ANKARA - Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Sermet Atacanlı said on Friday that Turkey would continue its efforts stressing the need of cooperation in fight with international terrorism.
Speaking in a news briefing, Atacanlı said that the bomb attacks which took place one after other in Turkey which was seriously affected by terrorism in the past, shocked the Turkish public opinion. ''We condemn all sorts of terrorism,'' he said.
When asked if President Ahmet Necdet Sezer would issue a statement for the public opinion, Atacanlı said that ''the President shared his feelings and thoughts after the two incidents. He is in close contact with both Prime Minister, Interior Minister and other officials. Information is given to him. Today, there is the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. The issue will be discussed in details during the NSC meeting.''
Atacanlı said that Sezer didn't have any contact with the U.S. and Britain about terrorism, adding that he had contacts with presidents of other countries. Sezer had phone talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Georgian President and Albanian President, Atacanlı said.
Atacanlı said that presidents of countries which were far away also wanted to talk to President Sezer yet those talks could not take place due to the time difference, adding that efforts continued to fix a convenient time for the talks.
''Does Mr. President think of taking an initiative?'' asked journalists to Atacanlı who said that ''Turkish Republic gives importance to this issue for years and it takes initiatives. Turkey expresses its views in international organizations like the U.N. and OSCE and in its bilateral contacts for 20-30 years for the need for an international cooperation against terrorism. I hope the efforts of Turkey will have more repercussions. Turkey will continue its efforts stressing the need for cooperation against international terrorism from now on.''
When asked if President Sezer thought these incidents had connection with Iraq, Atacanlı said that ''these attacks should be considered within the dimension of international terrorism. Terrorism can't be justified with any reason or excuse.''
When a reporter said that there were some claims that National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and security directorate conflicted with each other and asked whether President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had any concern over the issue, Atacanli said, ''it is not easy for Turkey and other countries to fight against terrorism. Because terrorism seeks and finds the weakest points and hits at those points. Our concerned offices are exerting efforts for intelligence studies and preventing those kind of incidents. We hope that the incident which took place in Istanbul would be the last one.''
Upon another question, Atacanli said that President Sezer did not have any thought on holding a summit of leaders regarding the latest incidents.
Replying to a question, he said that it was a fact that some countries did not show expected sensitivity to Turkey's sensitive attitude against terrorism and stated, ''we also put emphasis on our sensitivity on the issue due to this incident to our interlocutors this time. Our Foreign Minister and Prime Minister and also President will continue to explain Turkey's view on the issue to our interlocutors.''
When a reporter said that it was claimed that detainees were members of terrorist organization al-Qaeda and asked whether President Sezer had any information about the issue, Atacanli said, ''Mr. President is being informed on the issue. However, there is an investigation which is carried on. People should not make any statement on such issues till the issue is concluded.''
Upon a question on health condition of President Sezer, he said that Sezer did not have any health problem.
(ÖŞ-EÖ-AÖ) 21.11.2003