslan Kulaksiz who was martyred yesterday by the terrorists. I also pray for all our security officers who were killed in cowardly and treacherous attacks since elections day,” Erdogan said in a press conference before his departure to China.
 
Erdogan described the military operation against ISIS and the PKK as a “process” that will continue with determination and punish all those who “carry weapons against the state, wear masks and throw Molotov cocktails.”
 
“The peace process was the genuine intention of our government… we saw how some abused the peace process in the elections of March 30,” said Erdogan referring to collapsed peace negotiations with the PKK. “We cannot continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood.”
 
He also called the Turkish parliament to strip MPs who he says support terrorist groups of legal immunities.
 
Erdogan said Turkey had the right to protect itself, and that the US agrees with Turkey’s assertion the PKK is a terrorist group despite the PKK and its affiliated groups also fighting ISIS.  
 
He also said fighting ISIS in northern Syria had become the “most pressing issue” for his country due to 1.7 million Syrian refugees who have fled to Turkey. 
 
“It is important to clean that area from threats. The first stage would involve cleaning and purifying that area. Turkey has deported 16,000 foreign fighters, which shows our sensitivity in this matter,” Erdogan said.
 
Despite Erdogan’s claims of being tough on ISIS, Turkey under his leadership has been criticized for alleged reports it has facilitated a “jihadi highway” through its territory to radical fighters to reach Syria.