International treaty on counter-terrorism comes into effect in Turkey

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The uniform of Turkish police's anti-terrorism unit is seen in this file photo

The Additional Protocol of the first international treaty on foreign terrorists, which was signed in the Latvian capital Riga in 2015, was put into force in Turkey on June 1.

“The Additional Protocol of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, the first international treaty addressing the foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon that was signed in Riga on Oct. 22, 2015, has been recently ratified by our country and came into force in Turkey as of today,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It reminded that the protocol had been signed by 40 member states of the Council of Europe and the EU.

Together with Turkey, the number of states which ratified and enforced the protocol reached 12, it added.

“Turkey significantly contributed to the drafting and prompt signing of the Additional Protocol, which not only stipulates strengthening the cooperation among the members of the Council of Europe, but also obligates them to criminalize a number of acts, such as taking part in an association or a group for the purpose of terrorism, receiving terrorist training, travelling abroad for the purposes of terrorism and organizing, financing or facilitating such travels,” the statement said.

Noting that Turkey would continue to support international efforts against terrorism, which it described as “a major threat to global peace and security,” it said the country had already been combatting several terrorist organizations at the same time.