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'IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE OCCUPATION OF AZERI TERRITORIES,' SAYS GUL
by Asbarez
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
British Prime Minister David Cameron with Turkish President Abdullah
Gul
LONDON (Combined Sources)-Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who is in
Great Britain to receive the "Man of the Year" award from Chatham
House said Monday that for Ankara "it is impossible to ignore the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories," during an address at the
Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.
"Although there are talks underway on Nagorno-Karabakh, it is well
know that seven Azeri regions are occupied. The United Nations says
these lands are occupied. Armenia itself is even aware that these
territories do not belong to it," Gul claimed during his speech.
Saying that frozen conflicts must be solved for the sake of the
region's security, Gul cited the 2008 Georgia-Russia war as an example
and the effects it has had on the region.
"The current de-facto situation is not acceptable to anyone. There
are some problems in the matters of Azerbaijan-Armenia, Turkey-Armenia
and Georgia and they require dialogue to resolve them," said Gul.
Gul also spoke about the normalization process between Armenia and
Turkey and said that although Turkey was one of the first countries to
recognize Armenia's independence, some problems persist. He neglected
to mention Turkey's unilateral decision in 1993 to blockade Armenia
as an expression of solidarity with Azerbaijan.
"During the last one to two years, we're seriously trying to resolve
these problems and will continue to do so. Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Turkey have serious work ahead. It's necessary to be persistent
in the Caucasus in order to restore stability in the region," said Gul.
Gul also told European leaders that the EU needs his country as a
member if it wants to remain a global force, reported Euronews.
In an address to London-based think-tank Chatham House, Gul said the
27-nation bloc should see Turkish membership as "imperative".
"It is sad to observe that some European leaders do not properly
see the future of the world in the span of 20, 50, 70 years time,"
Gul said.
"Given the fact that the international balance of power tends to shift
towards the East and Asia, it is, indeed, a strategic imperative for
the EU to have Turkey as a member."
"This short-sighted vision is the major impediment before the idea of
the EU as a global actor, capable of assuming greater responsibilities
on political and security issues complementing its economic clout."
Gul's comments appear to be a veiled attack on France and Germany. The
two countries oppose Turkey ever gaining full membership. They promote
instead the idea of a "privileged partnership."
Turkey began formal negotiations to join the European Union five years
ago but talks have slowed over Ankara's 36-year military presence in
northern Cyprus.
The European Commission is set to release a progress report on Turkey's
bid for membership later on Tuesday. It is expected to criticize the
speed of reforms to guarantee the freedom of the press.
The number of Turkish citizens in favor of EU membership has dropped
from 48 percent in 2009 to 38 percent now, according to a German
Marshall Fund poll published in September. The same survey found the
rate of people against it rose from 22 to 31 percent.
That poll also reported that only 26 percent of Turks believe the
country will ever join the EU. The year before the rate was 32 percent.
From: A. Papazian
by Asbarez
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
British Prime Minister David Cameron with Turkish President Abdullah
Gul
LONDON (Combined Sources)-Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who is in
Great Britain to receive the "Man of the Year" award from Chatham
House said Monday that for Ankara "it is impossible to ignore the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories," during an address at the
Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.
"Although there are talks underway on Nagorno-Karabakh, it is well
know that seven Azeri regions are occupied. The United Nations says
these lands are occupied. Armenia itself is even aware that these
territories do not belong to it," Gul claimed during his speech.
Saying that frozen conflicts must be solved for the sake of the
region's security, Gul cited the 2008 Georgia-Russia war as an example
and the effects it has had on the region.
"The current de-facto situation is not acceptable to anyone. There
are some problems in the matters of Azerbaijan-Armenia, Turkey-Armenia
and Georgia and they require dialogue to resolve them," said Gul.
Gul also spoke about the normalization process between Armenia and
Turkey and said that although Turkey was one of the first countries to
recognize Armenia's independence, some problems persist. He neglected
to mention Turkey's unilateral decision in 1993 to blockade Armenia
as an expression of solidarity with Azerbaijan.
"During the last one to two years, we're seriously trying to resolve
these problems and will continue to do so. Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Turkey have serious work ahead. It's necessary to be persistent
in the Caucasus in order to restore stability in the region," said Gul.
Gul also told European leaders that the EU needs his country as a
member if it wants to remain a global force, reported Euronews.
In an address to London-based think-tank Chatham House, Gul said the
27-nation bloc should see Turkish membership as "imperative".
"It is sad to observe that some European leaders do not properly
see the future of the world in the span of 20, 50, 70 years time,"
Gul said.
"Given the fact that the international balance of power tends to shift
towards the East and Asia, it is, indeed, a strategic imperative for
the EU to have Turkey as a member."
"This short-sighted vision is the major impediment before the idea of
the EU as a global actor, capable of assuming greater responsibilities
on political and security issues complementing its economic clout."
Gul's comments appear to be a veiled attack on France and Germany. The
two countries oppose Turkey ever gaining full membership. They promote
instead the idea of a "privileged partnership."
Turkey began formal negotiations to join the European Union five years
ago but talks have slowed over Ankara's 36-year military presence in
northern Cyprus.
The European Commission is set to release a progress report on Turkey's
bid for membership later on Tuesday. It is expected to criticize the
speed of reforms to guarantee the freedom of the press.
The number of Turkish citizens in favor of EU membership has dropped
from 48 percent in 2009 to 38 percent now, according to a German
Marshall Fund poll published in September. The same survey found the
rate of people against it rose from 22 to 31 percent.
That poll also reported that only 26 percent of Turks believe the
country will ever join the EU. The year before the rate was 32 percent.
From: A. Papazian