22 March 2016•Update: 28 March 2016
ANKARA
Turkey’s EU Minister Volkan Bozkir and Michael Roth, Germany's minister of state for Europe, said Tuesday that Ankara and European countries should act with solidarity in reacting to the multiple blasts in Brussels.
They made the remarks at a joint press conference after a meeting in Ankara previously scheduled to discuss last week’s EU-Turkey agreement on refugees.
The two officials urged solidarity and cooperative action to combat terrorism.
“This incident, which we wish had not happened, shows us that we must act with solidarity to combat terrorism,” Bozkir said, referring to the blasts in Brussels.
At least 34 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in multiple explosions at an airport and metro station in Brussels.
The first two blasts took place at Zaventem airport, where at least 14 people were killed and dozens of others were injured at around 8 a.m. local time (07.00GMT).
More than an hour later, an explosion hit the Maelbeek metro station, located near European Union institutions, killing 20 people. Initial reports say the Brussels airport attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
"We are so sad to hear about the attacks in Brussels this morning. We offer condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the incident, and wish a speedy recovery for the injured,” Roth said.
Bozkir stressed that there is no distinction between terrorist organizations. He said countries should not think that “some terrorist organizations are less harmful than others”.
Roth also touted the importance of last week’s EU-Turkey agreement under which refugees reaching Greece from Turkey will be sent back.
“Turkey has provided a new homeland for immigrants,” he said.
Last Friday’s agreement will also see the opening of a new chapter, or policy area, in Turkey’s accession process in exchange for it taking back refugees who traveled from Turkey to Greece.
The deal took effect on Sunday.
