WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said on Thursday that bombed attacks in Istanbul could not set apart the United States from Turkey and stated that on the contrary, Turkey, the United States and Britain and whole civilization were much closer to each other against those kind of actions.
Following his meeting with Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Wolfowitz made a joint statement with Basbug and Turkish Ambassador in Washington Faruk Logoglu.
Wolfowitz said that those attacks made much closer Muslim Turkish citizens and Jewish Turkish citizens and stated that he held successful meetings with Basbug. He said that cooperation between defense ministries of the two countries was confirmed once again.
Stating that they attributed great importance to Turkey which was located in a critical region, Wolfowitz said that Turkey represented secular democracy in a region where those kind of ideals should be improved.
Wolfowitz said that he would like to express his deep sorrow over dreadful terrorist attacks which have taken place in Turkey recently and stated that those people who staged terrorist attacks hated free countries. Stating that cruelty was a part of those people's strategy, he said that their only aim was to kill people. Wolfowitz said that terrorists wanted to destroy morale and stated that but they could not succeed. Wolfowitz said that Turkey was a country which was standing on its feet against terrorism although it had a tragic history and stated that Turkey was standing strong for democracy, freedom and religious freedom.
Basbug said that he held very successful and productive meetings in the United States and stated that Turkish-American relations were rooted in history.
Stating that they had to improve those relations, Basbug said that those who were behind attacks in Istanbul were trying to make responsible people take wrong decisions, but they could not succeed.
Basbug said that they would not walk on this way and stated that they would overcome those difficulties.
When asked whether he considered those attacks as a step which aimed to set apart Washington from its allies, Logoglu said that even if it was an attempt for this purpose, it would be in vain and stated that there would not be a separation between Washington and its allies. He added that there would not be a separation between Turkey and the United States either.
Upon a question on connection between Turkish Islamic groups and terrorist organization al-Qaeda, Basbug said that he departed from Turkey on Saturday and stated that he did not have any definite information. Stating that he read developments about incidents on Saturday from papers, Basbug said that he thought that al-Qaeda showed that it was behind this incident. He added that but he did not have any information about the latest incident.
Wolfowitz recalled the statement of U.S. President Bush who said that fight against terrorism would be long and difficult and stated that leaders of al-Qaeda were still there.
Wolfowitz said that all terrorist attacks could not be prevented and stated that that's why, they should act against terrorists.
(EÖ-AÖ) 21.11.2003