ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Monday that the ''suicide bombers'' who were involved in bomb attacks in Istanbul and those who have relations with them seemed to have connection with terrorist al Qaida organization.
Sener said necessary measures would be taken to compensate losses of owners of work places, who suffered from terrorist attacks.
Sener spoke to journalists following meeting of Council of Ministers that lasted for 3,5 hours.
Sener said terrorist attacks were evaluated and reviewed during the meeting.
Stating that terrorist attacks took place in various countries of the world from time to time, Sener said it was not definite when and where terrorist attacks would hit.
Sener said, ''terrorist attacks are described as crime of humanity. All nations are sensitive toward terrorist attacks. International cooperation in fight against terrorism is high on the agenda today in many international agreements. Four bomb attacks had taken place in Istanbul, many people died and many others were injured.''
Sener said 21 suspects were arrested, and that there were currently 16 people taken under custody, adding that, ''thanks to the serious and disciplined studies of security forces, those responsible for the attacks were determined through DNA tests, and those who were involved in the attacks were determined.'' Sener said the ''suicide bombers'' who were involved in bomb attacks in Istanbul and those who have ties with them seemed to have connection with terrorist al Qaida organization.
Sener said talks continued with Syrian officials in pursue of several people who particularly proceeded to Syria and as a result of this cooperation, some people who had connection with the incidents were delivered to Turkey.
Recalling that many work places were demolished in Istanbul because of terror attacks, Sener said measures would be taken soon to overcome the losses of those who suffered from the incidents.
SENER: TERRORISM IS PROBLEM OF ALL COUNTRIES AND ALL HUMANITY
Sener said that terrorism was not only a problem of some definite countries, but it was a problem of all countries and humanity.
Sener stated that assessment regarding the agenda of the parliament was also made in the meeting.
Asked whether or not the decision of UEFA to switch Turkish teams' matches from Turkey to neutral venues and the attitude of European countries after terrorist attacks in Istanbul alienated Turkey from the EU and disturbed it, Sener said, ''terrorism is not a problem of some definite countries. Terrorism is a problem of all countries and humanity. Thus, everyone must do what is necessary in fight against terrorism. Following the latest terrorist incidents in Istanbul, when we look at attitude of officials of other states and concerned institutions and establishments, different comments can be made. We have listened to statements of presidents and prime ministers of different countries who supported closely Turkey from time to time. But, there were also some decisions, like the decision of UEFA, that saddened us.''
Sener noted that they said that state officials of all countries which had responsibility for fight against terrorism should assume a determined attitude and stated that both Foreign Ministry and also Prime Minister continued their meetings with representatives of several states on the issue.
When asked whom Turkey wanted Syria to be delivered to the country, Sener said that they contacted authorities of Syria after it was found out that some people who were determined as suspects of terrorist attacks in Istanbul passed to Syria and recalled that people more than 20 were delivered to Turkey.
Asked whether the government would make any amendment in National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Law, Sener said that there was not any such an amendment.
(EÖ-AÖ) 01.12.2003