ISTANBUL - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said on Tuesday that Turkish security forces had gained experience in fight against terrorism for years, adding that he did not think Turkey would become face to face with such terrorist activities from now on thanks to those experiences.
Sahin returned to Turkey after attending the meeting of ministers of member and candidate countries to the European Union (EU) for public services in Rome.
State Minister Sahin said at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport that during the meeting, participants expressed the need for a new understanding in public services and also they told that citizens should have a priority than state in public services.
Sahin said that Turkey's targets in public administration were covering each other with the opinions put forth during the meeting held by EU. He added that the government took important steps on that issue.
Sahin said that ministers wished rapid recovery regarding the terrorist attacks in Istanbul during his bilateral meetings.
Noting that ministers stressed the necessity of cooperation against international terrorism, Sahin said that he told them that taking a step back in fight against terrorism would encourage terrorism.
When asked whether terrorism was under control in Turkey, Sahin said that security forces had serious activities against terrorism and they were trying to find out the sources of terrorism. He added that security forces had gained experience in fight against terrorism for years, and he did not think Turkey would become face to face with such terrorist activities from now on thanks to those experiences.
(GC-BRC) 02.12.2003