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Recep Tayyip Erdogan: â€œThere is little time left, my nation will give a proper reply in the next electionsâ€

03 June 2013 13:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started Africa tour that will cover Morocco, Algeria and Tunis, APA reports. Before leaving, Erdogan once more commented on the recent protests in the country.

Prime Minister said the Republic People’s Party and small radical groups back the protests.

“They regard it as the protection of their freedoms. And what about the freedom of others? A lot of automobiles have been burned. Fortunately, no one has died. 160 police officers, 60 civilians have been injured. Stones were thrown on our office,” he said.

Erdogan considers that those who failed to defeat AKP in the elections, attempt to achieve their goal in this manner.

“There is little time left, my nation will give a proper reply in the next elections,” he said.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan argued today with Reuters reporter about the seven-day long Taksim Gezi Park protests, accusing her of misinforming her agency about the situation in the country.

“Don’t tell me that all of society is supporting the protests, I will not believe it,” Erdogan told the reporter. “There might be extensions of ideological structures behind the protests. This might have gotten them to revolt. You have to see that. What haven’t we done in this country that led the protesters to take such a step?” said Erdogan.

The reporter also asked the prime minister whether more protesters were coming out onto the streets because he had underestimated their strength.

Erdogan replied, asking what he could do to moderate the protests. “If you can tell me what to do, I’ll do it,” he said.

“There is 50 percent of the country who voted for the ruling Justice and Development Party - AKP, and we can barely keep them at home and prevent them from coming onto the streets for counter-protests. But we have called on them to calm down,” said the Prime Minister.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul answered differently. The Head of State said democracy does not consist of only elections.

“Democracy does not mean only elections. If there are different views, protests, it is natural that they are expressed through various ways. Peaceful protests are a part of it. I see the recent events within this framework. I want to say sincerely that we have taken into account the goodwill messages, necessary steps will be taken. All should calm down,” he said.