Business leaders condemn Ankara bombing, urge unity against terror

ANKARA / ISTANBUL

REUTERS Photo

Leading business organizations from across Turkey have condemned the suicide car bomb attack in Ankara on March 13 which left at least 37 dead and 125 wounded, while also urging for unity in the face of terror and sharing their sorrow and condolences. 

This was the third major blast to hit Ankara since October 2015. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants bombed a peace rally near the Ankara Railway Station, leaving at least 103 dead on Oct. 10, 2015. Four months later, a suicide car bomb attack targeted military shuttles in the city on Feb. 17, killing 29 people and injuring 81 others. 

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said nobody can destroy unity and peace in the country. 

“We are quite sure that those behind these attacks will give account for all these sorrows and cannot attain their targets. The blast has showed the ugly faces of the ones who have inhuman aims,” he said, offering condolences to all the families who have lost relatives and wishing all those who were injured a quick recovery. 

The head of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) also slammed the terror attack in Ankara. 

“These vicious attacks, which target our lives, the future of our children and the unity of our country, will not fulfil their aims and grind us down,” said MÜSİAD’s Nail Olpak. 

The head of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), Ömer Cihad Vardan, expressed sorrow for the all losses in the attack. 

“Against all of these attacks, which directly target our fellow citizens, we need to maintain our composure and take all measures to enable all of us to live peacefully,” he said. 

The president of the International Investors’ Association (YASED) also voiced concern and sorrow over the recent terror attacks. 

“We wish the end of such terror attacks, which aim to destroy our peace and stability, and the maintenance of social peace again,” said YASED’s Ahmet Erdem.

The head of the Confederation of Turkish Craftsmen and Tradesmen (TESK), Bendevi Palandöken, said terrorism was a crime against humanity, in a written statement after the most recent Ankara blast. 

“We slam the Ankara blasts vehemently. Terrorism is a crime against humanity and we all need to adopt our fraternity against all types of terror attacks,” he noted. 

Many other business communities also condemned the deadly bomb attacks in Ankara, asking for peace and solidarity across the country, including the Exporters’ Assembly of Turkey (TİM), the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO), the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO), the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), the Turkish Young Businesspeople Association (TÜGİAD), the Union of Chambers of Agriculturalists (TZOB) and more others. 

Many press meetings and press conferences were also postponed to a later date after the deadly attack.