"Turkey now has 4 million refugees. Europe should undertake more responsibility regarding the issue. I hope Europe will do what's necessary," Turkish President Receb Tayyib Erdogan said in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Wahsington.
"We hold the same view with President Trump regarding the readmission of former Daesh terrorists by their countries of origin. We have underlined the significance of the fight against terrorist groups. Turkey and the U.S. stand side by side to eliminate Daesh terrorists and establish peace in Syria," Erdoğan said, starting off on a positive and collaborative note.
However, he was quick to point out inconsistencies in the U.S. approach to terrorist groups in the region.
"The People's Protection Units (YPG)/PKK continues to launch attacks on our country. 19 incidents of harassing fire were recorded in the last 24 hours. Most recently, they attacked a hospital in Tal Abyad, which resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians," Erdoğan said, underscoring Turkey's security concerns.
The Turkish president also expressed his disappointment in the U.S. for inviting a terrorist into their homes.
"It's saddening that someone whom (jailed PKK leader) Öcalan calls 'my adoptive son', a PKK terrorist, was treated otherwise," he said.
" I also handed him (Trump) the CIA document proving Ferhad Abdi Şahin (Mazloum Abdi) is a terrorist," he added.
Şahin is the commander-in-chief of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the YPG, an armed terror group that operates as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.
Erdoğan then began talking about another terrorist, the figure behind a 2016 coup attempt that left 51 killed and 2,000 people injured.
Erdoğan said he hoped the United States will deport Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) leader Fetullah Gülen back to Turkey.
Ankara has long been demanding Gülen's repatriation.
"I hope they will return this terrorist to us, as we return terrorists to them when requested," he said.
Erdoğan said he provided the U.S. administration with "documents" that proved Gülen's links to the failed putsch.
Erdoğan also criticized a House of Representatives' resolution on Armenia, saying it "cast a shadow on relations" with the U.S.
The Turkish president accused "terrorist sympathizers" of trying to harm ties between the NATO allies with "disinformation."
"I have told Mr. President that the decisions taken by the House of Representatives on October 29 served this purpose, offended our people and overshadowed our relations," he told a press conference.
The House voted 405-11 on a non-binding resolution to recognize the 1915 events as "genocide".
Erdoğan said the Armenian "event some 104 years ago under war conditions has to be discussed by historians, not politicians," adding that Turkey was ready to open its state archives.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
