A pall of gloom descended on the SAHA Expo show site on Day 3 following the death of five people in a heinous terror attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) in Ankara on the afternoon of Oct 23.
It was one of the first attacks targeting a Turkish defence equipment manufacturing company. “We know the motives of the terrorists. But we will not bow down to any threats. These attacks will only make us stronger. Our defence industry will grow from strength to strength,” Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler said at the memorial ceremony at the SAHA Expo.
Chairman of the Board of SAHA Istanbul Haluk Bayraktar echoed a similar feeling. “Such treacherous attacks only make us stronger and cement our solidarity. We will carry our country and our defence industry further. No power will be able to stop us on this path leading to Turkey’s full independence in every field.”
“We hereby declare once again that as the SAHA Istanbul family, we will continue to walk more determinedly, shoulder to shoulder with all our stakeholders, towards the goal of a fully independent defence industry,” Bayraktar asserted.
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir, who also attended the ceremony, said, “We will work harder to spite the traitors. We will produce more.”
There was an unanimous declaration that there will be no change in the SAHA Expo fair calendar. The 4th Day on Oct 25 will be business as usual.
Condolences and Condemnation came in from all quarters:
Recep Tayyip Ergodan, President of Turkiye, in a tweet condemned the attack:
The terrorist attack against TAI, one of the locomotive organizations of the Turkish defense industry, is a vile attack targeting the survival of our country, the peace of our nation, and our defense initiatives that are the symbol of our “Fully Independent Turkey” ideal.
From the first moment of the terrorist attack, our security forces quickly intervened and neutralized the terrorists.
Our nation should know that the dirty hands reaching out to Turkey will definitely be broken; no structure, no terrorist organization, no evil focus targeting our security will be able to achieve their goals.
Our fight against all kinds of terrorist threats and their supporters will continue with determination, resolve and in a multi-dimensional manner.
I pray to God to have mercy on our brothers who were martyred in the treacherous terrorist act and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded.
I extend my best wishes to our nation and the devoted employees of TAI, the source of pride for our defense industry.
Hakan Fiden, Türkiye Foreign Minister
I wish God’s mercy upon our brothers who were martyred in the vile terrorist attack against TAI in Ankara and a speedy recovery to the wounded.
We will continue our fight with determination against all terrorist elements and the forces that feed them, both at home and abroad.
In the coming period, we will continue to strengthen our national defense capabilities and will never allow the groups and their proxies targeting Turkey to achieve their ambitions over our country.
Prof Haluk Gorguin, President of Turkish Defence Industry
We are one and together!
We know very well the real target of the vile terrorist attack targeting TAI.
We will never turn back from this path that we embarked on with the power and support of our nation.
Our dear nation must know that a dishonorable and treacherous attack can never achieve its goal and can never intimidate the children of the homeland who work day and night for the security of their country.
May God have mercy on our martyrs and I wish a speedy recovery to our veterans.
Aselsan
We are one and together!
We condemn the treacherous terrorist attack on TAI and want our dear nation and everyone to know that this vile attack targeting our defense industry will never achieve its goal or intimidate us.
May God have mercy on our martyrs and we wish a speedy recovery to our veterans.
Roketsan
We are one and together!
We condemn the treacherous terrorist attack on TAI and want our dear nation and everyone to know that this vile attack targeting our defense industry will never achieve its goal or intimidate us.
May God have mercy on our martyrs and we wish a speedy recovery to our veterans.
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