VAN - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the heinous terrorist attacks could not wear out Turkey's solidarity and fraternity.
"The attacks will not be able to demoralize security forces and will not disrupt its determination. We will continue to defend this country valiantly," Erdogan said while speaking at a military ceremony held in eastern province of Van for the soldiers who were killed in the terrorist attack in southeastern province of Hakkari.
"Terrorism will not be able to interrupt Turkey's determination to grow and to get strengthened. It will not be able to achieve its dirty goals," Erdogan said.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis, State Minister Hayati Yazici, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay, Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Atila Isik, Prime Ministry Undersecretary Efkan Ala, various other government executives and ambassadors of 15 European Union (EU) member countries attended the ceremony.
Nine soldiers were killed and 14 of them were injured in a terrorist attack on a military outpost in Semdinli early on Saturday, whereas two soldiers died and two others were wounded as they stepped on a land mine in pursuit of the terrorists who attacked the military outpost. Twelve terrorists were killed.
(AY)