ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey would not return from the process of economic richness and democratization, adding that it would continue its path with a determined manner.
Gul celebrated Feast of Ramadan of press members at Foreign Ministry residence.
Noting that people celebrated Ramadan in sadness and uneasiness due to attacks in Istanbul, Gul said that he hoped this situation would be overcome rapidly.
Noting that the real agenda of Turkey was economic richness and democratization process, Gul said that Turkey would not return from this process no matter what happened and would not lose its path. He added that they saw the future of Turkey bright and those, who wanted to darken it, would not be successful.
Gul said that Turkey would not make the mistakes which other countries did and he added that Turkey would not restrict individual freedoms and it would continue to take determined steps on the European Union (EU) path by enlarging freedoms.
Noting that a solidarity was observed in the world following the attacks, Gul said that they would not reverse this sympathy for Turkey.
Gul said that terrorists were resembling puppets and added that there were also puppeteers and Turkey would fight against those puppeteers and would not leave a basis to them.
Noting that international cooperation and solidarity was necessary in fight against terrorism, Gul said that if Turkey had deficiencies on that issue, every kind of measures would be taken.
NEW STRATEGY IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Gul said that they would be in an effort to develop a new strategy in fight against terrorism as soon as possible.
Noting that those attacks were not ''very sophisticated'', Gul said that the blasts had a big effect because of the amount of explosives used in the bombs.
Gul stated that security forces worked very successfully and found the assailants who were involved in the attacks in a very short time.
Security forces also found out what kind of a mentality those people had, Gul said.
Gul pointed out that intelligence works should be improved, cooperation should be increased, possibilities of police organization should be increased and internal and external coordination should be provided from now on.
If they walked on a wrong path, they would fall in terrorism trap, Gul said.
Gul said that they would not fall in such traps.
Pointing out that terrorist attacks could be staged even in countries with maximum security, Gul said, ''none of countries can give 100 percent guarantee that there will not be any terrorist attacks in its territories. But, terrorist activities should be minimized in countries.''
Gul stated that attacks did not affect economy, noting that economic structuring would continue.
Many attacks which were ''more sophisticated'' had been prevented in Turkey before and after attacks in Istanbul, Gul said.
Gul noted that they would be in an effort to develop a new strategy in fight against terrorism.
Asked if attacks in Istanbul had a link with Al Qaida, Gul said that ''same understanding and mentality were observed.''
When recalled about criticisms that terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and IBDA-C were ignored recently, Gul said that they took all small and big terrorist groups seriously.
Replying to another question, Gul said that he did not take criticisms that his party did not take any measures against fundamentalist terrorist organizations seriously.
Gul said, ''if terrorist organizations stage actions in the name of religion, they have hit Islam, not Istanbul.''
European countries were slow in including terrorist organizations in their list of terrorist groups for a long time, Gul pointed out.
Gul said, ''we hope these incidents will be a lesson for them. Nobody knows when and whom terrorism will hit.''
GUL : NO APPLICATION IS MADE FOR SHEVARDNADZE TO COME TO TURKEY
Noting that Ankara had contacts with all sides during election process in Georgia, Gul said that concerned sides wanted to see Turkey's support and were aware that they would need Turkey in the future.
Gul said in regard to developments in Ajaria that they told Ajaria that it was the rightest way to implement the Constitution in the best way. He added that he hoped the problem would be solved without civil war and separation.
When asked about possible effects of developments in the region on Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, Gul said that new administration in Tbilisi was continuing to support the project and they knew the importance of the project.

(GC-AÖ) 25.11.2003