Turkish PM reveals economic package for eastern Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Turkey’s prime minister announced Sunday a stimulus package for the country’s east and southeastern provinces, where over a year ago the PKK terrorist group resumed a decades-old armed campaign against the Turkish state.

Speaking at a meeting in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, Binali Yildirim said that Turkey would invest 10 billion Turkish liras ($3.3 billion) in the country’s eastern provinces.

“We have important news for businessmen who want to invest in our 23 eastern provinces, as well as tradesmen, farmers, young people, and women.”

The Turkish premier said that the government is planning to open 80 new factories in the region, creating at least 40,000 new jobs.

Yildirim added that the government would speed up investments in transportation, energy, and infrastructure.

He gave details about new stadiums, airports, hospitals, schools, farms, and factories that will be built in the region.

On Diyarbakir’s Sur district, which was heavily affected by the clashes between the Turkish army and the PKK terrorist organization, Yildirim said the historic district would be restored to how it was before it was damaged.

No resolution with a terrorist group

Yildirim also said there would be no resolution process with the PKK terrorist organization, referring to talks between the government and the PKK in an attempt to end the decades-long conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives,

“There is no solution. The solution is in the people’s hands, there can’t be a solution with the terrorist organization,” Yildirim said, referring to the PKK.

The prime minister also slammed People’s Democratic Party’s Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas for failing to recognize the PKK as terrorist organization while also telling German news weekly Der Spiegel that his party views the PKK “as an armed popular movement.”

“The PKK is not a terror organization, really? Then who is martyring these soldiers and civilians?” Yildirim asked.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, resumed its attacks in July 2015.

Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed.

Yildirim vowed that anti-terrorist operations in the country would continue until security is established on every inch of Turkish land.

“We are building 7,000 new houses in the Sur district, 10,126 houses in the Sirnak province, 10,750 in the Hakkari province’s Yuksekova district, and 8,000 others in Mardin’s Nusaybin district. In total we will build 36,000 new houses, and hand them over to our citizens.”

Operation Euphrates Shield

Turning to the current Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, Yildirim said: “We are there to protect our borders, to ensure the safety of our citizens’ lives and property, and protect Syria’s territorial integrity.”

On Aug. 24 Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield to improve border security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the threat posed by terrorist organizations, especially Daesh.

Yildirim said the Turkish army will leave Syria “when the Daesh terrorist organization, and the PKK’s extension, the YPG/PYD terrorist organization, pose no threat to Turkey”.