Res. No. 1183
Title
Resolution strongly condemning the recent bombings in Turkey .
BOdy
By Council Members Gennaro, Weprin, Brewer, Comrie, Fidler, Jackson, Koppell, Liu, Lopez, Quinn, Recchia, Rivera, Sears, Yassky and Gerson
Whereas, Turkey is the only predominately Muslim nation that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and, as a result, is a strong ally of the United States; and
Whereas, Turkey has also maintained economic and military ties with the State of Israel since 1948, when it became the first predominately Muslim country to recognize the Jewish nation; and
Whereas, On November 15, 2003, two car bombs simultaneously exploded in front of the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 23 people and wounding more than 300; and
Whereas, On November 21, 2003, two truck bombs exploded in front of the British consulate in Turkey and at the Turkish headquarters of the London-based Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation ("HSBC") killing 30 people and wounding nearly 450 others, constituting the worst terrorist bombings in the nation's history; and
Whereas, Furthermore, such attacks are the latest in a string of bombings to occur in nations that are supportive of the United States, its global campaign against terror and the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
Whereas, Authorities in Turkey have indicated that the recent bombings have been claimed by al-Qaeda, the same terrorist organization that carried out the 9/11 attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; and
Whereas, As a result of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, New Yorkers know all too well the devastating effects of terrorist acts against its country and citizens; and
Whereas, As the locally elected body of the City of New York, the City Council expresses their condolences to the families of the victims affected by the recent bombings in Turkey; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York strongly condemns the recent bombings in Turkey.
LS# 3590
RA
12/1/2003
H:/word/resolutions/Gennaro and Weprin/ls#3590
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