Turkey's Erdoğan says disrespectful to define YPG/PYD as Kurds

If Turkey wants to increase and protect its achievements at home, it must maintain its strong presence as a state in its region and in the world.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed Turkey's foreign policy engagements and fight against terrorism at home and abroad.

In the background of the attacks which our country has been exposed to in the last 6 years, there are efforts to reduce our strength, limit our achievements and prevent our targets from being realized.

Speaking at a mass opening ceremony in Istanbul on Saturday, President Erdoğan harshly criticized those who supported the PKK terrorist organization's Syrian offshoot PYD/YPG.

"They are calling YPG/PYD 'Kurds'. This is a disrespect to my Kurdish citizens and Kurds. Defining YPG / PYD as Kurdish is the greatest disrespect. They're terrorists," Turkish leader stressed in his speech.

Erdoğan reiterated his government's determination to move Turkey forward in a much stronger and more prosperous way...

It seems that attacks and traps against our country will continue for a while but everybody knows this reality that Turkey is not a country that will surrender to such basic games, threats, pressure and siege.