ISTANBUL - Turkey's top general said Thursday those who lose lives due to terror were victims of crime.
Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit made opening remarks of an international symposium on the future of the Middle East organized by General Staff's Strategic Research and Study Center in Ankara. 124 experts from 52 countries are attending the symposium.
"Terror must be strongly condemned and totally eradicated from the face of the planet. Terror happens to be a crime rather than a political goal. If the contemporary society disregards terrorist acts, it becomes a partner of terror and is in the same category with terrorists," Gen. Buyukanit said.
"Up until now, peace and stability in the Middle East have been a dream as internal and external actors did not change their policies. The dream for peace may never come true in the Middle East and bloodshed and tears would continue. We must know this reality well," Gen. Buyukanit said.
"In the past years, the terrorist organization used to utilize pack mules for reinforcements. We now know that the terrorist organization uses trucks in north of Iraq for reinforcements. I say this fact based on concrete knowledge," Gen. Buyukanit said.
"Terrorist organizations can not continue to survive without support from foreign sources," Buyukanit said.
Gen. Buyukanit concluded his remarks with a quote from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk: "Peace is the best way to reach international prosperity and happiness."
(SOL-MS)
(GEN)