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Turkey, Australia beef up cooperation to counter terrorism

Xinhua, April 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and visiting Australian Prime Minister Hon Tony Abbott on Wednesday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation to counter terrorism.

Also, they agreed to tackle terrorist financing and mitigate the threats from foreign fighters during their official bilateral meeting held in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Turkey is on the frontline in the fight against Daesh (the Arab name for the Islamic State) and plays a crucial role in these efforts and Australia welcomed Turkey's renewed efforts to implement tougher border controls and share information to prevent young people from joining Daesh and other terrorist organizations through Turkey's border, said a joint statement issued by the two prime ministers after their meeting in Ankara.

Both parties underlined the importance of identifying and stopping foreign terrorist fighters travelling to conflict zones at their country of departure.

Over 100 Australians fighting with Daesh in Iraq and Syria and a teenager were arrested this week in Melbourne over allegations of terrorist plot. Australia said in the statement that it will continue to do all to stop foreign fighters.

According to the statement, the prime ministers welcomed the first interagency counter terrorism talks held in Turkey in November 2014 and agreed to hold these talks annually.

They also welcomed closer police and operational support including the joint police training and cooperation between relevant agencies, said the statement. Endit