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Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 15 2005
Erdogan: We Are Trying To Save Iraq From Being A Training Ground For
Terrorists
NEW YORK - Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that
the Turkish government is trying to stave off Iraq from being a
training ground for terrorist organizations. Erdogan is in New York
to attend the United Nations (UN) 2005 Summit of heads of state and
government. He was a guest speaker at the American think-tank
organization Foreign Relations Council. Asked thereabout the role
Turkey may play to safeguard the territorial integrity of Iraq,
Erdogan answered that Turkey has already assumed important role in
this country. ''We have taken steps to protect the Iraqi people from
terrorist acts. We have initiated meetings of the neighboring
countries of Iraq at the level of foreign ministers. The next step
would be to include the ministers of interior in such meetings. We
have informed the Iraqi government that Turkey is ready to train
Iraqi security forces. Turkey is providing humanitarian assistance to
Iraq, including medicines and energy. We have close kinship relations
with Iraq. The presence of terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-gel in
northern Iraq makes us uneasy,'' said Erdogan.
-PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ-
In response to a question on how he sees the democratic process in
Iraq, Erdogan responded that, wherever democracy goes, there is
always pain initially.
He stressed that an ethnic group in Iraq should not try to dominate
other groups. ''The new Iraqi constitution must prevent clashes among
the ethnic groups,'' noted Erdogan.
-MIDDLE EAST-
When asked about the role Turkey will play in the democratization
process in the Middle East, Erdogan answered: ''As soon as we came to
power, we made developing our ties with our neighbors a priority. We
wanted to make friends, not enemies. Today, we have good relations
with our neighbors. We frequently visit Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and
get visited by their representatives. Turkey played a key role in the
withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Asked about the steps Turkish government will take on the ''Kurdish
problem,'' Erdogan stressed that constitutional amendments were made
in Turkey. ''We have adopted new laws in order to fulfill the
requirements of the Copenhagen criteria,'' said Erdogan.
-ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS-
Erdogan also elaborated on the initiative of ''Alliance of
Civilizations'' co-sponsored by the Spanish Premier Zapatero. ''We
must try to create an image. This image should be an alliance of
civilizations and a blow to international terrorism. There are groups
who want clashes between religions. We have to form an alliance to
prevent such clashes. Turkey is a rare country that is predominantly
Muslim but also has a democratic government. We have adopted new laws
to promote democracy in Turkey. Yet it is sometimes difficult to
fully eradicate the habits and customs of a society. We will resolve
all the misunderstandings and work for a better future,'' expressed
Erdogan.
-CYPRUS-
In reference to Cyprus, Erdogan reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots
did vote 'yes' to the Annan Plan to find a lasting solution to the
Cyprus problem. ''As Turkey, we have fulfilled our promises regarding
Cyprus. Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan but got rewarded with
membership to the European Union. No one should expect anything from
us unless the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is
ended,'' noted Erdogan.
-ERDOGAN'S ADDRESS TO TURKISH BUSINESSMEN-
PM Erdogan later met Turkish businessmen in NYC. Giving information
about the recent developments in Turkish economy, Erdogan said that
the confidence and stability climate reigning in Turkey drew foreign
investments to Turkey.
''If we can draw more foreign capital, unemployment will lessen and
Turkey's growth rate will increase,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan affirmed that the Turkish government would never permit
anything that could threaten the security of citizens. ''But we will
not also make any concessions from democracy, human rights and
freedoms,'' Erdogan stressed.
When asked how a negative decision on Turkey's EU bid could affect
Turkish economy, Erdogan said that ''yes it can affect the economy in
a negative way, but we can lessen its impact if we exchange
information effectively with the media.(...) There is stability,
confidence and enthusiasm in the country and we try to render
ineffective harmful rumors about Turkey's EU bid...''
-RECEPTION HOSTED BY BUSH-
Premier Erdogan attended a reception hosted by US President George W.
Bush in the honor of heads of states and governments attending the UN
Summit.
PM Erdogan also received representatives of American Jewish Committee
(AJC), Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith and other Jewish
associations in NYC.
Giving information about those meetings, his Spokesman Akif Beki said
that Erdogan referred to the Alliance of Civilizations project and
stressed its importance. In the meetings, one of the attendees
thanked Erdogan for the humanitarian aid which Turkey sent to the US
after Hurricane Katrina and another one referred to Turkey's efforts
for regional stability and democratization.
Beki said that Pakistan-Israel meeting in Istanbul was also among the
topics of the meetings and Erdogan explained generally Turkey's
contributions to Middle East Peace Process.
Erdogan also referred to Turkey's concerns about Kirkuk and noted
that Kirkuk would not be handed over to one specific ethnic group.
-ARMENIAN RESOLUTIONS-
Erdogan also asked Jewish organizations for their support regarding
the Armenian resolutions which would be debated in the US House of
Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, Beki said. Jewish
representatives told Erdogan that they would continue to support
Turkey about Armenian genocide claims.
Sept 15 2005
Erdogan: We Are Trying To Save Iraq From Being A Training Ground For
Terrorists
NEW YORK - Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that
the Turkish government is trying to stave off Iraq from being a
training ground for terrorist organizations. Erdogan is in New York
to attend the United Nations (UN) 2005 Summit of heads of state and
government. He was a guest speaker at the American think-tank
organization Foreign Relations Council. Asked thereabout the role
Turkey may play to safeguard the territorial integrity of Iraq,
Erdogan answered that Turkey has already assumed important role in
this country. ''We have taken steps to protect the Iraqi people from
terrorist acts. We have initiated meetings of the neighboring
countries of Iraq at the level of foreign ministers. The next step
would be to include the ministers of interior in such meetings. We
have informed the Iraqi government that Turkey is ready to train
Iraqi security forces. Turkey is providing humanitarian assistance to
Iraq, including medicines and energy. We have close kinship relations
with Iraq. The presence of terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-gel in
northern Iraq makes us uneasy,'' said Erdogan.
-PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ-
In response to a question on how he sees the democratic process in
Iraq, Erdogan responded that, wherever democracy goes, there is
always pain initially.
He stressed that an ethnic group in Iraq should not try to dominate
other groups. ''The new Iraqi constitution must prevent clashes among
the ethnic groups,'' noted Erdogan.
-MIDDLE EAST-
When asked about the role Turkey will play in the democratization
process in the Middle East, Erdogan answered: ''As soon as we came to
power, we made developing our ties with our neighbors a priority. We
wanted to make friends, not enemies. Today, we have good relations
with our neighbors. We frequently visit Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and
get visited by their representatives. Turkey played a key role in the
withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Asked about the steps Turkish government will take on the ''Kurdish
problem,'' Erdogan stressed that constitutional amendments were made
in Turkey. ''We have adopted new laws in order to fulfill the
requirements of the Copenhagen criteria,'' said Erdogan.
-ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS-
Erdogan also elaborated on the initiative of ''Alliance of
Civilizations'' co-sponsored by the Spanish Premier Zapatero. ''We
must try to create an image. This image should be an alliance of
civilizations and a blow to international terrorism. There are groups
who want clashes between religions. We have to form an alliance to
prevent such clashes. Turkey is a rare country that is predominantly
Muslim but also has a democratic government. We have adopted new laws
to promote democracy in Turkey. Yet it is sometimes difficult to
fully eradicate the habits and customs of a society. We will resolve
all the misunderstandings and work for a better future,'' expressed
Erdogan.
-CYPRUS-
In reference to Cyprus, Erdogan reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots
did vote 'yes' to the Annan Plan to find a lasting solution to the
Cyprus problem. ''As Turkey, we have fulfilled our promises regarding
Cyprus. Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan but got rewarded with
membership to the European Union. No one should expect anything from
us unless the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is
ended,'' noted Erdogan.
-ERDOGAN'S ADDRESS TO TURKISH BUSINESSMEN-
PM Erdogan later met Turkish businessmen in NYC. Giving information
about the recent developments in Turkish economy, Erdogan said that
the confidence and stability climate reigning in Turkey drew foreign
investments to Turkey.
''If we can draw more foreign capital, unemployment will lessen and
Turkey's growth rate will increase,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan affirmed that the Turkish government would never permit
anything that could threaten the security of citizens. ''But we will
not also make any concessions from democracy, human rights and
freedoms,'' Erdogan stressed.
When asked how a negative decision on Turkey's EU bid could affect
Turkish economy, Erdogan said that ''yes it can affect the economy in
a negative way, but we can lessen its impact if we exchange
information effectively with the media.(...) There is stability,
confidence and enthusiasm in the country and we try to render
ineffective harmful rumors about Turkey's EU bid...''
-RECEPTION HOSTED BY BUSH-
Premier Erdogan attended a reception hosted by US President George W.
Bush in the honor of heads of states and governments attending the UN
Summit.
PM Erdogan also received representatives of American Jewish Committee
(AJC), Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith and other Jewish
associations in NYC.
Giving information about those meetings, his Spokesman Akif Beki said
that Erdogan referred to the Alliance of Civilizations project and
stressed its importance. In the meetings, one of the attendees
thanked Erdogan for the humanitarian aid which Turkey sent to the US
after Hurricane Katrina and another one referred to Turkey's efforts
for regional stability and democratization.
Beki said that Pakistan-Israel meeting in Istanbul was also among the
topics of the meetings and Erdogan explained generally Turkey's
contributions to Middle East Peace Process.
Erdogan also referred to Turkey's concerns about Kirkuk and noted
that Kirkuk would not be handed over to one specific ethnic group.
-ARMENIAN RESOLUTIONS-
Erdogan also asked Jewish organizations for their support regarding
the Armenian resolutions which would be debated in the US House of
Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, Beki said. Jewish
representatives told Erdogan that they would continue to support
Turkey about Armenian genocide claims.