Deputy PM says Istanbul terror attack was reaction to success of Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria
Turkey will remain resolute in its fight against all forms of terrorism in 2017, both at home and abroad, Turkey's deputy prime minister said Monday.
“By using our full national capacity, we will bring all terror groups -- without any distinction -- to their knees, with the support of our people," Numan Kurtulmuş told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
His remarks came after a New Year's nightclub attack in Istanbul's Ortakoy district that killed 39 people and left another 69 wounded, according to officials.
Kurtulmuş confirmed that eight people had been detained in connection with the attack, adding that security forces were still working to identify the attacker, who remains at large.
He also suggested that Saturday night's attack came as a reaction to the success of the Turkish army's ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria.
Operation Euphrates Shield, launched in late August by Turkey, aims at improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the terror threat along Turkey's border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery, and jets.
Kurtulmuş vowed that "Turkey will go on with its cross-border operations as far as it can go -- into Jarabulus, al-Bab, Manbij -- until all these terror groups no more pose a threat for Turkey."
He further called on the international community to stand beside Turkey in its fight against terrorism.
“International community should give up on their double standards on terrorists," he added.
According to Kurtulmuş, the deadly attack also aimed at religious differences, "but terror has no religion or conscience."
“Istanbul nightclub attack attempted to target Turkish nation over differences in religious belief; but our nation knows that terror has no religion, belief mind and conscience," he said.
He stated that the government has been tracking down provocative social media accounts supporting terrorism and conducting propaganda in favor of terror groups.
"We will not be a mere spectator so as to allow a few social media trolls to raise cain among the people," he said.
“Provocative internet posters after nightclub attack will face legal challenges," said Kurtulmuş, noting that investigations has been launched into 374 such social media accounts.
Asked whether the cabinet discussed the extension of the state of emergency, Kurtulmuş said: “The state of emergency was declared out of necessity. At a time Turkey has been faced with that many terrorist attacks,...the state of emergency will last as long as needed."
Following a coup attempt in July 15, which killed around 240 people, government imposed state of emergency for three months then extended it for three more months. The period would be ended Jan. 19 if there is no further extension.
Under the implementation of the state of emergency a new statutory decree will be issued soon as the government have completed work in it, Kurtulmuş added.
During Monday's press briefing, Kurtulmuş also outlined Turkish government's priorities for 2017; to fight against terrorism, to continue the Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, to support Syrian peace process, to work on the constitutional amendment and revived relations with the Iraqi government.
Touching upon bilateral ties with Iraq, he stated that Ankara set to start a new era with Baghdad.
“President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talked with Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi last week. Our Prime Minister will visit Iraq within couple of days. Future of Iraq and joint efforts on anti-terror fight would be discussed [during the meeting]. It is a hard process but [the implementation of] a new peace perspective in Iraq is also around the corner. Turkey will proceed on its way by solving all these problems [in its neighbors] one by one," he said.
Relations between Iraq and Turkey have come under strain in recent months over the latter's military training mission at Camp Bashiqa in northern Iraq, where Turkish soldiers have trained both Peshmerga fighters and local tribal volunteers in combat techniques.
