21/11/2003
Prodi, Annan Condemn Bombings And Vow To Overcome Terrorist Scourge

President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi made the following statement this week following the attacks in Istanbul

"I am shocked and horrified at the terrorist outrage that has brought bloodshed to the streets of Istanbul today.

"My thoughts and sympathy go out to the victims, their families, the Turkish people and their Government, the British Government and the British people, whose grief I share.

"But now is not the time to give way to tears or accept as routine the mourning that is beginning to take over our everyday lives.

"It is time to stand firm and show our determination to work together to combat international terrorism, the common enemy we must unite to fight.

"We could all be victims of these blind attacks that strike at defenceless citizens. We cannot, we must not allow terrorism to take over our lives, undermining our security and transforming the things we do every day -- such as taking a bus or sending our children to school -- into moments of fear.

"We cannot allow this to happen and we will not. We need a single co-ordinated response we all agree on and a single shared strategy to combat terrorism -- a strategy that is political, diplomatic and social, not just military. Together we shall overcome this terrorist scourge.

"My heart goes out to all victims of terrorism, whose despair and anguish I share."

For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan also strongly condemned the latest terrorist attacks in Istanbul in which at least 26 people died. He sent his "deepest condolence to the Governments and peoples of Turkey and the United Kingdom, and especially to the families of the victims." Mr. Annan also expressed his deep sympathy to those injured "in these latest acts of callous brutality," and hoped that the perpetrators would be swiftly identified and brought to justice."