ISTANBUL - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Friday that it was not possible to say anything definite at the moment but Thursday's attacks in Istanbul might have been staged by supporters of Al Qaida.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his British counterpart Straw visited HSBC Bank Headquarters in Levent district of Istanbul, which was the sight of one of Thursday's blasts in Istanbul.
Replying to questions of reporters how he evaluated security in Turkey, Straw said that Turkish security forces were very strong and had expertise.
Expressing confidence in Turkish security forces, Straw said that many countries, including Britain faced such security problems.
Straw expressed belief that Turkish officials would do what was necessary.
Asked if British people were under threat around the world, Straw said that everybody should make his/her own evaluation and added it was an attack against civilization.
Straw noted that ''it seemed that target of yesterday's attacks was British citizens.''
''Although it seemed that targets were mainly British people, many Turks and British citizens suffered damaged of such terrorist attacks,'' Straw said.
Straw emphasized that Turkish officials provided them with information and did their best.
They were also helping Turkish officials, Straw said.
Straw stated that their security experts were being extended strong Turkish support.
Noting that officials came from London, Straw said that they would also exert efforts and support British people living in Turkey.
Asked who was behind the attacks, Straw said that it was not possible to say anything definite at the moment but the attacks bore the hallmarks of al Qaida network.
Stating that he talked that issue with Gul, Straw said that Turkish police and officials needed more information.
When asked why Turkey was chosen as a target, Straw said that unfortunately those merciless fanatics could choose any place in the world as their target.
Noting that they chose Istanbul as their target this time and last week, Straw said that some attacks were staged in New York, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Morocco in the previous years.
Straw said that unfortunately, it was a terrorist attack and targets were in every part of the world.
Replying to a question about what kind of a cooperation could be made between two countries from now on, Straw said that they should work very intensively on terrorism.
Straw said that everybody should show determination to fight against terrorism.
Noting that Turkey was a Muslim country but a big democracy at the same time, Straw said that they would cooperate and they had united.
Straw said that British parliament had extended great support to Turkey and expressed sincere feelings yesterday.
Devastating bomb attacks in Istanbul would strengthen rather than harm Turkey's prospects of joining the European Union (EU), Straw emphasized.
Meanwhile, security measures are still tightened in and around HSBC Bank Headquarters and the streets around the bank are still closed to traffic.
Electricity is still cut in blast site.
ATTACK ON BRITISH TARGETS AND TURKS IN FACT STRENGTHENS THEM
Straw said that representatives of modern world were facing a global terrorism threat.
This attack against British targets and Turkey in fact strengthened the two countries, their relations, and their wish that Turkey should become a full member of the European Union (EU) as soon as possible, Straw noted.
Straw said that twenty of twenty-seven people who died in blasts were Turkish citizens.
Expressing condolences to relatives of victims of attacks on British targets, Straw wished quick recovery for the injured.
Straw said that one of the victims of yesterday's blasts was British Consulate General in Istanbul.
Noting that he talked to wife and daughter of British Consulate General in Istanbul Roger Short, who died in the blast on the consulate building yesterday, Straw said that both his wife and daughter were very brave and patient.
Straw said that two attacks were launched in Turkey in the same week, adding that there were terrorist attacks in all parts of the world like the ones in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Europe and the U.S. This showed that those countries represented the civilized world and they faced a global terrorism threat, he said, adding that these attacks directed at both British interests and Turkish people. Straw said that Britain always extended support to Turkey and it had friendly feelings about Turkey, adding that Turkey was with them in NATO for 55 years.
Noting that Britain wanted Turkey to join the EU as a full member as soon as possible, Straw said that the attack which was launched against British targets and Turks in fact made them more powerful, further strengthened the bilateral relations and led them want Turkey to become a full member of the EU as soon as possible.
STRAW: THEY HAD TO RECOMMEND THEIR CITIZENS NOT TO GO TO TURKEY AFTER ATTACKS, BUT THEY WILL CORRECT IT SOON
When a reporter said that warning made to British citizens not to go to Turkey following Thursday's attacks caused uneasiness in Ankara, Straw said that it was their responsibility to make such recommendation.
Straw noted that he talked about the issue with Gul and said that two countries should continue their good relations and should not surrender to terrorism.
Stating that they had some duties, Straw said that as the Foreign Secretary, he had a responsibility against his citizens.
Straw noted that he recommended British citizens not to travel to Istanbul and to other cities in Turkey after Saturday's attacks on synagogues.
Pointing out that touristic places in Turkey were secure, Straw said but they had to recommend their citizens not to travel to Istanbul and other big cities.
Of course, they would correct the situation as soon as possible, Straw noted.
Straw stated that their citizens would make their own decision whether to travel to Turkey.
They reviewed security with officials of all consulates, Straw said.
Straw noted that it would be difficult to prevent some terrorists from achieving their target whatever measures were taken.
Stating that they could never leave their responsibilities aside, Straw said that they had a responsibility against people whom the terrorists consider as target.
Straw thanked Gul for their support.
Asked if the terrorist knew that Consul General had come to the building, Straw said that it was certain that terrorists took Consul General as a target.
But, investigation continued, he noted and refrained from talking more on the issue.
When asked if the British government had evidence that attacks were staged by al Qaida, Straw stressed that he did not say that al Qaida staged the attacks but he said that the attacks bore the hallmarks of al Qaida network.
Straw said that it was possible that al Qaida or other organizations backing it could have staged the attacks, adding that investigation would give the answer.
Asked why Turkey was a target, Straw said that in fact, all civilized countries were potential targets.
Straw noted that Turkey was a successful democracy and people could act freely and in a democratic way in Turkey.
Stating that people in Turkey chose an Islamic political party, Straw said that they chose a party which attached importance to Islam and preserved its values.
Straw said that Turkey is such a free democracy that terrorists chose it as their target.
Touching on his meeting with Gul, Straw said that they debated the attacks and took up bilateral relations.
Straw added that they also took up Turkey's EU membership process in their meeting.
(BRC-ÖŞ-AÖ) 21.11.2003