ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered reassurance on Thursday that his country is not turning away from the West in the wake of its vote against UN sanctions on Iran, calling such charges "dirty propaganda".Speaking at a Turkish-Arab forum, Erdogan pointed to French investments in Syria and other Arab countries, adding: "But when it comes to Turkey investing in Arab countries or vice versa, a dirty propaganda is trying to impede this process."
"Those who say that Turkey has broken away from the West are the intermediaries of an ill-intentioned propaganda," he said.
"We are open to all parts of the world. We are not open to one and closed to another."
Many in Turkey and the West are concerned that NATO's sole mainly Muslim member is sliding away, pointing at a severe crisis with Israel over its bloody raid on aid ships last week and Turkey's "no" vote on fresh UN Security Council sanctions against Iran regarding its nuclear programme Wednesday.
Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government has sought a stronger Turkish role in the Middle East, notably improving ties with Muslim countries, among them former foes Syria and Iran.
The Turkish foreign minister has said : Psychologically this attack is like 9/11 for Turkey because Turkish citizens were attacked by a state, not by terrorists, with an intention, a clear decision of political leaders of that state."
Information on Ahmet Davutogl, Turkish FM, from Jamestown.
And Turkey's prime minister Erdogan said: "This bloody massacre by Israel on ships that were taking humanitarian aid to Gaza deserves every kind of curse."
Profile of AdbullahGul, President since 2007, from the BBC
Abdullah Gul's presidential ambitions have long alarmed Turkey's secular establishment. His election as president makes him the first politician with an Islamist background to become head of state since the Turkish Republic was established in 1923.
Secularist parties boycotted a parliamentary vote on Mr Gul's candidacy in April, blocking his presidential bid and creating political deadlock. He was foreign minister at the time.
The ruling AK Party, which Mr Gul helped found, decided to re-nominate him, arguing that a sweeping general election victory in July had given it the mandate to do so.
Nevertheless, secularist opposition to Mr Gul remains strong.
The military has frequently warned it would intervene to protect the secular system if required.
And the desperate gasps from a dying foreign policy:
"I think we have to think long and hard about why" policies have changed in Turkey and "about what we might be able to do to counter them and make the stronger linkages with the West more apparently of interest and value to Turkey's leaders," said Gates.
7 comments:
Arabification, formerly known as Jihad... will eat Turkey up just like it is destroying Iran.. and any other place they can Slither into..
Perhaps like Ebola you are right, but what damage to the surrounding tissue and living bodies, first?
Turkey is NOT LIKE other nations with muslim majorities.
This is an excellent explanation for today's Turkey. Thanks.
Epaminondas said...
"Turkey is NOT LIKE other nations with muslim majorities."
Black_Rain says.. "not for long.."
Jihad isn't a Pillar of Islam.
it is the Foundation... and it is relentless. the Borglims will never let up till they drag it into the Sewer too.
Iran used to be the Gem of Islam.. short skirts and Rock-n-roll, they love America.
my uncle worked in Iran for 4 years before the Revolution. he was spirited out the back way, just days before the hostage taking, by Iranian friends. we had a big family reunion and dinner a couple weeks later. we were all asking questions about Iran, my wife asked what the Iranian people are like.. he said that many were some of the finest, most intelligent people he'd ever met.. then he said, but there is a faction that is obviously the product of half a million years of malnutrition and incest..
Iran's Islam is modified by a strong, historical Sufi influence. it is more contemplative than the racially supremicist Arabification that the government is imposing on the people now.
Black Rain,
Really enjoying your posts here.
Epa,
See this:-
Interview with Captain & Chief Officer of the "Mavi Marmara"
http://goo.gl/KszA (Flotilla )
Alex
Anon ..don't worry, they no longer want it.
They have identified the 'strong horse' and they are allied with it, and it ain't from Belgium, dude
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