ANKARA
Turkey will not give up its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other such organizations, said Turkish deputy PM Bulent Arinc at a press conference late on Monday following the seven-hour meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Asked about a probable change in Turkey's position on ISIL issue, following Saturday's rescue of 49 Turkish consulate staff - held in the Iraqi city of Mosul by ISIL militants for more than 100 days - Arinc, also the spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party government, spoke of no change in Turkey's stance and position on ISIL issue regarding the efforts.
The hostages – including diplomats, consular officials and their families – were kidnapped from the Mosul consulate June 11, a day after ISIL seized control of Iraq's second-largest city. Forty-six Turkish hostages among them arrived on Turkish soil following their rescue Saturday.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stated on Monday that the U.S. would look to Turkey to rise to the challenge posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant after the captivity of Turkish hostages from in Iraq came to a fortunate end.
Turkey previously refrained from signing a treaty in Saudi Arabia on September 11 aiming to gather states for a coordinated campaign with a military dimension against ISIL.
"A common platform, common attitude and common recipe is needed to put an end to the terror in the world," Arinc noted.
He indicated the only way to ward off terrorist organizations is to eliminate the procuring causes.
"Nothing changes even if ISIL threat is eliminated unless Iraq, Syria and their neighbors will not become countries cleared of weapons and terror, where all people are well-represented and can live a life of their own, regardless of their ethnicity, world view or belief," added Arinc.
As for the U.S.-led international efforts to form an anti-ISIL coalition, the Turkish minister maintained that Turkey will do its fair share of the work, "but in a rational way."
"Turkey will not take any related steps without first considering its consequences and knowing beforehand its possible benefits and harm."
Arinc added that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have related talks in New York, where he is currently, and recalled the efforts of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to strengthen relations with the effective countries in the region to contribute to the peace in the wider Middle East.
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