Turkish FM slams lack of intl strategy against Daesh

ANTALYA, Turkey

Turkey’s top diplomat on Wednesday criticized the U.S.-led coalition against Daesh for lacking a strategy, saying, "Today there are 65 countries against Daesh, inside the coalition. But we do not have a proper strategy to destroy Daesh. We have several fragmentary strategies, many of which have failed".

Speaking at an event in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Antalya, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu added, "The 65 most influential countries in the world should not be capable of doing nothing in the face of a terror organization. I hope we produce more effective policies in the days ahead".

Cavusoglu also rejected drawing distinctions among terrorist groups, saying: "We should show a joint stance on global issues, strong attitudes. There cannot be any understanding like, 'My terrorist is good, yours is bad'."

Just because someone dangerous is not attacking you at the moment does not mean you are justified in ignoring or blessing it, he said, citing a Turkish proverb about snakes to that effect.

He disparaged trusting in one terrorist group just because it is fighting another terrorist group, comparing it to how a "drowning man will clutch at straws".

Turning to the five-year Syrian crisis that has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced millions of others, Cavusoglu said the entire world has been affected by the stalemate there.

"Today, foreign terrorist fighters arriving to join terror organizations in Syria are coming from 120 countries around the world, from every continent," said Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu stressed that even if radicalization exists in one place, it is not limited to that place. "That's why it’s everyone’s responsibility to solve this issue," said Cavusoglu.

Addressing the many facets of radicalization, he said, "Here is migration flow, the refugee issue... Likewise, terrorism, human trafficking, international organized crime, and not only drugs, I am saying this in many senses".

ANTALYA, Turkey

Just because someone dangerous is not attacking you at the moment does not mean you are justified in ignoring or blessing it, he said, citing a Turkish proverb about snakes to that effect.

He disparaged trusting in one terrorist group just because it is fighting another terrorist group, comparing it to how a "drowning man will clutch at straws".

Turning to the five-year Syrian crisis that has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced millions of others, Cavusoglu said the entire world has been affected by the stalemate there.

"Today, foreign terrorist fighters arriving to join terror organizations in Syria are coming from 120 countries around the world, from every continent," said Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu stressed that even if radicalization exists in one place, it is not limited to that place. "That's why it’s everyone’s responsibility to solve this issue," said Cavusoglu.