Erdoğan says Macron should have own brain death checked before declaring NATO 'brain dead'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that Emmanuel Macron's comments on NATO reflect a "sick and shallow" understanding, telling the French president "you should check whether you are brain dead".
"You know how to show off but you cannot even properly pay for NATO. You are a novice," he added.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Istanbul's Marmara University, Erdoğan slammed his French counterpart Macron over his remarks that Turkey should not expect NATO support for its anti-terror operation in northern Syria.
Turkish leader also pointed out that France had no right and authority to be in Syria.

"The [Syrian] regime also hasn't invited you there," Erdoğan stressed in his comments as referring to the French leader.

"To remove or not to remove Turkey from NATO ... Do you have the authority to make such a decision?" Erdoğan added.

Erdoğan went on to say that Turkey "will not hesitate" to carry out Operation Peace Spring, "if the threats to Turkey from the safe zone and beyond cannot be eliminated within a reasonable time."

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.

But the terrorists have failed to withdraw from some areas and continue to attack both soldiers and civilians.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

UNIVERSITIES IN TURKEY
Erdoğan said he expected Turkish universities to number among top institutions in an amount "to be proud of".

"When increasing the number of universities in Turkey from 76 to 207, we did do this merely to keep score.

"We also worked to ensure that all universities, from the oldest to the newest, have the understanding, hardware and infrastructure to fulfill the functions we expect from higher education," he added.

TURKEY TO BUILD HOUSES FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN ALBANIA
Following a recent earthquake in Albania, Erdoğan announced that Turkey would build at least 500 dwellings in disaster-hit areas.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Thumane province, adjacent to the Adriatic coastal city of Durres on Tuesday, killing 47 and injuring some 750 people.

"Turkey will build 500 houses for Albanian brothers and sisters," Erdoğan said.

"We will build the houses as soon as possible, and we will extend our help to those who are in difficulty in the winter in a short period of time," he added.