Turkish president vows to eliminate terrorism threat not only in Türkiye but in region

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his determination on Wednesday to eliminate the threat of terrorism not only in Türkiye but throughout the region in the future.

"We are determined to show that terrorism has no place in future of Türkiye and the region. With the recent elections, this determination has been further strengthened," Erdogan said during his speech at iftar (fast-breaking dinner) with security officials in the capital Ankara.

He also emphasized that terrorism is a nonpolitical issue that should be treated differently.

Erdogan said all terrorist groups, including the PKK, FETO, ISIS, and DHKP-C, are "enemies" of the Turkish people.

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

FETO and its US-based leader Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.