Condolences pour in after deadly attacks in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

AFP photo

Leaders from around the world have issued statements condemning the deadly attacks on Dec. 10 in Istanbul that killed at least 44 people and injured 150 others. 

The European Union, NATO and the United States expressed condolences on Dec. 11, hours after deadly bombings in Istanbul.     

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by phone, with the two agreeing to step up anti-terror cooperation. 

“The chancellor asked the president to convey her sympathies to the victims’ loved ones and offered help, if needed, to care for those who were injured,” spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, French President François Hollande and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier each denounced the attacks.

The European Union condemned the recent terror attacks, which were claimed by the outlawed Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), with a written statement on Dec. 12.

“We condemn the recent acts of PKK terrorism. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by EU. EU member countries are struggling against the PKK,” European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic stated. TAK an extension of the PKK.

In addition, a Czech member of the European Parliament, Tomas Zdechovsky, said the activities of the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the EU, should be banned at the EP.        

“29 dead in Istanbul. No more tolerance for terrorists stop #PKK #isis and ban them from the EP,” Zdechovsky said on his Twitter account.  

Zdechovsky emphasized, “there is no difference between Istanbul and Paris, Brussels attacks targeting civilians.”

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said: “Solidarity against barbarism and terror. We would like to send our sincere solidarity and support messages to Turkish authorities in these difficult times.”  
     
Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion issued a statement on social media. “Our thoughts are with victims and families and the people of Turkey,” Dion said.

The Greek Foreign Ministry said the country “stands with all its friends and neighbors during their difficult time” as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his condolences to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım in a telephone call.        

Iraqi President Fuad Masum also sent a message of condolence to Erdoğan over the terror attacks in Istanbul.        
Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev urged “a resolute fight against any kind of terrorism,” joining Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili who each expressed similar sentiments.        

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he and the citizens of his country were saddened by the incident, while the country’s foreign minister warned “those who want to undermine the unity of Turkey will never succeed.”
President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine said “there cannot be a justification” for the attacks. 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the bomb attacks in Istanbul “in the strongest terms.”        

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Mashaal expressed their condolences to Erdoğan during a phone telephone call.    
    
Saudi Arabia also condemned the “unacceptable” attack. According to a statement published by the state-run SPA news Agency, Saudi Arabia said it stood by fellow countries against terror attacks.