Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized Western countries over their "double standards" and "selective approach" to terrorism, a day after 13 Turkish citizens held hostage by the PKK were brutally executed in northern Iraq.
The minister said Turkey has always opposed terrorism and stood in solidarity with African countries in their fight against terrorism.
"We have never been hypocritical like many Western countries," Cavusoglu said, adding that Turkey will continue to target terrorists at home and near its borders.
"Countries claiming to be fighting terrorism are either silent on PKK massacre or trying to slur over it with ifs and buts," Daily Sabah cited him as saying.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement offering its condolences over the killing of Turkish citizens five hours after Çavuşoğlu’s message.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that if reports that the PKK was responsible were confirmed, they "condemn this action in the strongest possible terms."
