Presidency’s Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun made evaluations over the phone to the TRT Haber live broadcast regarding the propaganda of the terrorist organisation PKK supporters targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
When asked about Türkiye’s reaction to this incident, Director of Communications Altun remarked that they expect Swedish authorities to take immediate action against terrorist organisations and said:
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this heinous act carried out very clearly and unequivocally by the members of this bloody terrorist organisation there, and we urge the Swedish authorities once again. We urge the Swedish authorities to take necessary steps against terrorist groups without further delay and fulfil the demands that we have expressed very concretely at this point! Now, as Türkiye, we have been waging a very just struggle for a long time, and we are fighting against terrorist organisations that are fed from many various sources. On the one hand, we are putting up a national struggle; on the other hand, we are fighting for our own social peace and solidarity, while we are fighting for our regional peace as well as the peace of the region. Along with all this, we are also fighting against global terrorism. In this respect, the fight against terrorism, which we have been carrying out effectively for the last 20 years under the leadership of our President, manifests itself as an action that serves global peace.”
“We expect them to take a stand with us against terrorism”
Director of Communications Altun stated that Türkiye paid a high price in this process and put up a very serious struggle. Stating, “In this regard, as President Erdoğan has repeatedly stated, we request support from our allies, especially Western countries, and actors whom we consider as friends”, Director of Communications Altun continued his statements as follows:
“We expect them to take a stand with us against terrorism as a requirement of the alliance and relationship between us. Unfortunately, we have seen for a long time that Western countries, European countries prefer to support terrorist organisations instead of supporting their ally, Türkiye, when it comes to terrorism. By protecting terrorist organisations, they are essentially betraying their own social peace and global peace. Despite all the obstacles, our President waged a great struggle to end terrorist activities not only within our borders but outside our borders by saying, ‘we will take matters into our own hands, we will eradicate terrorism at its source’. With this intense struggle after 2016, heavy blows were dealt to terrorist organisations. In this respect, terrorist organisations in the region have lost their power, are in a dire situation, and are gradually becoming less effective.”
“As long as you protect terrorist organisations, you cannot be in alliance with us in NATO”
Stating that they held several meetings with the Swedish government, Director of Communications Altun said that they told Sweden, as they did so to many European states and governments, “Stop the terrorist activities on your own land; break your ties with FETO and the PKK”, even before the NATO membership discussions began.
Director of Communications Altun said:
“Recently, when Sweden’s membership in NATO came into question when the debate came to the fore in this regard, we once again repeated our demands and said, ‘As long as you protect terrorist organisations in this way, you cannot be in alliance with us in NATO. If you are going to be in a real alliance with us in NATO, then support our fight against terrorism and terrorist organisations.’ We have made our position in this regard extremely clear. Our President expressed this clearly to both his interlocutors and the international public on international platforms, and then what happened? A summit was held in Madrid at the end of the year. At that trilateral summit, the then-Swedish government made explicit commitments. Those commitments were documented there. We emphasise again that the record there serves as our basis. For this reason, we underline it once again in the face of the current unpleasant situation. Terrorist organisations challenge you first. You are either helpless in the face of terrorist organisations or give them room to operate. We cannot think of anything different. For this reason, we urge you again to fulfil your commitment to return the terrorists to Türkiye. We urge you to prevent these terrorist organisations from operating on your lands.”
“We will continue to fight against global terrorism and eradicate terrorism at its source”
Director of Communications Altun said, “Unfortunately, Europe’s efforts to protect terrorist organisations lead them to be deprived of the strategic, geopolitical and demographic opportunities that Türkiye will provide to European countries.” and continued his words as follows:
“They could risk it for old Türkiye but not for new Türkiye. They cannot dare, particularly in this age of ‘global chaos.’ Currently, Europe bears the burden of this age of global uncertainty, this age of chaos, and this age of increasingly troublesome international processes. As of today, Europe cannot make its presence felt in international and global politics. The presence of Türkiye as a regional power and a global player, as well as the global initiatives it has undertaken in numerous areas, including the energy issue and the food crisis, represents an opportunity for Europe. However, we can see that our European allies assume completely out of past habits that they will design Türkiye by bringing the old Türkiye back to their attention by cheap means, namely by protecting various terrorist organisations. Under the leadership of our President, Türkiye has reached an entirely different position. Türkiye is not a state that can be designed from afar with some so-called structures and terrorist organisations. Türkiye is now a country that sets rules! Türkiye is now not only an island of stability but also a stabilising power! Türkiye is now the primary negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine War, the conflict from which the region and the world suffer the most. In this regard, we will continue to protect our position, fight against global terrorism and eradicate terrorism at its source regardless of the circumstances.”
“We are not interested in words but rather in action”
Stating that they responded to the terrible attack and the terrible so-called protest in the best and most appropriate manner today, the Director of Communications Altun said: “We respond by eradicating terrorist organisations at their sources. However, the Swedish government must respond swiftly to this move. We are not interested in words but rather in action. We anticipate the commitments made in the Madrid trilateral memorandum to be fulfilled. This is our stance. We want to engage in the process of communication and negotiation at this time. We have a crystal-clear approach to this. The Swedish Foreign Minister highlighted that they are not pleased with today’s action and that it is a despicable act. I wrote him a response: ‘Then take action as soon as possible so that we can see that you have taken a real step.’ In this regard, Türkiye has a very distinct position. On the field and at the table, it is in the position of an actor to perform with the most clarity. Whatever our President says to his interlocutors, he also states strongly and unambiguously in the international arena. No actor could offer a different response at that point. Therefore, our stance and struggle are significant. We will continue our struggle and maintain our current position.”
“We expect the fulfilment of commitments made to us”
Upon the questions, “What concrete step does Türkiye expect from this point forward? What will Türkiye be content with? What specific response does Türkiye anticipate Sweden to provide?” Director of Communications Altun made the following assessments:
“Allow me to reemphasise what is already abundantly clear. In Madrid, we expect the commitments made to us, which were clearly outlined in the memorandum, will be fulfilled, and there were a number of secret and open sanctions on the defence industry; steps have been taken to remove them. We emphasised our support for this. In addition, I emphasise that Türkiye’s most concrete expectations include not only the PKK but also the cessation of FETO and PKK activities on Swedish soil and the extradition of the organisation’s members to Türkiye. These should be implemented without delay. These are our expectations.”
Upon being reminded that the Swedish authorities also argue that “There is no legal regulation in our country” and asked, “Has sufficient time passed since the signing of the memorandum of understanding in Madrid for legal regulation?” Director of Communications Altun stated:
“This is ultimately a matter of political will; they sit face-to-face at a table and sign an agreement. No record states that “while signing this memorandum of understanding, we lack the will to carry it out”. We have concrete expectations because of this. Ultimately, we reemphasise and reiterate. We are not only discussing Sweden’s NATO membership. This action could have occurred in another European city. We would provide them with the same answer and condemn them harshly; we would assert our position. Consequently, we are at the same point in the discussion regarding Sweden’s NATO membership. We are awaiting concrete measures.”
“Those who do this declare, ‘We do not wish for Sweden to join NATO’”
Recalling President Erdoğan’s statement, “The snake will eventually bite the hand outstretched to it,” regarding the recent events in France and the actions of the terrorist organisation’s supporters on the streets of France, and asked the question, “Do you think this act of the terrorist organisation is also an attempt to sabotage Sweden’s NATO membership process. What is your stance on this issue?” Director of Communications Altun concluded his response with the following remarks:
“First, the Swedish government must respond to this question, so I stated that it is also a challenge towards them. Those who do this declare, ‘We do not wish for Sweden to join NATO’. They are not, however, our interlocutors. The Swedish government is our interlocutor. Consequently, they must respond to this question. Two days prior to the events, we organised an international panel on Türkiye-France relations in Ankara, which included French participants. In my speech, I attempted to emphasise this point with clarity and precision. I emphasised that ‘the PKK’s presence in France is not only a threat to Türkiye but also to Europe and France’. I emphasised that ‘the challenge faced by France and its policy to support both the PKK and its extensions in Syria is a wrong policy’. We are at the same point, and France, Germany, and all European countries must take a clear and unequivocal stand for peace and tranquillity against terrorism at this point. The position of the State of the Republic of Türkiye is clear, and we expect honesty, transparency, and sincerity from our interlocutors within the framework of that position.”