Posted on 11/19/2003 7:41:53 AM PST by ds03
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov 19, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Wednesday the suicide bombers who attacked two synagogues in Istanbul had traveled to Afghanistan, but said more investigation was needed to prove they were linked to al-Qaida.
"One can't say with 100 percent certainty, but the first investigations indicate that these people have traveled a few times to Afghanistan," Gul said through a translator at a news conference in Stockholm. "I think that we need some more time to better shed light on this issue."
Earlier Wednesday, Istanbul's governor said DNA tests identified the bombers as Mesut Cabuk, 29, and Gokhan Elaltuntas, 22, both Turks. The bombings outside the two synagogues Saturday killed 23 people and wounded 300 others.
Turkey has been chasing possible links between local Islamic groups and al-Qaida since a notebook containing instructions in Turkish on how to carry out suicide bombings was found at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan in 2001.
On Tuesday, Gul said the attackers appeared to have the same mind-set as al-Qaida. He said they either worked directly with or were sympathizers of the terror network.
The foreign minister met Wednesday with his Swedish counterpart Laila Freivalds to discuss Turkish membership in the European Union.
"We have discussed the importance of Turkey joining the EU," Gul said at a joint news conference. "This will benefit both Europe and Turkey."
Freivalds said Turkey would need time to reform its justice system and improve women's rights before it could be extended an invitation.
"When the financial criteria are fulfilled, then one can also start negotiating over a membership and it's of course everybody's hope that this will happen as soon as possible," Freivalds said.
The Turkish government has pushed through a series of reforms including granting more rights to the Kurdish minority and abolishing the death penalty. The EU has stressed that Turkish help resolving the division of Cyprus would also improve Turkey's membership chances.
By KARL RITTER Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2003 Associated Press, All rights reserved
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