Turkish main opposition chair to world leaders: I'm nothing like Erdoğan

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has released a message addressing world leaders, saying that he is nothing like Erdoğan. "I come from the Kuvayi Milliye tradition," he said.

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has released a message to address world leaders, saying that he is nothing like President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

"My call to the world: I’m nothing alike to Erdoğan," Kılıçdaroğlu said in a tweet on July 18. 

"I come from the Kuvayi Milliye tradition," he said, referring to the National Forces during Turkey's War of Independence. 

"No one can declare our soldiers as watchmen to where they fled; or declare my country an open prison to refugees," the CHP chair said, apparently criticizing Turkey's offer on Kabul international airport. 

Ankara, which has offered to run and guard the airport in the capital after NATO's withdraws, has been in talks with allies, namely the United States, on aspects of financial, political and logistical support.

Kılıçdaroğlu also slammed the refugee policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the face of a potential new influx of refugees into Turkey from Afghanistan amid a flare-up of violence between the Afghan government and the Taliban. 

"Let me tell you in advance, very tough negotiations are waiting for you," the CHP leader noted.