Erdogan: No difference between PKK, PYD, Daesh, FETO

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said once more that he sees no difference between terrorist groups such as the PKK, PYD, YPG, and Daesh, and U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen's FETO, or Fetullah Terrorist Organization.

"All those have the capability of acting together against the Republic of Turkey," Erdogan said in an interview with Mexican television.

"However, we will continue fighting them," he stressed.

In the second part of his interview with Televisa broadcast late Wednesday, Erdogan slammed Gulen’s claims that Turkey had helped Daesh, saying that in fact Turkey had taken part in the fight against that terrorist group.

He said that arms sent to the PYD and YPG in Kobani, northern Syria, reportedly to support the two in their struggle against Daesh, were also seized by Daesh itself.

"I told Mr. Obama [U.S. President Barack Obama] beforehand that half of those arms sent to Kobani would go to Daesh," Erdogan said.

He called on the international community to take a common stance towards all terrorist groups in order to eliminate them completely.

"All the ones that are against Daesh cannot be described as 'good' terror organizations," he said.

Pointing to the state of emergency in Turkey declared for three months following the July 15 coup attempt, Erdogan said the purpose was to effectively and swiftly carry out the legal process.

"It is Turkey's internal matter, and we make our own decisions."

According to the Turkish Constitution, the state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months when serious indications of widespread violence, aimed at removing the free democracy environment or the basic rights and freedoms established by the Constitution, appear, or when the public order is distorted severely due to acts of violence.

The July 15 coup attempt martyred at least 238 and wounded more than 2,200 people, who took to the streets to protest the attempt.

Erdogan said the coup "was definitely repelled."

The country accuses Fetullah Gulen and his parallel state of being behind the failed coup and has sent the U.S. two official requests for his extradition to face trial.