WASHINGTON - Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Wednesday that with which organization or motif the bomb attacks in Istanbul had links was not important and added, ''terrorism is terrorism.''
Cicek met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, U.S. Undersecretary of State Department for Political Affairs Marc Grossman, and Cofer Black, the State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism.
Replying to questions of reporters following the meetings if terrorist Hezbollah organization had a role in blasts in Istanbul, Cicek said, ''investigation continues. It will not be right to make any statement about the ongoing investigation because preparations and investigation are still kept secret. Terrorism is terrorism irrespective its source and links. As the government, our stance is very clear. This is violence irrespective of who staged the attacks and for what reason they organized the attacks. Whether the attacks have a link with this or that organization is the detective part of the issue.''
Upon a question saying that attacks might have ''religious motifs'', Cicek said, ''it doesn't matter for us. Some people can see themselves authorized or charged in the name of Islam and may stage such attacks, do such things and sanctify their target. None of these interests us. They neither interest Islam's original sources. It is not possible to find any single sentence permitting terrorism in Koran and hadiths of Prophet Muhammad.''
Asked about his meeting with Wolfowitz, Cicek said, ''we took up issues important for Turkey, the world, our region and the United States. Terrorism is at the top of these issues. This is a crime of humanity. Everybody who feels uneasy about is should cooperate. Today, Turkey and United States are leading countries which counter terrorism. Some countries may not understand how prohibited thing terrorism is. We continue our cooperation. Our interlocutors in today's meetings have stated that they are ready to cooperate with Turkey in this and every field.''
When asked if de facto intervention in north of Iraq was a part of that cooperation, Cicek said, ''all are included.''
When he was recalled that Deputy Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug said that the United States was in a preparation of serious action against the terrorist organization PKK, Cicek said talks would continue in Turkey during visit of General Peter Pace, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States.
Cicek stated that the United States considered PKK a terrorist organization whatever its name was and would help Turkey.
Upon a question on release of Turkish captives in Guantanamo, Cicek said that the issue would be discussed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and other officials.
Cicek will meet with U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft later in the day.
Justice Minister Cicek is expected to depart from Washington on Friday.
(BRC-AÖ) 03.12.2003