Turkish Pres. hints at cross-border assault against Kurdish fighters

ISTANBUL, April 29 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Saturday that his country would not hesitate to carry out a cross-border military operation against Kurdish militants attacking Turkey from bases in neighboring countries.
"Turkey knows what to do and when to do it; we may come there overnight all of a sudden," Erdogan said in a speech at the general assembly of the All Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUMSIAD) in Istanbul.
"Do not play with this nation. Everybody will see it," the president said, citing Tuesday's airstrikes on Mt. Sinjar and Syria's Mt. Karacok.
"For Turkey it is a battle for survival," the president said.
He reaffirmed full determination to uproot terrorists and traitors wherever they hide.
"The fight against terrorist organizations is not an option for us, but a must," Erdogan said.
"We will not tolerate any terrorist group." He pointed out that Turkey would chase Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters and its affiliates in inside and outside Turkey.
He noted that the Turkish military is carrying operations against the PYD and YPK groups in Syria.
"Do not you see how they launch mortar attacks against us from northern Syria? and under the cover of whom? But we will turn these bases into graveyards." On the ongoing Turkish military operation in northern Syria, he clarified that the Syrian city of Manbej is the next target of Turkish forces.
He added that he would discuss the battle to liberate Raqqa from the so-called Islamic State group with his US counterpart Donald Trump at their meeting on May 16.
He once again urged the US-led anti-IS coalition forces to back Turkey, not the PYD/YPK terrorists.
"If we cooperate -- the US, Turkey, and all coalition forces -- we will drive Daesh (IS) out of Raqqa. They will look for a place to hide," Erdogan said.
He cautioned that allowing other terror groups to gain ground in Iraq would cause more carnage.
On a different issue, the Turkish president asked the European Union to be fair in handling Turkey's bid for EU accession.
Turkish people's patience has a limit, he said.
He even accused the EU of procrastination over Turkey's accession bid over the past 64 years.
On a local issue, he noted that he will reactive his membership at the ruling Justice and Development Party, which he founded 16 years ago, in an extraordinary meeting on May 21st.
Erdogan led the AK Party for 13 years from 2001 but had to step aside when he became president in August 2014. The recently approved constitutional reforms changed the law to allow a president to be a member of a political party. (end) rs.ibi