Kurdish Provocations In Turkey

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   The web site of Kurd separatists announce possible terrorist acts in tourism areas in Turkey, reported Rauter Agency. Last week was marked with massive riots and burning cars in the southeast of the country and now a Kurdish militant group the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Organization announced their intention to attack hotels, entertaining centers and travel companies. Terrorists are motivated by their protest against the government that allegedly use foreign tourism income to fight against the Kurds.
    Furthermore, Turkish authorities did not take action to protect tourists. A Representative of the Embassy of Turkey in Moscow commented on the situation as follows: ‘such provocations are regular before the season start; therefore Turkish authorities are always ready to protect tourists. Besides, according to the law, a number of tourism police officers is constantly increases in proportion with the growth of tourist flow’.
   Experts believe that the threats of the separatists will not affect the forecasted increase in tourist flow to Turkey at 10%. Thus, Gennady Kosarev, Director of Fresh Travel, commented: ‘I do not think, the threats will be followed by actions. Besides, many hoteliers in Turkey are Kurds’. Roman Ribakov, the Head of PR and Advertising Department of TEZ TOUR, agrees pointing out that Turkish authorities can resolve the conflict.
    Meanwhile, travel market experts do not doubt that external policy of the country is to play an important role in such situations as much depends on how the events are covered by world’s mass media.