COPENHAGEN, 12 January 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) issued the following statement on today’s terrorist attack in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district:

“On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I deplore in the strongest terms today’s attack in the heart of Istanbul, apparently targeting innocent civilians. This is certainly not the first act of terrorism perpetrated on Turkish soil, and we stand with the government and citizens as they stand up to these security threats. Those behind this heinous act must be held accountable. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and home countries of those killed or injured.

“The parliamentarians of the OSCE have consistently called upon governments to improve international co-operation to fight terrorism in all its forms and to better address the underlying factors. The international community will best honor the victims of this and other terrorist acts by working together as closely as possible to combat this scourge,” President Kanerva said.