NEW YORK
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that he was glad there were no casualties due to the late Friday rocket attack by terrorists on a police house in Dikmen neighbourhood of the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Terrorists launched at least two rockets at the police house (a hotel and social facility for policemen and their families) near police headquarters in Dikmen at about 21:30 local time on Friday night, following which no casualties were reported as the rockets only caused structural damages on the building.
At least 5,000 armed policemen started a manhunt when the assailants (Muharrem Karatas and Serdar Polat, both members of DHKP-C terrorist organization) were identified by means of security cameras only five minutes after the attack. One terrorist was killed and a second one was badly hurt in a fire exchange.
Speaking to the press during his New York visit on the occasion of the 68th United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting, Gul stated that they knew the people related with the attack and whom the terrorists mounting the attack were in touch with, saying "We know the countries they enter and exit. These countries immediately contacted and cooperated with us following the attack. Fortunately, everyone is heading towards a firm stance against terrorism and get into counter-terrorism efforts."
- Radical groups and chemicals of Syria -
Gul also expressed deep concerns over the radical groups on Turkey-Syria border, saying "It is a grave security threat for us, which is of prime concern to us."
"Other countries can only feel the pain in and be sorry for Syria, but the reflections of the ongoing incidents in Syria will directly impact Turkey in various areas. I will voice all of these issues in my address to the General Assembly," he said.
Regarding the international efforts on elimination of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, Gul said Syrian issue was not just about chemical weapons. "If chemical weapons had not been used, would we regard the ongoing incidents as normal?"
Gul urged that the elimination must be a complete and actual one whose rules are already set, saying "A UN Security Council draft resolution should be prepared on what will be done, what we will be faced with otherwise; all these have to be concisely assessed."
- Fed decision -
Gul said regarding the latest decision of the Federal Reserve of the United States (US) on continuing its purchase of bonds, "We are not starry-eyed, but know the conditions both in the world and our country. Turkey is very realistic about that."
He stressed Turkey's solid and strong fiscal discipline policy which protected it from global crisis and fluctuations.
- Gul to meet French, Iranian presidents -
Turkish President said they were in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting, which he described as to be the one held with record-high attendance of heads of state and government.
Gul noted that he would be the third world leader to address the UN General Assembly after his Brazilian and US counterpart.
As part of his bilateral talks on General Assembly efforts, he said he would meet French and Iranian Presidents especially over Syria issue.
Besides, he mentioned the conference speeches he would give at the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) and Princeton University.
Gul said he would also have talks with the representatives of the Turkish and Meskhetian Turks communities living in the US.
Turkish President also received Ayse Cihan Sultanoglu, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, in New York.
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