UPDATES WITH OTHER LEADERS’ COMMENTS
ANKARA (AA) – Leaders from around the world condemned the terrorist attack on a wedding ceremony in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey late Saturday that left 51 victims dead, 69 injured.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Turkey’s neighbor Greece denounced the attack via Twitter.
“We condemn the brutal attack on the Gaziantep wedding and stand with the Turkish people, united versus terror. Our condolences to the families of the victims,” said Greece’s Foreign Ministry on its official account.
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara John Bass condemned the “barbaric attack” in a Twitter post, saying: “We stand by our ally Turkey and pledge to continue to work closely together to defeat the common threat of terrorism.”
Also referring to other recent attacks in Turkey’s east and southeast, British Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore said on Twitter: “Wholly condemn last night’s attack in #Gaziantep and senseless PKK attacks this week. UK stands with Turkey against terrorism.”
Meanwhile, citing the other recent attacks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement strongly condemning “the string of horrific terrorist attacks” in Turkey.
“We stand united in solidarity with our Turkish Allies in this difficult time. We remain determined to fight terrorism in all its forms,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany stands by Turkey in the fight against terrorism.
“Our deepest sympathies are with those who lost their loved ones, and victims,” she said in an official letter to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.
French President Francois Hollande said in a statement that he “strongly condemns the despicable terrorist attack in which at least 50 people were killed last night and 100 injured in Gaziantep, Turkey during a wedding.”
“France extends to the authorities and people of Turkey its condolences and sympathy … It stands with all who fight against the scourge of terrorism,” he added.
Pope Francis also offered prayers for the attack’s victims, according to official Vatican Radio.
“Let us pray for the victims and the injured and for the gift of peace for all,” the pope said on Sunday from St. Peter’s Square.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences for the attack to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and underlined the importance of international cooperation in fighting terrorism.
“This attack, which targeted a wedding ceremony, shows once again that terrorism does not recognize the rules of civilized society or even the most basic moral values,” Putin said.
In an official statement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn extended their “deepest” condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
“As [the] European Union, we express our solidarity and sympathy with the government and people of Gaziantep and of all Turkey. And we will continue to strengthen our cooperation with the Turkish authorities to prevent and counter terrorism,” the statement said.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency Sunday, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom “vehemently condemned” the attack.
“We have all kinds of cooperation for the common fight against terrorism with Turkey,” she added.
– Outrage at attack, support for Turkey
In a statement, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mustafa Akinci condemned the attack and expressed his country’s support and solidarity.
“Terrorist violence has manifested itself this time in the atmosphere of a wedding in Gaziantep. I condemn this terrorist attack.”
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also sent a letter of condolences to Erdogan and expressed his sorrow at the attack.
“We are extremely outraged by this horrible tragedy and other terror acts treacherously committed in your country, and consider it important and necessary to carry out a joint, consistent, and resolute struggle against terrorism and all its manifestations,” he said.
Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack and reaffirmed its solidarity with the Turkish government and its people.
“The government and people of Pakistan are deeply anguished and saddened by the news of the latest terrorist attack in Turkey, targeting a wedding ceremony in the southeastern province of Gaziantep,” said the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in a statement Sunday.
Erdogan condemned the attack in a statement Sunday. “Those who cannot overcome Turkey and try to provoke people by exploiting ethnic and sectarian sensitivities will not prevail,” he said.
“I want to underline one more time, for our country and nation, that there is no difference between FETO, the perpetrator of the July 15 armed coup attempt and the 240 citizens we lost that night, the PKK, the killer of 70 of our security forces – soldiers, police, and village guards – in just the last month, and Daesh, the possible perpetrator of the Gaziantep attack,” the president added.
