REMARKS BY GEN. OKTAR ATAMAN

JCSE COMMANDER

·        DEAR FRIENDS;

·        AS A SOLDIER,  AS A FATHER, AS A HUMAN BEING, I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS TO DESCRIBE OUR FEELINGS AT THIS MOMENT OF GREAT TRAGEDY AND MOURNING.

·        ON BEHALF OF THE JCSE FAMILY, I EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES AND HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THOSE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF TERRORISM.

·        WE HAVE A SAYING IN TURKISH : “FIRE BURNS THE PLACE WHERE IT BREAKS OUT.”  MOST OF US KNOW THAT  “PAIN IS FELT THE MOST BY THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM IT.”  WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS.

·        CLOSE PARENTS, CHILDREN AND SPOUSES AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS, OF COURSE FEEL THE REAL PAIN AND THE GRIEF IN THEIR HEARTS.

·        BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR HOST NATION, TURKISH PEOPLE CAN BEST UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS SINCE THEY HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME SORROW AND PAIN FOR THE LAST SEVENTEEN YEARS.  PAIN IS REDUCED WHEN GRIEF IS SHARED.  SO YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS HQ WHO SHARE YOUR GRIEF.

·        PARENTS, CHILDREN, SPOUSES AND COMMANDERS OF ALMOST 30,000 VICTIMS OF TERRORISM IN TURKEY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL AND HOW DEEP YOUR SORROW IS.

·        UNFORTUNATELY THOSE WHO PASSED AWAY WILL NEVER RETURN. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY DID NOT DIE IN VEIN.  WITH THEIR LOSS THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE UNIFICATION OF THE FREE WORLD AGAINST TERRORISM.

·        THE WORLD HAS FINALLY AND BITTERLY REALIZED THAT TERRORISM IS NOT ONLY THE PROBLEM OF A SINGLE NATION BUT A CHALLENGE AND THREAT TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF MANKIND.

·        THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES OPENED A NEW ERA IN, WHICH THE STANCE OF THE FREE WORLD AGAINST TERRORISM WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE. 

·        WE ARE NOW MORE THAN EVER AWARE THAT ACT OF TERRORISM IS ALSO AN ATTACK ON OUR COMMON VALUES.

·        THAT’S WHY THIS ALLIANCE, FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW AND HUMENHUMAN RIGHTS,  WILL CONTINUE TO BE DETERMINED TO SAFEGUARD THE FREEDOM, COMMON HERITAGE AND CIVILIZATION OF OUR PEOPLES,

·        THE KEY TO WINNING THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR.   THEY ARE EXPRESSED  IN TWO WORDS IN THE ALLIANCE  AS  “SOLIDARITY” AND “COHESION”.

·        THIS ALLIANCE HAS ACHIEVED BOTH SOLIDARITY AND COHESION AGAINST MASSIVE THREAT TO THEIR TERRITORIES IN THE PAST 50 YEARS. NO DOUBT WE WILL ACHIEVE THE SAME SOLIDARITY AND COHESION AGAINST THE THREAT FROM TERRORISM TO THE PEACE, PROSPERITY AND SECURITY OF OUR NATIONS.

·        WHAT WE NEED TO OVERCOME THIS THREAT IS COMMON WILL AND DETERMINATION. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THROUGH OUR SYNERGY POWER WISDOM AND PAST EXPERIENCES WE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO WIN. WE SHALL PREVAIL OVER TERRORISM.

·        AN IMPORTANT LESSON WE HAVE LEARNT IN OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS SIMPLE. THE STRENGTH OF TERRORISM LIES IN ITS SUPPORTERS AND SYMPATHIZERS. SO WE NEED TO EXPEND OUR FRONT AGAINST TERRORISM WHILE REDUCING THEIR  SUPPORTERS AND SYMPATHIZERS.

·        ANOTHER LESSON WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT TERRORISM IS FED THROUGH POVERTY, INJUSTICE, AND, IGNORANCE. THEREFORE WE MUST DRY THE SWAMP INSTEAD OF FIGHTING AGAINST MOSQUITOES.

·        LAST BUT NOT LEAST LESSON IS THAT TERRORISM IS NOT ONLY A THREAT TO A SINGLE NATION, OR A COUNTRY, OR A RELIGION.  IT IS A GLOBAL THREAT TO WHOLE MANKIND, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, RACE OR  RELIGION.

·        ONCE AGAIN AS ALLIES WE ARE ALL UNITED IN CONDEMNING THESE BRUTAL ATROCITIES.

·        OUR SYMPATHIES NOT ONLY GO TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT ALSO TO ALL VICTIMS OF TERRORISM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

·        I DO HOPE AND PREY TO GOD THAT THIS KIND OF TRAGEDY WILL BE THE FINAL ONE AND NEVER TO REPEAT.

·        GOD BLESS YOU

·        THANK YOU.