(Mıl) Turkısh Top General Says No Guarantee That Terrorısm Wıll Not Hıt All Natıons

Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, said that there was no guarantee that nations that had not suffered from terrorism so far would never suffer.

"This problem can only be solved by collective efforts of all nations, particularly ally nations," Basbug said during the 10th Silk Road General/Admiral Seminar in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Basbug said that he believed NATO member countries should eliminated the differences in their positions and policies and assume a common stance against terrorism.

The top general defined terrorism as the most serious threat against the international community and the security of the Alliance.

"Terrorism not only targets at lives of innocent people but also threatens common humanitarian values such as democracy, freedom and human rights," he said.

Basbug said that therefore, the main strategic principle in fight against terrorism should be a human-oriented process, and anti-terrorist measures should be in line with legal systems.

"World nations should take action and cooperate against every type of terrorism, whatever its source and reason are," the top general said.

Basbug said that unilateral efforts or efforts of a single country were not sufficient enough to end the terror threat in that country or elsewhere.

Also, Basbug said Turkey had been countering the terrorist organization PKK for 25 years.

"Our target in combatting terrorism is to end the success hopes of the terrorists and their supporters," Basbug said.

Basbug also said that he also believed the fight against terrorism should be the combination of security, economic, social and cultural steps, as well as the coordinated initiatives of the state in international arena.

"However, it is a mistake to believe that terrorism can be eradicated only by taking economic and socio-cultural measures when terrorist organizations maintain their armed forces," Basbug said.

Basbug also said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) was determined to fight against terrorism until the terrorist organization was dissolved and it laid down arms.

The top general said that the TSK was aware that risks and threats could not be handled only with military force today, and it was an obligation for the international community to use both military and civilian forces to eradicate such threats.

Also speaking about NATO, Basbug said that the alliance was offering opportunities to its members and non-members to solve problems through dialogue.

Basbug said he believed that NATO's enlargement would help strengthen confidence and stability in all Euro-Atlantic area, and accession of new members would help fulfil a free and united Europe and NATO target.

NATO's transformation would strengthen its capacity to stand against security threats of the 21st century, Basbug also said.

Around 119 people, including military representatives of NATO and European Union (EU) member states, Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries, Mediterranean Dialogue countries, Istanbul Cooperation Initiative countries, and some United Nations (UN) member countries are participating in the two-day seminar.

Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Switzerland and Montenegro are represented by chiefs of staff in the seminar. (BRC-AÖ)