“We created a republic from the Ottoman Empire,” he said. “Such a country, such a nation, who achieved it - there was no ethnic discrimination here - has the ability to overcome its all problems. When there is polarization, then conflict situation emerges. Turkey should avoid that.”
Discussing reports that a senior member of the terrorist group the PKK, Murat Karayilan, may have been killed in an air strike against the organisation’s camps in northern Iraq, Buyukanit said the general staff had not released any names of persons who may have been casualties in the raids.
“We did not mention any names,” he said. “We hit some frequently used targets in Qandil. The terrorist organization suffered a quite heavy blow. Our strikes will continue till the day when the PKK does not pose a threat against Turkey any more. Also, we have achieved psychological superiority in our fight against the PKK and we will start yielding its results soon.”
