OTTAWA, Canada
Unless the international community demonstrates its resolve against all terrorist organizations without any discrimination, more people will get killed, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said Monday.
Cicek made the remarks during his visit to Turkish diplomat Colonel Atilla Altikat monument in the Canadian capital Ottawa, who was slain by Armenian terrorist organization, Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA), in 1982, when he worked there as an attache.
During 1975 and 1984, Turkish ambassadors and diplomats were targeted around the world by Armenian terrrorist organization ASALA. With the motive of "compelling Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the so-called Armenian genocide in 1915, pay reparations and cede territory for an Armenian homeland," ASALA killed a total of 42 Turkish diplomats in different attacks within ten years.
The speaker and his delegation laid a wreath at the moment and held a moment of silence in Altikat's memory. He also highlighted the sacrifice of Turkey’s public officials all over the world.
"We have public officials, diplomats. Turkey ranks first among countries who gives martyrs due to terror acts," he said.
He reiterated his call on the international community to cooperate against terrorism.
"As long as the international community does not demonstrate its resolve against all terrorist organizations without discrimination, more people will be killed," Cicek said.
Following the visit to the monument, the parliament speaker met his Canadian counterpart, Senate Speaker Pierre Claude Nolin, and House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer.
