VAN (Marmara)–Turkish deputy prime minister Bulent Ecevit attacked Iran for allegedly supporting Kurdish "separatist" activities. Ecevit–who was in Van for the opening of the city center–stated that Iran had nothing to gain by supporting terrorists.
Ecevit said that while there was no animosity on Turkey’s behalf toward Iran–it was evident that Iran was supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Saying that half of Iran’s population had Turkish roots–Ecevit stated that "we never instigated Iran’s Turkish population–but Iran’supports the Kurdistan Workers Party and opens its borders to them. … I want to say leave Turkey alone."