ICSD President on Turkey Attack

Dear Deaflympic Family,

It is true that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Those responsible for these killings should be held accountable and any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The purpose of terrorism, though, is not to destroy or kill. It is to pursue a political cause through the massive publicity that is attached to terrifying incidents. Recent explosions in Istanbul are patently intended to do just that. Merely killing innocent people serves no warlike purpose in itself. The explosive force derives from our reaction to it, from the public attention awarded to it and from the response of the political community. Publicity and response are the terrorists" “useful idiocies”.

There is no way any community can make itself immune to terror attacks. Since they are random, no protection can defend that community from them. No amount of police work or surveillance, no deployment of armies or navies, let alone of missiles or nuclear weapons, can guard against them. Intelligence and surveillance can go so far, but the bombers and killers will get through any net.

The ICSD, the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Akif Cagaty Kilic and other members of the Deaflympics organizing committee are devoted to make 2017 Summer Deaflympics the complete success in terms of providing safety and the best arrangements for our athletes, because our athletes deserve it. I was in Samsun during the World Deaf Championships in July 2016 and the 365-Day Deaflympics Counting Ceremony. I must say it was safe and wonderfully organized. ICSD does not take safety of our athletes for granted.

We stand together today with people of Turkey and we express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Turkey. ICSD wishes a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured and we trust that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Sincerely yours,

Valery Rukhledev

ICSD President