Turkey urges fight against terror without distinction

By Cigdem Alyanak and Zuhal Demirci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey’s deputy parliament speaker said late Sunday that Turkey will continue its ongoing war against all terrorist organizations without distinction.

Speaking at a reception for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul, Ahmet Aydin said there is no question of Turkey's determination in countering the terrorist groups Daesh, the PKK/PYD, FETO, and the DHKP-C without distinction.

"We hope our allies will fight any terror group in a principled manner and without any distinction, as Turkey does," Aydin added.

Michael Turner, president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, thanked Turkey for its hospitality at the event, saying the support of the Turkish parliament matters for NATO to achieve certain regional goals.

On Saturday, Turner said that NATO supports Turkey's fight against terrorism and that Turkey plays a key role in all NATO operations and dealing with the refugee crisis.

He also said this year's assembly was held in Istanbul to show solidarity with Turkey and its people following the attack on the country's democratic institutions on July 15.

About the deadly July 15 coup attempt in Turkey, which left 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag urged NATO members and "all friendly nations" to take measures against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Turkey accuses FETO – led by Fetullah Gulen, a resident of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania – of organizing the deadly July 15 defeated coup as well as a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.