Erdoğan says watching chaos on Europe’s streets with concern
Telling how he has been following coverage from Europe's streets with concern, Erdoğan said the scenes of the Yellow Vest protesters show that Europe has failed on democracy, human rights, and freedom. He said he opposes both the chaos caused by the protesters and the disproportionate force used against them.
- Türkiye
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 12:00 | 08 December 2018
- Modified Date: 06:25 | 08 December 2018
Some 700 people were arrested during protests in France on Saturday, with police using pepper spray on demonstrators.
Similar protests were also seen to the northeast, in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Erdoğan said sympathizers of the terror groups PKK and DHKP-C also contributed to the chaos of the protests.
He urged Western leaders to give those terrorists what they deserve and make them face the law.
"When you do this, have no doubt that you will understand Turkey better and we will be real friends with you," Erdoğan added.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
The DHKP-C is responsible for a number of terror attacks in Turkey, including a 2013 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara which martyred a Turkish security guard.
The group is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union.