ISTANBUL - Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that terrorism did not have religion, nationality and race.
Erdogan exchanged greetings with members of the Istanbul main branch of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on the Feast of Ramadan.
Erdogan said in Islam religion, killing a person meant killing the whole humanity and that saving a person meant saving the whole humanity.
Erdogan said it was impossible for them to accept association terrorism with religion, noting that, ''unfortunately there were people in our country who asked for trouble.'' Erdogan said there could be extremists among Christians and Jews as well as Muslims, stating that, ''should we judge this religion as there are extremists among them? Or should we cast this as shadow over that religion? To this end, we should be extremely careful in making statements.''
Recalling that Turkey had sacrificed nearly 40,000 of its people to terrorism, Erdogan said dimensions of current terrorism were different.
Erdogan said they were sorry that terrorism had targeted people during prayer in attacks in Istanbul, noting that, ''we are sorry that the attacks aimed at foreign representations and missions. We are responsible for security of life of people living in our country. They are in this country as chiefs of foreign missions. In a way they are entrusted to our safekeeping.''
Erdogan also thanked security forces and all related organizations which exerted efforts after the attacks, adding that Turkish Republic would solve this problem by acting together with its nation.
ERDOGAN: COUNTRIES OR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO SAY THEY ARE FRIENDS OF TURKEY SHOULD SHOW SENSITIVITY ABOUT FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Prime Minister Erdogan said that one of the most important targets of terrorism was to harm atmosphere of confidence and stability in Turkey.
But, Erdogan noted, they would not permit terrorism to reach its target.
Erdogan stated that he called some of his friends the previous night about Galatasaray-FC Juventus Champions League match.
''Why? Because, they don't want to come to Turkey. If we are to form an international platform against terrorism, countries or international organizations who are saying that they are friends of Turkey should show sensitivity about this issue. They should come to Turkey. Seeing this as an opportunity means helping international terrorism. Why? This is the target of terrorism. I told my friend Berlusconi that I would go to match of Galatasaray although I was not a supporter of Galatasaray. And, I called on Berlusconi to watch the match together. I said that we should assume an attitude against terrorism. And, he said he would come if he could. If we are to succeed in this fight, we can do it this way. Otherwise, we will put in a reverse gear,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that many names had been announced and asked public organs not to make free advertisement of the assailants.
Everything would be announced after the investigation was concluded, Erdogan added.
(BRC-AY) 26.11.2003