Off the wire
• Syria ceasefire still holding for second day, despite few breaches  • Revenge porn, cyber stalking set to become illegal offenses in Ireland: report  • Chinese envoy calls on Syrian parties to effectively implement ceasefire  • French president says to visit Iraq Monday  • Namibia to increase old age grants: President Geingob  • Feature: New cassava breeds become a game changer in Zanzibar  • Update: Baghdad bomb attacks kill 30 at eve of 2017  • Cholera outbreak kills three in western Tanzania: official  • Sudan's al-Bashir extends ceasefire for one month  • 1st LD Writethru: UN Security Council adopts resolution supporting Syria ceasefire, peace talks  
You are here: 　 Home

Erdogan vows to continue anti-terror fight in 2017

Xinhua, January 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

Turkish President Erdogan President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday in his new year message that Turkey will continue to fight terrorist organizations in 2017.

Speaking of the eventful Turkey in 2016, Erdogan mourned the victims killed in attacks by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Islamic State (IS) militants as well as in the failed coup attempt on July 15.

Turkey is in "a new independence war," Erdogan said, vowing that Turkey will take measures to ensure domestic security and democracy.

The coup attempt was "undoubtedly" the vilest terror act and an invasion attempt within Turkey's republican era, he said.

The Turkish president stressed that Turkey will continue to clear all Gulenists through lawful means in 2017.

He also pledged that all these terrorist activities would not divert Turkey from its path to the 2023 goals, when the country would celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding.

Turkey is entering the new year with "new hopes and expectations," Erdogan said.

In 2017, Turkey will not only destroy terrorist organizations but also achieve greater economic success, he said. Endit