Servet Günerigök
December 22, 2015•Update: December 22, 2015
ANKARA
The leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has accused the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) of collaborating with the country's enemies.
Devlet Bahceli's remarks came during his party's group meeting at the Turkish parliament Tuesday. He was speaking after details emerged of a planned visit by the HDP's co-chairman, Selahattin Demirtas, to Moscow this week.
"The HDP is working with Turkey's enemies and does not see a drawback in leaning its back to countries whose aims are clear, so as to take their support for autonomy and Kurdistan," Bahceli said.
Earlier on Saturday, Demirtas said he would be traveling to Moscow to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"On Wednesday, we will meet Foreign Minister Lavrov. We will also open a party office in Moscow," Demirtas told a program aired by a local television network in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
Tensions remain high between Ankara and Moscow following Turkey’s shooting down of a Russian military jet last month over an airspace violation.
After the incident, Russia imposed a range of unilateral sanctions against Turkey, including a ban on food imports.
Bahceli also accused HDP politicians of "scattering enmity, blessing ditches and praising PKK militants".
He called on Turkish prosecutors to investigate them.
The MHP leader voiced his backing for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party "as long as [Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu is sincere in fighting terrorism and discord".
"Do not be worried, the MHP will not leave the political will alone... Do not stop, do not be fearful, eradicate these traitors from mountain, rock, plain and city and retrieve Turkey from this bottleneck unharmed," Bahceli added.
However, the HDP leader told a parliamentary press conference that the Moscow trip had been planned before the current Turkish-Russian crisis erupted. He also denied that his party’s activities were against Turkey:
"We have our policies concerning Turkey's internal and external issues and international relations.
“None of them are to the detriment of Turkey."
Turning to the crisis between Turkey and Russia, Demirtas commented: "Many people who have Turkish passports are aggrieved due to this issue. We want to discuss the challenges these people face.
"We know Turkey will be very effective in a solution in the Middle East and express that it is impossible with the AKP's policies," Demirtas added, accusing Turkey's ruling AK Party of implementing a foreign policy which, he said, weakened the country's power.
