Terrorism cannot be tolerated, says Turkish president

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Abdullah Gül, AA photo

Even the most contrarian ideas can be debated but terrorism can never be tolerated, President Abdullah Gül reiterated today in comments concerning the annulment of immunities for 10 pro-Kurdish deputies, daily Hürriyet has reported.

"We have experienced similar examples in the past. So mistakes made in the past shouldn't be repeated. Let's not push ourselves down a dead-end road. All deputies are responsible for this situation. BDP deputies' statements containing violence cannot be approved. The most contrarian ideas can be debated but terrorism, blood, violence and BDP deputies' statements containing violence cannot be tolerated," he said.

A day earlier, Gül reiterated his desire to see a Parliament without any absences and said he was against lifting the parliamentary immunity of BDP deputies who were seen embracing and warmly chatting with PKK militants in the eastern province of Hakkari’s Şemdinli district in August.

Nine Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies, as well as one BDP-backed independent MP, could be stripped of their immunity from prosecution.

A summary of proceedings to lift the MPs’ immunities is currently being debated in Parliament.

Madness for Syria to threat Turkey, Turkish president says

Gül also said today that it would be madness for Syria to threaten Turkey, Hürriyet reported.

"I don't think that there would be an open threat or a serious danger from Syria targeting Turkey because this would be madness. Security is an integral matter. NATO is responsible for the security of everyone under its structure. So these [moves to deploy Patriot missiles to Turkey's Syrian border] are cautious measures. It is never an offensive step but a defensive precaution to minimize risks."