22 March 2017•Update: 22 March 2017
By Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Wednesday the PKK would harm Europe in the future if it was continued to be indulged by European countries.
"Our European friends should not dismiss that there is no such thing as 'good' terrorist organization," he told Anadolu Agency's Editor’s Desk.
He added: "The PKK, one day, will harm European politicians if it is further spoiled and supported."
Recalling the 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in Stockholm, Kurtulmus described the PKK as a cruel terrorist organization.
Although the murder of Palme remains officially unsolved, many in Europe believe the PKK was involved.
"Palme, who was one of the most democratic, moderate politicians of Europe, was killed by the PKK," Kurtulmus said. "So, we are talking about a terrorist organization which was as cruel to carry out assassinations of European politicians."
In April 2015 Swedish police began to reinvestigate the PKK and South African intelligence agencies over possible links to Palme’s murder.
Palme, a social-democratic politician and frequent critic of U.S. foreign policy, was also a strong opponent of apartheid, raising questions over possible South African involvement in his death.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015 and since then has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.
'Neo-Nazism'
Kurtulmus slammed European countries over blocked meetings of Turkish ministers ahead of an upcoming constitutional referendum to be held on April 16.
"Those who disallow members of the Turkish cabinet and deputies have also supported the PKK in holding meetings and to conduct 'No' campaigns," he said. "This is not a comprehensible thing."
On March 11, the Dutch government first canceled a flight by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and then blocked a convoy carrying Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, forcing her to leave the country under police escort.
The ministers had been due to meet Turkish residents ahead of the referendum vote.
Referring to incidents on the blocked meetings, Kurtulmus said: "We hear the stamp of neo-Nazism, racism and neo-fascism in Europe."
Kurtulmus said that Turkish Justice and Development (AK) Party deputies were still going to Europe to conduct meetings for the upcoming referendum. "However, the hall meetings have been cancelled [by the European authorities]," he added.
"Our friends are holding meetings at homes of our citizens there; however, unfortunately, we cannot conduct meetings with huge participation as in the 2014 [presidential election] campaign."
Kurtulmus sharply denied claims about the possible cancellation of the referendum, saying: "Nobody can afford to do it."
The referendum will see voters cast their ballots for or against an 18-article bill passed by parliament in January.
The reforms would -- among other things -- abolish the post of prime minister and allow the president to retain ties to a political party.
If the electorate accepts the proposals, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for five-year terms would be held in November 2019.
Opposition claims
Kurtulmus also responded to claims from Turkey’s opposition about the proposed changes.
Denying there were plans to give millions of Syrian refugees Turkish citizenship, Kurtulmus said: "They [Syrians] are our friends, and brothers."
"We are struggling to form a basis upon which Syrians can live in their own country with health, welfare and freedom," he added.
Turkey’s migration authority announced recently that nearly three million Syrian refugees had been registered in Turkey.
However, the Interior Ministry previously said nearly 3.5 million Syrian people were currently living in the country.
