Türkiye calls to tackle 'factors feeding terrorism'

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Stressing the evolving threat and challenges of terrorism, the Turkish foreign minister on Wednesday urged to "address the factors that feed terrorism."

Speaking at the meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum in New York, Mevlut Cavusoglu reaffirmed Türkiye’s strong support to the work of the forum and wished "successful term to the incoming co-chairs, the EU and Egypt."

Terrorism is an evolving global challenge, said Cavusoglu, noting that "greater access to technology has increased the threat."

"We also face the new phenomenon of post-organizational terrorism. Attacks by small cells or lone actors who are loosely affiliated with terror groups, but inspired by their narratives, pose a serious challenge," he said.

The Turkish minister further noted that "violent far-right attacks driven by Islamophobia, white supremacy, and racism are also on the rise."

"Fight against terrorism cannot be won unless we address the factors that feed terrorism. To stop terrorist narratives, defeating their ideology is a must," Cavusoglu stressed.

He called on all parties to not allow terror groups to "abuse rights and freedoms and exploit asylum systems."

Success in counter-terrorism efforts depends on "collective effort to deny any safe haven to terrorists," Cavusoglu said and reminded that "experience taught us that terrorism does not have any religion or ethnic identity."

Urging to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he stressed that there should be no place for double standards.

Citing Türkiye's "crucial role" in fighting the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization, he also reminded of his country's fight against the PKK/PYD/YPD and FETO terror groups while also preventing the movement of foreign terrorists.

"Providing legitimacy to a terrorist organization because it is fighting against another terrorist group will backfire," he affirmed.

Türkiye was one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terror group.

The country has since been attacked by the terror organization multiple times. It has carried out at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed attacks, killing 315 people and injuring hundreds more. In response, Türkiye launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.

FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 injured. Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.