US' Ricciardone seeks stronger cooperation with Ankara against terrorism

In a courtesy visit with Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek yesterday, US Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone expressed Washington's interest in two pieces of anti-terrorism legislation. "Due to a lack of time, Parliament was unable to pass two bills" during its last session, Ricciardone said after the meeting. "One of these is a very important measure to cut off financing for terrorism. It was ready, and we hope it will be passed in the new legislative term." The second concerns an international agreement on cooperation against organized crime that has been signed by 12 southeastern European countries. Ricciardone's meeting with Cicek came amid discussions by senior officials from Ankara and Washington over stronger joint anti-terrorist measures. "We want a deep and productive cooperation against terrorism and crime," said Ricciardone.