Mediterranean Union issues joint anti-terror declaration

By Ali Hakan Der

ROME

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean on Monday issued a joint anti-terror declaration following an initiative by Turkey.

At a bureau meeting held in the Italian Senate, representatives from Egypt, Italy, Turkey and the European Parliament held a minute of silence for the victims of a terror attack last month in Istanbul.

The Turkish delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman, presented a proposal to the Assembly to issue a joint declaration condemning recent terror attacks around the world.

All countries must act together in the fight against terror and “stand by suffering countries”, according to the declaration that said member countries should remain committed to the collective fight against terror.

Forty-five victims were killed and more than 200 injured at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport when three suicide bombers, all foreign nationals, opened fire and detonated bombs June 28 at the international terminal.

Bangladesh, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have also suffered terror attacks within the past two weeks.