Report by US not stops Turkey's fight against terrorism

ANKARA

Turkish vice president reiterated on Tuesday Turkey’s determination on fight against terrorism amid recently released U.S. terrorism report.

"U.S.'s terror report cannot prevent us from our struggle with either the FETO or the YPG terrorist organization," Fuat Oktay said at a congress organized by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK).

"While strengthening our country in every field including academy, business world and industry, we will continue our struggle against bloody terrorist organizations with determination," Oktay added.

U.S. State Department did not mention YPG/PYD, FETO as terrorist organizations in its latest terrorism report.

Turkey on Sunday said the recently revealed U.S. terrorism report which refrained from naming the YPG/PYD as a terrorist organization, showed the latter’s effort to cover up its cooperation with the terror group.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG/PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz