Türkiye reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and supporting victims of terrorism at a high-level United Nations meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister H. Ali Özel addressed the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, which was organized by the group's co-chairs, Spain and Iraq, in cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

In his remarks, Özel underlined Türkiye's determination to combat terrorism regardless of its form or manifestation, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing terrorist threats and supporting those affected by terrorist violence.

The Turkish deputy foreign minister also highlighted Türkiye's efforts to counter terrorist organizations, particularly the PKK and FETÖ, as part of Ankara's broader counterterrorism efforts.

Özel also briefed participants on measures taken by Türkiye to support victims of terrorism, stressing the importance of addressing the humanitarian consequences of terrorism alongside efforts to prevent and combat terrorist attacks.

He emphasized that victims and their families should remain at the center of international counterterrorism efforts and that greater international cooperation is needed to protect their rights and provide them with appropriate support.

Türkiye has sought to strengthen international awareness of the needs of terrorism victims through multilateral initiatives at the United Nations and other international platforms.

During the meeting, Özel also announced that Türkiye is ready to host the third edition of the UN International Conference on Victims of Terrorism in 2028.

The proposed conference would provide an additional platform for governments, international organizations and victims' representatives to exchange experiences and discuss ways to strengthen assistance and protection for victims of terrorism.

The ministerial meeting brought together representatives of UN member states and international organizations to discuss efforts to place victims at the center of global counterterrorism policies.

The gathering was held as part of the diplomatic activities surrounding the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where terrorism, international security and the protection of civilians remain among the issues discussed by member states. (ILKHA)