Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır said they expect all relevant European partners to display their support and solidarity with Turkey clearly and publicly in Turkey's fight against terrorism. Speaking at the EU Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Friday, Minister Bozkır stressed that the heinous terrorist attacks are aimed at undermining the stability and security of Turkey and added that it is a clear demonstration of the direct and imminent threat Turkey faces from terrorist groups in Syria.
''Terrorist attacks on Charlie Hebdo, in Denmark, Tunis or Suruç are of the same kind. We all face a brutal threat of terrorism and it targets the peace, stability and security of mankind. We all should be working together closely to counter this common threat to our values,'' Bozkır stated.
Pointing out Turkey's efforts to fight against the terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Minister Bozkır said Turkish authorities are taking all necessary measures to prevent third-country citizens from traveling to Syria to join radical groups.
''After the Suruç attack, we witnessed deliberate and opportunistic misinformation campaigns that attempted to undermine Turkey's efforts to counter terrorism that exploits Islam, including ISIS and al-Nusra Front. We see that these allegations are mostly diffused by PKK and Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front (DHKP-C) supporters and anti-Islam circles in Europe. Turkey's efforts to counter terrorist threats from radical groups in Syria and Iraq are well known to European police and intelligence,'' Minister Bozkır added.
Underlining that an essential element in preventing terrorism spreading from Syria is to take joint action on the Syrian crisis, which is a matter of serious concern for Turkey on the doorstep of Europe. Minister Bozkır added that it is neither possible nor fair to expect Turkey to face the migratory pressures, the risks and threats emanating from Syria alone.
''The inaction of the international community will have more dire consequences for the regional countries as well as for Europe. What Turkey needs and actually what we all need is to take joint concrete action. Education, employment opportunities, healthcare services and social inclusion projects for refugees must receive priority consideration. Generations of refugees without education, legitimate employment opportunities and social inclusion will mean more radicalization, more recruits for ISIS and more criminality.
