The distance between his party and fundamentalism and violence was the same as the distance between night and day, ground and sky, and a lie and truth, Erdogan said during a meeting of AKP representatives in the south eastern city of Sanliurfa.
“Our statements and acts are clear,” he said. “Our path and policy are quite clear. As we did so far, we will continue to work to achieve the ideals of the Republic which is a democratic, secular, social state of law.”
Attempts to link the AKP with fundamentalism fanaticism, terrorism and violence cannot be taken seriously, said Erdogan.
The AKP is opposed to all forms of extremism, violence and fanaticism and had fought and would continue to fight extreme ends in every turn, he said.
Those who support the moves to close the party think that Turkey deserves third-class democracy, he said.
“What they are uneasy about is the will of the nation and national sovereignty, not the AKP,” he said. “What they are harming is democracy and state of law, not the AKP.”
