Top business organizations condemn terror attack in Kayseri in joint statement

KAYSERİ

Turkey’s leading business organizations have strongly condemned and expressed sorrow over a deadly terror attack in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri early on Dec. 17, which left at least 14 soldiers killed and 56 people wounded.

The soldiers – all low-ranking privates and non-commissioned officers – had been given permission for leave from the commando headquarters in the province, the military said in a statement. 

Top representatives from the Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), Confederation of Public Servants Unions (MEMUR-SEN), Labor Confederation (HAK-İŞ), Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), Confederation of Public Employees Union of Turkey (KAMU-SEN), Turkish Young Businesspeople Association (TÜGİAD), Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), Association of All Industrialists and Businessmen (TÜMSİAD), Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), Turkish Association of Certified Public Accountants and Certified Public Accountants (TÜRMOB), Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), as well as Turkish Retired Officers Association (TEMAD), visited Kayseri to voice their condolences with local people, according to a written statement by TOBB on Dec. 18. 

“Unfortunately, those who want to disturb the peace of our nation once again showed their ugly faces in Kayseri, the city of peace, this time. They did what they only know to do. We experienced a treacherous terror attack. We ask for God’s mercy on our soldiers who were martyred in this attack and health to those who were injured,” said TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in a joint statement.

“We bid farewell to our soldiers who lost their lives in the morning. We made condolence visits,” he added. 
“Our country is passing through a very critical process… All of the terrorist organizations such as PKK, DAEŞ, FETÖ, which are ostensibly not related to each other, are targeting our country at the same time. We are all united against terror attacks,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu, referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is suspected of carrying out the attack, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), known in Arabic as DAEŞ, and the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), which is accused of conducting the July 15 coup attempt. 

“True patriotism is to do what is most fearful for terror organizations. That is to say that we have more unity and unity than ever. We will not break apart; we will unite. We, as profession and non-governmental organizations representing all parts of Turkey, are also doing this. We are in favor of the unity, prosperity and future of our country,” he added. 

In a separate statement, TÜSİAD said the terror attacks aimed at destroying the peace of the Turkish people by creating a climate of fear in the country. 

“We were once again shaken deeply with the bitter news from Kayseri and we strongly condemn this treacherous and inhuman terror attack… These terror attacks aim at creating a climate of fear in the country. We are confident that our people will demonstrate a common and strong stand against these attacks,” said TÜSİAD.