Today´s
terrorist attack in Istanbul must be unequivocally condemned. The victims and
their families as well as the people of the city and of Turkey deserve our
deepest sympathies and the strongest expression of our solidarity.
We
should also profoundly worry as this act shows a very high level of strategic
planning.
First,
it targeted the core of the tourism industry in the emblematic city of
Istanbul. It aimed at attacking the city´s image, the efficiency of the
security services, who were in high alert, and the economy of the country. It
is also an act of revenge against the government´s recent crackdown on Islamic
State activities.
Second,
it was clearly directed against German tourists above all. I do not think this
is a coincidence. It was certainly a deliberate choice. The ultimate objective
was to contribute to undermine Angela Merkel´s authority. The German Chancellor
has been very responsive to the plight of the Syrian refugees. Such an approach
is contrary to the message the Islamic State terrorists would like to put
across the Muslim world. They wanted to show that the key European leader – and
Europe for that matter – had a hostile approach to Muslim people.
They
would also want to see Europe in crisis as a result of the mass arrival of
refugees. Merkel´s leadership has prevented the potential crisis from
materialising. In their view, she has to be seriously destabilised for Europe to lose
direction and balance.
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