Speaker: Turkey’s response to occupation stays firm

ANKARA

Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said the country’s reaction to occupation and annexation movements would be similar to that it exhibited during the War of Independence 100 year ago and more recently in defeating the July 2016 coup attempt.

"Our friends rest assured, and our enemies be informed that the response of this nation against the occupation and annexation movements -- no matter when -- will not be different from 100 years ago and the July 15 night," he told lawmakers at a plenary session to mark the third anniversary of 2016 defeated coup by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Sentop noted that Turkey successful fought against FETO "which showed its real face and collaborative character, without any doubt on July 15 night."

The Speaker stressed that FETO was "a new generation organization out to manipulate every situation." He said it was clear that the FETO was serving the aims of international powers.

FETO and its U.S.-based mastermind had orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Fighter jets under the control of coup plotters bombed the parliament during the coup attempt.

Turkey marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day with events to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

A number of structures and public spaces were renamed in the aftermath of the coup bid, most notably Istanbul’s Bogazici (Bosphorus) Bridge was retitled as the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.