Cicek Calls On All Countries To Cooperate In Fight Against Terrorism

ANKARA - Justice Minister Cemil Cicek called on Sunday all countries to cooperate in fight against terrorism and agree on definition of terrorism and terrorist.
Speaking in an inauguration ceremony in Ankara, Cicek said, ''otherwise, terrorism which hits Turkey today will hit countries which back terrorism tomorrow.''
Cicek condemned Saturday's bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul and said that those who claimed lives of innocent people were impossible to be called people.
''Unless all countries accept that terrorism is a crime of humanity, many innocent people will continue to die in this or that country,'' Cicek said.
Cicek went on saying, ''because, although all countries give messages that they are against terrorism, they can't agree on definition of terrorism. Since the day we formed our government, we attended two meetings on fight against terrorism in Salonica and Rome. We also stated in these meetings that if we want to counter terrorism and if we want to eradicate terrorism, we should be determined to fight against it.''
Cicek said, ''as a representative of a nation which suffered a lot from terrorism, I emphasize that terror organizations will continue to shed blood in many places of the world and innocent people will have to sacrifice their lives to terrorism if other country calls those whom we call terrorists as freedom fighters, and if western countries accept the people as political refugee whom we want to punish as a terrorist and as long as they expend sheltering and money to them.''
Recalling them many world countries had sent messages of condolences following Saturday's bomb attacks, Cicek said, ''we appreciate them but as Turkey we expect to have cooperation in concept and definition of terrorism and who the terrorist is. Otherwise, terrorism which hits Turkey today, will hit the countries in the future who shelter them.''
Cicek said nothing would prevent Turkey's determination to fight against terrorism.
Cicek said target of terrorism was to make a country unstable, to disrupt peace and order, and delay development by creating hesitations about that country.
(BRC-AY) 16.11.2003