COPENHAGEN, 12 December 2016 – In response to this weekend’s terrorist attacks near a football stadium in Istanbul and at a Coptic Christian cathedral complex in Cairo, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) issued the following statement:

“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks this weekend in Istanbul and Cairo, and extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. These heinous acts of violence have no place in our societies and can never be justified by any cause or grievance. I urge all of our countries to unite against the terrorist threat and to redouble our efforts to counter violent extremism in all of its forms.”

Turkey is an OSCE participating State and Egypt is an OSCE Partner for Co-operation. Last August, President Muttonen led a high-level delegation to Turkey following the attempted coup of 15 July.