Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed Germany on Tuesday for becoming "an accessory" to the terror campaign launched by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization in Turkey Todayszaman reported
"Those who tolerate terrorism become an accessory to the bloody face of terrorism," Erdoğan said without naming Germany in a speech delivered in Berlin during a gala dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the migration of Turkish workers to Germany.
"I am calling on those who turn a blind eye to the activities of the terror organization, on their publications, foundations, fundraising efforts as well as on those who let criminals roam freely [on their soil]. Are you aware of an eight-month-old baby slain in her mother's womb [by the PKK]," he said.
Turkey accuses Germany, among other EU member states, for not doing enough to prevent the PKK's fundraising activities and recruiting efforts. The PKK has increased its attacks in recent months, claiming the lives of many civilians, including a pregnant woman and children.
"Do those who preach democracy know the fate of the mother, Mizgin Doru," Erdoğan said, adding: "I am asking those who do not lend necessary backing to fight terror, but lecture us on human rights. Are you aware of 4-year old Sultan who was viciously killed?"
Erdoğan was referring to a September incident in which the PKK opened fire on civilians and police in Batman, killing eight-month-pregnant Mizgin Doru (35) and her 6-year-old daughter Sultan Doru. Doru's husband, her 8-year-old daughter and three police officers were injured in the attack, while three terrorists were also killed. The woman's unborn baby was saved via C-section, but later died in the hospital, bringing the death toll in this attack to three.
"The terror organization is not the only responsible party for these inhumane attacks," Erdoğan said, adding that not only are those who pulled the trigger and ordered these killings liable, but those who support the PKK and lend material and moral support are just as responsible
"European countries should see how tolerance shown for the terrorist organization in Europe translates into bloody acts of terror in Turkey," Erdoğan told the audience. He said the fight against terrorism would not prove successful though the efforts of a single country, calling all countries to cooperate on the fight against terror.
The Turkish prime minister also lamented what he saw as a lack of cooperation by European countries, saying Europe does not take action when Turkey wants to discuss terror-affiliated organizations and their fundraising activities during meetings. "If you can justify these excuses, let them justify your conscience first and foremost," Erdoğan underlined.
This is not the first time Erdoğan has criticized Germany for not dealing with the terrorist PKK and other terrorist organizations active in Turkey. He echoed similar remarks during a visit in February in Duesseldorf. Turkey also complains that Germany is not extraditing members of those organizations living in Germany, where it is estimated that around 4 million Turks live.
Last month, Erdoğan accused a number of German organizations of funneling money to the PKK through loans offered to municipalities run by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Expressing his discomfort with the behavior of some foundations that fund infrastructure projects in Turkey, Erdoğan said: "These [BDP] municipalities receive financial support from some foundations. The activities of one German foundation in the region are particularly striking. These foundations draw up loan contracts, especially with municipalities run by the Republican People's Party [CHP] and the BDP. They not only sign such contracts, but also make sure the deal goes to a specific contractor. This is an outright money transfer to the PKK."
Touching on Turkish migrants' integration into the German society, Erdoğan said Turks living in Germany must learn the German language, adding, "However, no one should expect us to forget our own mother tongue." "And after these 50 years, we now want to see Turks who make valuable contributions to every aspect to their country of residence with their culture, traditions, beliefs and language," Erdoğan said.
He said German authorities should acknowledge that Turks are an indispensible part of German society today. "They are not guest workers or immigrants anymore," he said, stressing that integration is a two-way street. "It is our right to ask and question to what extent Turks here benefit from equal participation, equal opportunities and coexistence," Erdoğan noted.
Turkey complains that Turks in Germany are discriminated against when it comes to job opportunities and that Germans of non-Turkish descent are preferred in the workplace. Turks are also confronted with educational disadvantages in Germany, with dropout rates higher among the Turkish community than the national average. Difficulties in learning Turkish in the German educational system still continue.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan is scheduled to depart for France on Wednesday to attend the G-20 meeting in Cannes where world leaders will discuss plans to stabilize the eurozone and further boost the global recovery. The summit will focus on Europe's efforts to contain its sovereign debt crisis and avoid a repeat of the financial shock that roiled markets after the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008.