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ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY'S HONOR WEIGHED IN FOR CANCELLING ARGENTINA TRIP
Today's Zaman
June 1 2010
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who cancelled a trip to Argentina
on Sunday after Buenos Aires authorities halted the display of a
bust of Turkey's founder, a move Turkey blamed on Armenian lobbyists,
has said that he did "what suited Turkey's honor."
"We had to do what suited Turkey's honor and we believe we did it,"
he said on Monday.
Addressing the businessmen who joined his tour of South America,
Erdogan also said: "The visit to Argentina was planned earlier. The
relevant ministries of the two countries agreed to erect a bust
of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey,
in Buenos Aires. There have been serious efforts by the Armenian
lobby in Buenos Aires in the past two to three days. Buenos Aires
has approximately 200,000 citizens of Armenian descent. The Armenians
used intense pressure. There is an autonomous administration there.
The decision did not depend on the central administration."
He added that the president of Argentina called him and said they could
not change the situation there, after which the Turkish delegation
assessed the situation and removed Argentina from its schedule.
Erdogan was to pay a two-day visit to Argentina on May 30 and 31. The
bust of Ataturk was to be inaugurated at Jorge Newbury Park during
Erdogan's visit.
Moving ahead on his South America trip to Chile, Erdogan said Turkish
businessmen could take significant steps in Chile.
"The land area of Chile is similar to Turkey, but the national income
is much more than Turkey because the population is lower than Turkey.
Chile does not require visas for Turkey. Turkish businessmen could
do very well in this country," he said, addressing the businessmen
accompanying him.
Erdogan also said that US exports to Chile amount to $30 million,
but Chile's imports from the United States amount to $200 million.
"There is a serious imbalance. I believe there are many items
which Turkey can send to this country [instead of the US]. We [the
government] will do what is necessary to open the way and you will
walk along this path," Erdogan said.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
June 1 2010
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who cancelled a trip to Argentina
on Sunday after Buenos Aires authorities halted the display of a
bust of Turkey's founder, a move Turkey blamed on Armenian lobbyists,
has said that he did "what suited Turkey's honor."
"We had to do what suited Turkey's honor and we believe we did it,"
he said on Monday.
Addressing the businessmen who joined his tour of South America,
Erdogan also said: "The visit to Argentina was planned earlier. The
relevant ministries of the two countries agreed to erect a bust
of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey,
in Buenos Aires. There have been serious efforts by the Armenian
lobby in Buenos Aires in the past two to three days. Buenos Aires
has approximately 200,000 citizens of Armenian descent. The Armenians
used intense pressure. There is an autonomous administration there.
The decision did not depend on the central administration."
He added that the president of Argentina called him and said they could
not change the situation there, after which the Turkish delegation
assessed the situation and removed Argentina from its schedule.
Erdogan was to pay a two-day visit to Argentina on May 30 and 31. The
bust of Ataturk was to be inaugurated at Jorge Newbury Park during
Erdogan's visit.
Moving ahead on his South America trip to Chile, Erdogan said Turkish
businessmen could take significant steps in Chile.
"The land area of Chile is similar to Turkey, but the national income
is much more than Turkey because the population is lower than Turkey.
Chile does not require visas for Turkey. Turkish businessmen could
do very well in this country," he said, addressing the businessmen
accompanying him.
Erdogan also said that US exports to Chile amount to $30 million,
but Chile's imports from the United States amount to $200 million.
"There is a serious imbalance. I believe there are many items
which Turkey can send to this country [instead of the US]. We [the
government] will do what is necessary to open the way and you will
walk along this path," Erdogan said.
From: A. Papazian