(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The Turkish and Australian prime ministers released a joint statement on Wednesday saying they "agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation to counter terrorism, tackle terrorist financing and mitigate the threats from foreign fighters."
The joint statement said that Turkey is "on the frontline in the fight against Daesh" and plays "a crucial role" in these efforts.
"Australia welcomed Turkey's renewed efforts to prevent young people from using Turkey's border as the entry point to joining DAESH and other terrorist organizations through tougher border controls and increased information sharing," the statement read.
According to the statement, both parties underlined the importance of identifying and stopping foreign terrorist fighters from traveling to conflict zones, at their country of departure.
"With over 100 Australians fighting with DAESH in Iraq and Syria, and the arrest this week in Melbourne of young men intent on bringing the violence to Australia, Australia will continue to do all it can to stop foreign fighters," the statement said.
The PMs 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 training conducted between the Turkish National Police and the Australian Federal Police in December 2014 and increasing liaison and cooperation between relevant agencies," the statement said. "They agreed to use all avenues to tackle the scourge of terrorism including sharing information that will lead to prosecution of terrorists, and developing an effective counter narrative to extremist ideology especially online."
Turkey has deported more than 1,300 people amid a Daesh clampdown and issued exclusion bans against 12,800 to date as part of its efforts to prevent people from joining the militant group.
Between 700 to 800 people are believed to have joined Daesh by traveling via Turkey.
The figures came after risk analysis centers were established by the government in international airports and terminals in key Turkish provinces in 2014 as part of its efforts to curb the problem.
Turkey has also tightened security measures along its 800-kilometer border with Syria and has called for more cooperation in sharing information with European states regarding those going to fight in Syria and northern Iraq.
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