SOFIA - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Saturday that the most important issue that was threatening common security today was terrorism and added, ''a comprehensive list of terrorist organizations and the countries supporting these organizations should be made.''
The international conference which was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on ''shaping a common security agenda for Southeast Europe - new approaches and shared responsibilities'' ended.
Delivering a speech in the conference, Gonul expressed his views on ''globalization and new threats on common security'' and ''ways of succeeding in fight against terrorism.''
Emphasizing that the most important issue which threatened common security today was international terrorism, Gonul said that all countries should be in full cooperation in fight against terrorism.
Gonul said that first of all a general definition of terrorism which would be accepted by everybody should be made and asked for preparation of a list including terrorists, terrorist organizations and the countries backing these organizations.
Noting that sources of income of terrorist organizations and the countries which supported these organizations should be cut in order to be successful in fight against terrorism, Gonul suggested that an international structure, which would evaluate and develop documents and agreements on fight against terrorism, should be formed.
Gonul said that this structure could function under the auspices of NATO or the United Nations.
Gonul said that Turkey, which continued fight against terrorism determinedly, was open to every kind of cooperation and support.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson, eight ministers from the regional countries, many high-level bureaucrats, soldiers and diplomats attended the conference.
Gonul, who visited historical places in Sofia after the meeting, will go to Plovdiv tomorrow.
Gonul will return to Turkey on Sunday.
(GC-BRC) 06.09.2003