Turkey's EU delegation head condemns PKK terror

MERSIN, Turkey

The head of the EU delegation to Turkey on Friday condemned the recent killing of 13 Turkish citizens in northern Iraq by the PKK terror group.

Speaking at an event in Turkey's southern province of Mersin, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut reiterated that all acts of terror are condemned strongly by the EU.

He also extended condolences to the family of a martyr from Mersin.

Last Sunday, the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens were found during Turkey’s anti-terror operation in Gara, northern Iraq.

Turkish forces carried out a four-day Operation Claw-Eagle 2 in Gara last week to prevent the PKK and other terror groups from reestablishing positions used to carry out cross-border terror attacks on Turkey.

Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were initiated last June to ensure the safety of Turkey's people and borders.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Refugees

He praised Turkey for hosting the largest number of refugees in the world.

"As the EU, we support this substantially and since 2016 with over €6 billion."

The EU's financial assistance also assists "employment, financing teachers, building additional schools, providing free health care and protection," he added.

*Writing by Merve Gul Aydogan in Ankara