Turkey and UK 'closer after bomb attacks'

Published on Saturday 29 November 2003 00:00

THE deadly bomb attacks on British targets in Istanbul have not undermined the UK’s enthusiasm for Turkey joining the European Union sooner rather than later, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

Mr Straw said the attacks on the British Consulate and the offices of the HSBC bank had, if anything, brought the UK and Turkey closer together.

The Foreign Secretary’s remarks followed a meeting last night with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in the margins of the European Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Naples.

After their discussions, Mr Straw said: "Britain and Turkey stand united in their determination to ensure that terrorists do not succeed in their efforts to disrupt reform and modernisation in Turkey. We will not allow terrorism to deflect our efforts to see Turkey progress towards the earliest possible membership of the European Union. This is a priority for the UK and Turkish governments."

Meanwhile, the funeral of a Scottish woman who died in the bomb attacks was being held today.

Hundreds of mourners were due to gather to remember Nanette Elizabeth Kurma in her home town of Drongan in Ayrshire.

The 41-year-old interpreter was one of three Britons killed in the terrorist atrocities last week.

The grandmother and mother of three, who was also known as Elizabeth Clarke, left the UK several years ago and lived in Istanbul with her Turkish husband.