ANKARA - Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and told him that he had to postpone his visit to Turkey due to hostage crisis in North Ossetia.
Releasing a written statement, Presidency Press Center said on Thursday that Putin told Sezer that he had to postpone his visit to Turkey because terrorists took people hostage in a school in Beslan city of North Ossetia.
Meanwhile, Sezer sent a written message to Putin which condemns the terrorist attack. Sezer noted in his message that he has learned the hostage crisis with deep sorrow and concern and he offered his condolences for those who were killed by terrorists.
Sezer expressed hope for release of hostages without losing more people.
Sezer said in his message that Turkey strongly condemns this terrorist attack against innocent people and, as it has always stressed, terrorism and violence can never have any justified reasons and cannot be approved. Sezer expressed solidarity with Russian people due to this sad incident.
(GC-AÖ) 02.09.2004