Erdoğan vows resolute fight against terrorism until threat is completely eradicated

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed that Turkey will continue its fight against terrorism, underlining his determination to eradicate threats to the country’s security.

“We will continue our struggle with determination and dedication until we eradicate terrorism as a threat to our country,” Erdoğan said at a graduation ceremony for more than 4,000 gendarmerie and coast guard officers in Ankara on August 15.

The president stressed that retracting this position is “absolutely out of the question.” Erdoğan emphasized the gains made against the PKK, which he described as a “plague” that has plagued the country for 40 years.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

“We have no problem with anyone who abides by the law,” Erdoğan said. “But we do not tolerate people who break the law and consider themselves superior to the state and the government. Mafia, gang, human trafficker, terrorist, urban bandit… We do not tolerate any of them.”

Turkey has launched multiple counter-terrorism campaigns along the Syrian border and the Claw operations in northern Iraq, targeting PKK hideouts.

In his address to the graduating civil servants, Erdoğan urged them to serve Turkey’s 85 million citizens without prejudice, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.

“This nation is ours, this country is ours,” he said. “You will be concerned about the problems of our people, and you will be in touch with the citizens wherever you serve. When our nation is in peace and security, our state will be strong.”

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Gendarmerie Commander Arif Çetin also spoke at the ceremony. The officials greeted the families of the graduates, and top students and international students received their diplomas from Erdoğan.

The ceremony included demonstrations by the gendarmerie teams, including mountain climbing, parachuting and helicopter demonstrations, and concluded with a prayer.

After the ceremony, it was announced that Çetin would retire on September 1 due to the age limit and that Ali Çardakcı was appointed as his successor.

A decree published the same night promoted six gendarmerie generals to higher ranks and 16 colonels to generals.

In addition, the gendarmerie commanders of 41 of the country’s 81 provinces were transferred.