ANTALYA - General Aydogan Babaoglu, General Staff Plan and Principles Chief said on Monday that terrorism was the biggest problem of the world. ''No place in the world is safe anymore,'' he added.
Addressing the 13th International Antalya Security and Cooperation Conference organized by Turkish Atlantic Council, General Babaoglu said that big problems were seen within and outside NATO countries and that those problems brought out new security structures and new alliances and it led the world to new cooperation.
''We know the importance of cooperation. There is need for cooperation against terrorism in the world. NATO does not have much opportunities and capacities in fight with terrorism, therefore we need solidarity and cooperation,'' he said.
Referring to NATO membership of Russia and Ukraine, General Babaoglu said that ''Turkey supports the idea of including Russia into European Atlantic Security System, because Russian Federation is an important factor in respect of increasing regional security.''
Babaoglu stated that cooperation to be made with Ukraine was also important in respect of regional stability, adding that this country should also take part in European Atlantic Security System.
Gen. Babaoglu said that NATO should extend to regions which needed peace, adding that ''we are pleased with the dialogue and cooperation between EU and NATO and we don't want to be left outside of that dialogue.''
Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Onur Oymen said in his part that Turkey was usually left alone against terrorism and it was not sufficiently supported, adding that ''we must get united against terrorism.''
Referring to the Middle East, Oymen said that ''unfortunately democracy could not reach progress in the Middle East, Turkey's joining EU will contribute to democratization process in the Middle East. Turkey's EU membership process should not be curtailed due to the terrorist attacks in Istanbul. Speeding up this process will be the biggest response to be given to terrorism. It is time to admit Turkey to EU.''
Oymen said that he could not understand why Cyprus issue was brought in front of Turkey as if it was an obstacle during its EU membership process and stated, ''if Cyprus issue is not brought in front of Greek Cypriot side, then it should not be brought in front of Turks. Because two nations are living there. They told us that EU membership is not possible without solving Cyprus issue. They put Annan's plan in front of us. We cannot accept this plan. As this plan does not include the concept of ''two nations.''
Stating that Turkey also wanted solution of Cyprus issue, Oymen said that there should not be foreign factors in solution of this issue.
Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Razov who also attended the conference said that terrorism had been globalized and stated that terrorists started a big war against humanity. Stating that all people should assume an attitude against terrorism, Razov said that incidents which took place in the United States on September 11 constituted a milestone in terrorism.
Stating that there were some contradictions in settlement of international security, Razov said that there were many regional problems in today's world.
About terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Razov said that they attributed importance to the view that there could be a Chechen connection in bombings in Istanbul.
Razov said that they wanted to further develop Turkish-Russian friendship and contribute to security in Eurasia.
(EÖ-Öª) 08.12.2003