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ERDOGAN PUSHES FOR COMMON FUTURE WITH BALKAN STATES
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/28/feature-02
28/09/2011
Wrapping up his visit to New York, Erdogan sends a message of universal
values and pushes for a common future with Balkan states.
By Chase Winter for Southeast European Times in New York -- 28/09/11
New York Balkan Forum underlines Turkish-Balkan ties. [Zlatko
Kovac/SETimes]
Speaking alongside leaders of the Balkan states at the New York
Balkan Forum last week (September 22nd), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan stressed the cultural and historical ties between Turkey and
the Balkans, while calling on the region to overcome its troubled
history to co-operate and integrate to form a common future.
"In the future, the Balkans' most pressing need is to learn a lesson
from its experience and start working towards prosperity, development,
and peace," he said, adding that any problems experienced in the
Balkans directly reflect on Turkey because of historical ties of
brotherhood.
However, the absence of Serbia and Greece at the forum due to the
presence of Kosovo and Macedonia, respectively, was a clear reminder
of a Balkans still divided.
Intra-Balkan economic integration and investment were key themes,
while Turkey's fast-growing economy and investments in the region
provided the backdrop to the growing importance of Turkey.
Describing the Balkans as "Turkey's door to the West", Confederation
of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) President Rizanur Meral
said Turkey has undergone an economic transformation since 2002, with
the world's second fastest growing economy and a jump in exports from
$35 billion to $135 billion.
Balkan countries will need to expand markets due to the small size of
domestic markets, Deputy Governor of Turkey's Central Bank Ihbrahim
Turhan said, adding that countries like Turkey and Russia afford
opportunities.
According to Timothy Ash, the head of emerging markets research at RBS
global banking, as Europe faces financial trouble Turkey can play a
role as a driver for Balkan growth. However, he warned, Balkan states
will have to do more to attract FDI as European financial resources
run dry.
As the largest investor in Kosovo, Turkey plays a unique role in the
country due to a "common past, religion, geographic position and the
big support we've got from the Turkish government" Kosovo Foreign
Minister Enver Hoxhai explained.
Pointing to the free trade agreement between Albania and Turkey,
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Turkish investment in
Albania increased four fold between 2005 and 2010.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov said that
energy co-operation with Turkey, especially finalising Nabucco,
are his country's top priority.
"Connecting energy markets, making sure we have a southeast European
energy market with a common strategy to make sure energy networks
are connected," is one area Mladenov said the Balkan states could
make tangible efforts at co-operation and integration.
On the political front, Mladenov said working together to overcome the
difficulties of the past is necessary for regional co-operation. "One
of the very important examples over the past few years has been the
role Turkey has played in pushing and helping countries strengthen
their co-operation together, particularly Bosnia and Serbia," he said.
All the states including Turkey said their future is within the
EU and NATO, which will act as an anchor for regional co-operation
and security.
However, Erdogan highlighted that for a common future there needs
to be more than economic growth and material gain: human rights,
democracy, and the rule of law are also of equal importance.
Speaking on Saturday (September 24th) at an event organised by the
Turkish Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA),
Erdogan said the age of autocratic regimes is over and that Turkey
would act according to universal principles and the will of the people.
By framing the Balkans as being the heart of Turkey and stressing
universal rights, Erdogan tried to place ideology and principles to
the forefront of his message.
"Sarajevo's fate is Edirne's fate, Skopje's fate is Kosovo's fate,
Palestine's fate is Istanbul's fate, in that case the fate of humanity
should become the fate of Ankara," he said.
COMMENT:
Anonymous About 19 hours ago
After 500 years of Ottoman rule we now have Erdogan preaching for a
"common" Balkan future? Somehow I am not as touched as I should be. I
wonder why?
All the countries in the Balkans except for one or two made alot of
sacrifices in order to be independent states today. In memory of the
fallen let us not tarnish their memory with articles likes these. The
Balkans do not need a "big brother". They need to organise themselves
and to look toward a common EU future. That is the only way forward
for the Balkans. Erdogan should do the same with his country once of
course all the prerequistes have been met by his country set forward
by the EU.
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/09/28/feature-02
28/09/2011
Wrapping up his visit to New York, Erdogan sends a message of universal
values and pushes for a common future with Balkan states.
By Chase Winter for Southeast European Times in New York -- 28/09/11
New York Balkan Forum underlines Turkish-Balkan ties. [Zlatko
Kovac/SETimes]
Speaking alongside leaders of the Balkan states at the New York
Balkan Forum last week (September 22nd), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan stressed the cultural and historical ties between Turkey and
the Balkans, while calling on the region to overcome its troubled
history to co-operate and integrate to form a common future.
"In the future, the Balkans' most pressing need is to learn a lesson
from its experience and start working towards prosperity, development,
and peace," he said, adding that any problems experienced in the
Balkans directly reflect on Turkey because of historical ties of
brotherhood.
However, the absence of Serbia and Greece at the forum due to the
presence of Kosovo and Macedonia, respectively, was a clear reminder
of a Balkans still divided.
Intra-Balkan economic integration and investment were key themes,
while Turkey's fast-growing economy and investments in the region
provided the backdrop to the growing importance of Turkey.
Describing the Balkans as "Turkey's door to the West", Confederation
of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) President Rizanur Meral
said Turkey has undergone an economic transformation since 2002, with
the world's second fastest growing economy and a jump in exports from
$35 billion to $135 billion.
Balkan countries will need to expand markets due to the small size of
domestic markets, Deputy Governor of Turkey's Central Bank Ihbrahim
Turhan said, adding that countries like Turkey and Russia afford
opportunities.
According to Timothy Ash, the head of emerging markets research at RBS
global banking, as Europe faces financial trouble Turkey can play a
role as a driver for Balkan growth. However, he warned, Balkan states
will have to do more to attract FDI as European financial resources
run dry.
As the largest investor in Kosovo, Turkey plays a unique role in the
country due to a "common past, religion, geographic position and the
big support we've got from the Turkish government" Kosovo Foreign
Minister Enver Hoxhai explained.
Pointing to the free trade agreement between Albania and Turkey,
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Turkish investment in
Albania increased four fold between 2005 and 2010.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov said that
energy co-operation with Turkey, especially finalising Nabucco,
are his country's top priority.
"Connecting energy markets, making sure we have a southeast European
energy market with a common strategy to make sure energy networks
are connected," is one area Mladenov said the Balkan states could
make tangible efforts at co-operation and integration.
On the political front, Mladenov said working together to overcome the
difficulties of the past is necessary for regional co-operation. "One
of the very important examples over the past few years has been the
role Turkey has played in pushing and helping countries strengthen
their co-operation together, particularly Bosnia and Serbia," he said.
All the states including Turkey said their future is within the
EU and NATO, which will act as an anchor for regional co-operation
and security.
However, Erdogan highlighted that for a common future there needs
to be more than economic growth and material gain: human rights,
democracy, and the rule of law are also of equal importance.
Speaking on Saturday (September 24th) at an event organised by the
Turkish Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA),
Erdogan said the age of autocratic regimes is over and that Turkey
would act according to universal principles and the will of the people.
By framing the Balkans as being the heart of Turkey and stressing
universal rights, Erdogan tried to place ideology and principles to
the forefront of his message.
"Sarajevo's fate is Edirne's fate, Skopje's fate is Kosovo's fate,
Palestine's fate is Istanbul's fate, in that case the fate of humanity
should become the fate of Ankara," he said.
COMMENT:
Anonymous About 19 hours ago
After 500 years of Ottoman rule we now have Erdogan preaching for a
"common" Balkan future? Somehow I am not as touched as I should be. I
wonder why?
All the countries in the Balkans except for one or two made alot of
sacrifices in order to be independent states today. In memory of the
fallen let us not tarnish their memory with articles likes these. The
Balkans do not need a "big brother". They need to organise themselves
and to look toward a common EU future. That is the only way forward
for the Balkans. Erdogan should do the same with his country once of
course all the prerequistes have been met by his country set forward
by the EU.