ANKARA - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Wednesday that United States wanted to continue cooperation with Turkey in counter-terrorism.
Chertoff, currently paying a working trip to Turkey, met Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek.
Speaking after the meeting, Chertoff said he came to Ankara to hold meetings about cooperation between Turkey and the United States to deal with terrorism.
U.S. official said his visit was a reflection of strong and deep ties between Turkey and the United States in the area of counter-terrorism and other areas as well.
Chertoff said terrorism was a global threat, noting that global stance should be assumed together against this threat.
Asked to what extend al Qaida targeted Turkey and the possible measures Turkey may take, Chertoff said Turkey was also a country that became a target to attacks of al Qaida and other terrorist organizations in the recent years.
Chertoff said al Qaida continued to target countries that had democratic, free and common values, noting that it could be said that all democratic countries were potentially in risk.
Chertoff said he did not have a specific information that there was any plan against Turkey, adding that all the parties that were after freedom, and ensuring peace and security were face to face with the same risk.
(AY)