Tweet
ERDOGAN CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO UNITE, RAISE THE PALESTINIAN FLAG
Today's zaman
Sept 13 2011
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday addressed a
meeting of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital of Cairo with a
speech that will likely buttress his image as a regional leader.
Tuesday's Arab League meeting in Cairo rang with a historic call from
the Turkish prime minister for the Arab countries and Turkey to close
their ranks so tightly that "even daylight shall not pass between,"
and the Turkish leader's speech was interrupted by storms of applause
from Arab foreign ministers supporting Turkey's call for solidarity
in the region.
"We are living through a turning point in history, and we are called
upon to cooperate more closely than ever," Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday at a gathering of Arab League foreign
ministers in Egypt. Speaking at the league's headquarters in Cairo,
where he was visiting as part of a three-day tour of Arab countries,
Erdogan called on the Arab countries to strengthen their ties and
raise the level of cooperation in the Middle East, as the region
is going through a time of rapid transition, which will have a deep
impact at the international level.
"It is time for us to take responsibility for our common future,"
Erdogan said, and added, "we are entitled to meet the righteous
demands of our people using any legitimate means." He also warned,
in clear reference to those leaders still resisting the Arab Spring,
that those who choose to reciprocate the demands of the people with
blood would face their demise "if not today, then definitely tomorrow."
Erdogan further added that it is time for the Arab countries to
reunite and reorganize in a way that will bolster cooperation and
support amongst each other, at this time when these nations have
"developed a better understanding of one another."
Erdogan's speech also summarized Turkish foreign policy, at a time
when the country is outlining a clear roadmap for its stance toward the
Arab Spring nations, as well as Israel, which has recently been facing
increased pressure from its own region as well as strategic allies
in other parts of the world. Erdogan repeated Turkey's stance against
the Israeli administration's refusal to comply with Turkish demands to
make amends in the aftermath of the May 2010 flotilla incident. "While
Israeli administration ties to legitimize itself [in terms of its
domestic policy], it takes steps that shake its legitimacy in the
region," Erdogan said, criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu's administration
for refusing a rapprochement with Turkey, so as not to fall out with
opposition figures in the Israeli coalition. Turkey and Israel were on
the brink of reaching an agreement over their diplomatic obstacles
when, according to the Turkish side, the Israeli administration
withdrew from finalizing an agreement for fear of exacerbating the
already hostile mood in Israel's domestic politics.
"The aggression of the Israeli administration has reached levels
that threaten the future of the Israeli people," the Turkish leader
said, listing again the recent Turkish sanctions against Israel,
which was interrupted with supportive applause by the meeting's
participants. He also touched on the Israeli blockade on Gaza, saying
the Palestinian-Israeli crisis is an issue "that lies at the heart
of the conflict in the region." Erdogan also suggested that Israel
needs to act "reasonably, responsibly and with respect for human life"
before the country will be able to break out of what Erdogan called
its "isolation" in the region. The leader ruled out a normalization of
relations between Turkey and Israel, unless Israel complies with the
demands Turkey has repeatedly voiced for an apology and compensation
for the loss of life during an Israeli aid of a Gaza-bound Turkish
humanitarian aid ship last year, and the removal of the Gaza blockade
that has long been a core issue of dispute between Israel and its
Arab neighbors.
Erdogan also signaled in his speech that the dynamics regarding Israel
in the region have reached a point of no return, saying that the
"status quo is no longer sustainable," and reiterating that Turkey will
be taking the issue of the Gaza blockade to the International Court
of Justice, a move that could seriously cripple Israel's diplomacy
with the rest of the world and prove it culpable for past Palestinian
damages. He called on the Arab nations to support the recognition of
Palestine at the international level, saying "let's all unfurl the
Palestinian flag together, and let that flag be the symbol of peace
and stability in the region."
Also, in a tone designed to dispel speculation that Turkey is
interested in aiding Libya for financial reasons, Erdogan clearly
stated that he is keenly interested in Libya "not like some, who are
motivated by an interest the country's resources, but out of love
and respect for our brothers in Libya." The leader also repeated
his country's support for the National Transitional Council (NTC)
of Libya in uniting the diversity of the country and representing
different voices under one roof.
"The effects of what happens in this region [the Middle East and North
Africa] cannot be contained within the region," Erdogan said of the
international effects of the Arab Spring and the rapid transformation
occurring in some Arab countries. He also explained that Turkey was
an avid observer of the developments and very concerned about the
uprisings given the "mutual historical ties and timeless brotherhood"
between the Arab nations and Turkey. The leader said it is necessary
for those countries affected by the Arab Spring to make changes at the
"political, economic and social levels immediately," and warned that
"what defines tomorrow is determined by what we do today." Although
he recognized that the road ahead of the Arab countries is a difficult
one, he said it is still a road that must be taken in order to achieve
greater democracy and rights for the people of the region.
Turkey concerned about Syrian civil war
Erdogan's speech also mentioned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad,
as he remarked that Turkish help was welcomed by some, and turned
down by others, but that "Turkey would continue to offer friendly
advice regardless." Erdogan also said that leaders who refuse to
listen to their people and meet their demands peacefully will be
"held accountable at some point."
"I fear that matters will end in civil war between the Alawites and
the Sunnis," Erdogan separately told the Al-Shorouk newspaper in an
interview that was published on Tuesday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has sent tanks and troops to
quell months of protests against his rule, is from the minority Alawite
Muslim sect. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims. Turkey's ties with Syria,
a former friend, are near the breaking point as Assad continues to
defy Turkish calls to end his bloody crackdown on protesters. In late
August, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said he had lost confidence
in Syria and that the situation has reached a point where any changes
would be too little too late.
Today's zaman
Sept 13 2011
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday addressed a
meeting of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital of Cairo with a
speech that will likely buttress his image as a regional leader.
Tuesday's Arab League meeting in Cairo rang with a historic call from
the Turkish prime minister for the Arab countries and Turkey to close
their ranks so tightly that "even daylight shall not pass between,"
and the Turkish leader's speech was interrupted by storms of applause
from Arab foreign ministers supporting Turkey's call for solidarity
in the region.
"We are living through a turning point in history, and we are called
upon to cooperate more closely than ever," Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday at a gathering of Arab League foreign
ministers in Egypt. Speaking at the league's headquarters in Cairo,
where he was visiting as part of a three-day tour of Arab countries,
Erdogan called on the Arab countries to strengthen their ties and
raise the level of cooperation in the Middle East, as the region
is going through a time of rapid transition, which will have a deep
impact at the international level.
"It is time for us to take responsibility for our common future,"
Erdogan said, and added, "we are entitled to meet the righteous
demands of our people using any legitimate means." He also warned,
in clear reference to those leaders still resisting the Arab Spring,
that those who choose to reciprocate the demands of the people with
blood would face their demise "if not today, then definitely tomorrow."
Erdogan further added that it is time for the Arab countries to
reunite and reorganize in a way that will bolster cooperation and
support amongst each other, at this time when these nations have
"developed a better understanding of one another."
Erdogan's speech also summarized Turkish foreign policy, at a time
when the country is outlining a clear roadmap for its stance toward the
Arab Spring nations, as well as Israel, which has recently been facing
increased pressure from its own region as well as strategic allies
in other parts of the world. Erdogan repeated Turkey's stance against
the Israeli administration's refusal to comply with Turkish demands to
make amends in the aftermath of the May 2010 flotilla incident. "While
Israeli administration ties to legitimize itself [in terms of its
domestic policy], it takes steps that shake its legitimacy in the
region," Erdogan said, criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu's administration
for refusing a rapprochement with Turkey, so as not to fall out with
opposition figures in the Israeli coalition. Turkey and Israel were on
the brink of reaching an agreement over their diplomatic obstacles
when, according to the Turkish side, the Israeli administration
withdrew from finalizing an agreement for fear of exacerbating the
already hostile mood in Israel's domestic politics.
"The aggression of the Israeli administration has reached levels
that threaten the future of the Israeli people," the Turkish leader
said, listing again the recent Turkish sanctions against Israel,
which was interrupted with supportive applause by the meeting's
participants. He also touched on the Israeli blockade on Gaza, saying
the Palestinian-Israeli crisis is an issue "that lies at the heart
of the conflict in the region." Erdogan also suggested that Israel
needs to act "reasonably, responsibly and with respect for human life"
before the country will be able to break out of what Erdogan called
its "isolation" in the region. The leader ruled out a normalization of
relations between Turkey and Israel, unless Israel complies with the
demands Turkey has repeatedly voiced for an apology and compensation
for the loss of life during an Israeli aid of a Gaza-bound Turkish
humanitarian aid ship last year, and the removal of the Gaza blockade
that has long been a core issue of dispute between Israel and its
Arab neighbors.
Erdogan also signaled in his speech that the dynamics regarding Israel
in the region have reached a point of no return, saying that the
"status quo is no longer sustainable," and reiterating that Turkey will
be taking the issue of the Gaza blockade to the International Court
of Justice, a move that could seriously cripple Israel's diplomacy
with the rest of the world and prove it culpable for past Palestinian
damages. He called on the Arab nations to support the recognition of
Palestine at the international level, saying "let's all unfurl the
Palestinian flag together, and let that flag be the symbol of peace
and stability in the region."
Also, in a tone designed to dispel speculation that Turkey is
interested in aiding Libya for financial reasons, Erdogan clearly
stated that he is keenly interested in Libya "not like some, who are
motivated by an interest the country's resources, but out of love
and respect for our brothers in Libya." The leader also repeated
his country's support for the National Transitional Council (NTC)
of Libya in uniting the diversity of the country and representing
different voices under one roof.
"The effects of what happens in this region [the Middle East and North
Africa] cannot be contained within the region," Erdogan said of the
international effects of the Arab Spring and the rapid transformation
occurring in some Arab countries. He also explained that Turkey was
an avid observer of the developments and very concerned about the
uprisings given the "mutual historical ties and timeless brotherhood"
between the Arab nations and Turkey. The leader said it is necessary
for those countries affected by the Arab Spring to make changes at the
"political, economic and social levels immediately," and warned that
"what defines tomorrow is determined by what we do today." Although
he recognized that the road ahead of the Arab countries is a difficult
one, he said it is still a road that must be taken in order to achieve
greater democracy and rights for the people of the region.
Turkey concerned about Syrian civil war
Erdogan's speech also mentioned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad,
as he remarked that Turkish help was welcomed by some, and turned
down by others, but that "Turkey would continue to offer friendly
advice regardless." Erdogan also said that leaders who refuse to
listen to their people and meet their demands peacefully will be
"held accountable at some point."
"I fear that matters will end in civil war between the Alawites and
the Sunnis," Erdogan separately told the Al-Shorouk newspaper in an
interview that was published on Tuesday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has sent tanks and troops to
quell months of protests against his rule, is from the minority Alawite
Muslim sect. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims. Turkey's ties with Syria,
a former friend, are near the breaking point as Assad continues to
defy Turkish calls to end his bloody crackdown on protesters. In late
August, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said he had lost confidence
in Syria and that the situation has reached a point where any changes
would be too little too late.