ANKARA - Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Wednesday that bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul did not only aim at Jewish community in Turkey, but aimed at whole Turkey, Turkish nation and stability and course of Turkey.
Aksu informed parliament about Saturday's attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul.
Interior Minister Aksu said that the fact that the target of attacks was synagogues showed that terrorists had a sly plan but it was not possible to think and say that the attacks only aimed at Jewish community in Turkey.
Aksu said, ''the attacks aimed at Turkey, Turkish nation and everything that forms Turkey and stability and course of Turkey.''
They harshly condemned the attacks, Aksu emphasized.
Aksu said that terrorist organizations aimed to hit more than one target when determining their action strategies.
Disturbing more than one circle by their attacks was the aim of terrorist organizations, Aksu drew attention.
Aksu said that target of terrorism was to cause fear and horror and stressed that it was not a coincidence that the day of the attacks on synagogues were chosen as the day when Jews were holding Sabbath service and holy month Ramadan of the Muslims.
Terrorists wanted to aim at a model of religious tolerance as well as people co-existing in peace, Aksu stated.
Aksu went on saying, ''co-existence of Jews, Christians and even atheists in a country, the majority of which is comprised of Muslims, without any problems is an unacceptable situation for the terrorist organizations. They don't know the meaning of tolerance. Moreover, they don't know anything about humanity. Being a member of a terrorist organization has some features as being a virtuous person has features. This feature of the terrorist organizations is to be against order, tolerance and development and enjoy blood and fear. Therefore, a terrorist doesn't have a nation or nationality. Members of different societies, countries and cultures come together, have a common aim and stage terrorist attacks.''
''Considering that terrorists can meet at a joint platform, virtuous people should also come together and lay the groundwork of a joint fight against terrorism. It is high time that everybody accepted that terrorism is a crime committed against humanity whatever its source and target are,'' Aksu said.
Aksu noted that Turkey was fighting against terrorism as much as it could and said that he had told his colleagues that terrorism aimed at deteriorating common goals of humanity just like illicit drug trafficking.
''But, many countries have not listened to my words as they have not been a target of terrorism as we have been. You can see the result. Now, the countries which consider them as the most sheltered place against terrorism are face to face with international terrorism threat,'' Aksu said.
Aksu stated that fight against terrorism required very serious initiatives to illuminate such organized attacks and asked everybody to refrain from making statements which would overshadow the investigation of Saturday's bomb attacks.
Progress had been recorded in investigation into Saturday's attacks, Aksu pointed out.
The government had an efficient fight against terrorist organizations, found the places where terrorist organizations produced their bombs, and confiscated many bombs and materials used in bomb production in one year, Aksu stated.
Aksu added, ''what is important is the presence of political will to illuminate terrorist attacks. As the government, we would like to once more reiterate that we harshly condemn every kind of terrorism and we are determined to fight against it.''
(BRC-AÖ) 19.11.2003