ANKARA
The Turkish minister of foreign affairs has expressed the necessity of exerting joint efforts to fight with the global threat of terrorism.
"One thing is crystal clear to all of us: No country is immune from this threat and we cannot win the fight against terrorism unless we join hands," said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, while opening an international forum on counterrorism in Istanbul on Thursday.
Davutoglu, together with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, delivered the opening remarks of the Ministerial Level Plenary of the Coordinating Committee meeting of the Global Counterrorism Forum (GCTF).
Speaking as the co-chair of the platform, Davutoglu said today's gathering indicated the participating countries' determination to work together in countering violent extremism and terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Defining terrorism as a leading impediment to global security, stability and prosperity, Davutoglu said, "It is a threat to all of us, without distinction".
The minister said countries with limited capacity in dealing with terrorism and particulary those in transition were often targeted by terrorist activities.
Davutoglu also noted that terrorism could not be countered only through law enforcement measures.
"While the security component of the fight is critical, it is not alone sufficient to obtain the desired result," he said, "We have to preserve the critical balance between security requirements on the one hand, and democratic freedoms and basic human rights on the other".
Davutoglu said any counterterrorism strategy, no matter how successful on its own merits, could lead to tangible results only if it enjoyed international cooperation and the true support of other nations.
Pointing to Turkey's ongoing figh against terorist organization the PKK, he said the terrorist organization conducted outrageous and indiscriminate attacks targeting civilian population and law enforcement personnel.
"The PKK continues to claim innocent lives in Turkey and the number of victims at its hands increases, as does our indignation against the PKK and its supporters," he said.
"Turkey will continue to fight PKK terrorism with full determination and in absolute compliance with the rule of law. We expect full support in this fight from the global community, in line with their international obligations," he added.
Commenting on PKK's efforts to abuse the principle of freedom of expression, Davutoglu said the terrorist organization exploited legal loopholes to set up and run TV and radio stations and used them as tools of propoganda, recruitment, incitement to hatred and operational purposes.
"It is an area where striking the right balance between security requirements and basic liberties is quite challenging," he said, calling on international partners, especially countries in which PKK conducts activities, to work closely with Turkey.
"The right to life and security are sacred; and terrorism infringes on these most fundamental human rights. We are all duty bound to protect our citizens against this scourge. And we can only do so effectively and efficiently, if we act in a concerted and seamless manner at the international level," Davutoglu said.
"This is a fight that the international community can and will win," the minister concluded his speech.
