ISTANBUL, Feb 12 (A.A) - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday that terrorism comes first among the problems which humanity faces today and which have to be solved immediately, adding ''the adoption of an approach based on common sense by both the OIC and the EU against terrorism, is promising.''
Addressing the opening of the OIC-EU Joint Forum, Sezer said that respect to human rights and general rights and freedoms has become the common value of international society.
''The U.N. and other international cooperation platforms, including the OIC and the EU have shown that efforts for peace, harmony and solidarity can yield positive results,'' said Sezer.
Noting that the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11 have revealed the frightening dimensions of this threat, Sezer said that Turkey, which has suffered a lot from terrorism for years, has been defending the view that terrorism didn't have religion, geography, and nationality, and terrorism could not be excused anyway and it has to be fought with international cooperation.
''Terrorism should not be attributed to any religion or ethnic group. A common definition of terrorism has to be done, its social, political and economic resources have to be determined well and countries have to act together against it. The definition of terrorism has to be objective. We believe that the OIC and the EU have a great responsibility to play in fighting with terrorism,'' he said.
Human civilization can only last by harmony, tolerance and dialogue, said Sezer and noted that it has been a good coincidence for Turkey, which aims reaching the modern civilization level and peace, to host this meeting. I hope the Forum to give positive results for the whole humanity, he said.
Sezer will receive Egyptian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers in the afternoon.