AHMADINEJAD WILL JOIN UN SUMMIT; SARKOZY, SARGSYAN'S ATTENDANCE UNCONFIRMED
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 - 16:44 AMT
Iranian President Ahmadinejad will join the United Nation-sponsored
Least Developed Countries Summit.
Turkey will host the fourth United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries on May 9-13 in Istanbul, one of the gatherings to
contribute poorer nations improve prosperity and infrastructure. The
Iranian leader's trip to Turkey coincides with growing pressure
from the United States to halt the activities of the Iranian banks
in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres will not participate in
the gathering as the summit coincides with an Israeli national holiday.
Relations between Turkey and Israel began to strain after an Israeli
attack to Gaza killing about 1,400 Palestinians in 2009.
Relations between the two countries tensed seriously over an Israeli
raid on Gaza bound Turkish aid ship killing eight Turks and one
Turkish-American in 2010. Following Israel's attack, Ankara demanded
an apology and compensation before relations could be normalized.
"As we organize this meeting together with the U.N., I sent letters to
all heads of state and government of U.N. member countries and invited
them to the meeting. I have invited the Israeli president within this
scope," President Abdullah Gul said in April underlining that the
invitation had been extended by the U.N., not the Turkish government.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is also invited along with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, whose attendance was unconfirmed, Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review reported.
From: A. Papazian
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 - 16:44 AMT
Iranian President Ahmadinejad will join the United Nation-sponsored
Least Developed Countries Summit.
Turkey will host the fourth United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries on May 9-13 in Istanbul, one of the gatherings to
contribute poorer nations improve prosperity and infrastructure. The
Iranian leader's trip to Turkey coincides with growing pressure
from the United States to halt the activities of the Iranian banks
in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres will not participate in
the gathering as the summit coincides with an Israeli national holiday.
Relations between Turkey and Israel began to strain after an Israeli
attack to Gaza killing about 1,400 Palestinians in 2009.
Relations between the two countries tensed seriously over an Israeli
raid on Gaza bound Turkish aid ship killing eight Turks and one
Turkish-American in 2010. Following Israel's attack, Ankara demanded
an apology and compensation before relations could be normalized.
"As we organize this meeting together with the U.N., I sent letters to
all heads of state and government of U.N. member countries and invited
them to the meeting. I have invited the Israeli president within this
scope," President Abdullah Gul said in April underlining that the
invitation had been extended by the U.N., not the Turkish government.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is also invited along with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, whose attendance was unconfirmed, Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review reported.
From: A. Papazian