“This mindset has seemingly not changed. It has been the same for many years in this country. They have chased members of different ethnicities out of this country. Have we won? This was a result of a fascist mentality,” Erdoğan said at a speech in the northwestern city of Düzce on Saturday, adding that his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) had made similar mistakes in the past, as well.
Erdoğan's remarks came in response to harsh criticism by opposition parties, which have argued that Turkey would be in danger if foreign companies were awarded tenders for demining Turkey's borders.
“Our neighbors have started demining their side of the borders and so has Turkey. A bill on demining efforts has been awaiting approval in Parliament for more than two weeks. The opposition is blocking the efforts without proposing an alternative. We are losing time,” Erdoğan said.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül announced last week that Turkey had stepped up demining efforts along its borders with Bulgaria and Georgia, shortly after work was initiated for the clearing of mines located along the 877-kilometer border between Turkey and Syria.
The government first decided to accelerate work on clearing minefields situated along the borders when the decision was made to build new military outposts along the borders in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on the Aktütün military outpost in Hakkari that killed 17 soldiers last October.
Parliament recently rolled up its sleeves to begin negotiations on bills for demining the land along its borders. The efforts to this end have, however, been met with criticism by opposition parties, largely due to the fact that foreign companies have signed up for the tenders.
Israeli companies have offered very competitive prices for the tenders. Indeed, many Israeli companies specialize in demining. Turkish opposition parties, however, do not welcome the idea of awarding the mine-clearing tenders to Israeli companies.
The prime minister dismissed concerns that the security of the country would be in danger if a foreign company were to be awarded a tender to demine Turkey's borders. “Is it that simple? I mean, to get worried that Turkey would be in danger just because companies investing in Turkey were run by individuals from other religions. If you cannot overcome such concerns, then you don't trust yourself. Let me make my point more clearly: A country that does not trust its own ideas cannot speak of the freedom of ideas,” Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan also said demining efforts would help heal Turkey's unemployment problems and create employment opportunities. “Money is like mercury. It goes where it finds appropriate ground. Global firms want to invest in our country. But some object to the idea because these firms are Jewish. They are talking about unemployment. Who will be employed when these investments are made? Our citizens,” he argued.
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said, “There are unjust criticisms within Parliament regarding the demining efforts. The Republican People's Party [CHP] and the Nationalist Movement Party [MHP] are practically accusing the government of treason. This is very wrong,” he said on Saturday.
Arınç also said territories in Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions would be opened to organic agriculture if they were cleared of mines, which would eventually boost the economy in the regions.
Benzer Haberler 
National
