Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded an apology from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, if his reported comments about Turkey's "mistakes that paved the way for the rise of the jihadists" were true.| Bumbling Joe throws gasoline on the fire... |
"President Erdogan told me, he is an old friend, said you were right, we let too many people through, now we are trying to seal the border," Biden had said during a speech on foreign policy at Harvard Kennedy School on Oct. 2, while complaining about the conduct of his country's regional allies that led to the rise of the Islamic State and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
| Scariest words in the English language right now: "President Joe Biden"... |
Turkish President also stressed that Ankara's "sensitivity" over the issue continues, as do its measures to prevent the jihadist flow into Syria.
"I see [Biden's remarks] regretfully. I never admitted any mistake nor did we told them that they 'were right' during my visit to the U.S. If Mr. Biden uttered these remarks at Harvard, he should apologize. I'm telling this clearly. And we won't accept slender, indirect explanations," Erdogan added.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Biden's remarks are unacceptaple.
"It is impossible to accept his criticism. All the U.S. authorities and Biden very well know that Turkey, on its own, has hosted millions of refugees for four years. If all the warnings that Turkey made had been taken into consideration, [ISIL] would not be an issue today," Davutoglu told reporters following the prayer for Eid al-Adha in Istanbul on Oct. 4.
The Turkish prime minister also said that the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a sovereign Turkish territory in Syria, was safe. Turkish soldiers have been alert for potential attacks as there have been concerns that ISIL was getting close to the tomb.
"Soldiers are today wishing each other a happy Eid. We are, as a whole nation, together with them, and we will always proudly appreciate their efforts, patience, and determination."