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TURKISH PM CALLS OFF VISIT TO GERMANY DUE TO HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN
Spiegel Online
March 17 2012
Germany
[translated from German]
[Report by "ff": "Controversial Prize Award: Erdogan Surprisingly
Calls off Visit in Germany. The Controversial Awarding of a Prize for
Tolerance to the Turkish Prime Minister in Bochum Will Not Take Place:
Erdogan Called off His Trip to Germany. His Office Gave as a Reason
the Crash of a Turkish Helicopter in Afghanistan. Mass Protests Were
Planned Against the Award"]
Bochum - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called
off his planned participation in the awarding of Bochum's "Steiger
Award" on Saturday [ 17 March], the organizer said. According to a
communication on Friday evening, the reason is the crash of a Turkish
military helicopter in Afghanistan. The initiator of the prize, Sascha
Hellen, confirmed Erdogan's cancellation. "The Steiger Award will
not be conferred in his absence. We are now looking for a different
solution," Hellen said. On Saturday, Erdogan was supposed to receive
a prize on behalf of the Turkish people for 50 years of German-Turkish
friendship. Former Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) [Social
Democratic Party of Germany] was foreseen for the laudation. At least
14 people were killed in the crash of the Turkish military helicopter
into a dwelling house in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday.
In advance in the award ceremony, there were strong protests against
the planned presentation of the award to Erdogan. The police in the
Ruhr District had prepared for a large-scale operation because of
announced mass protests. Armenians, Kurds, and Alevis have called for
protests on Saturday. They see the prize for Erdogan as a "slap in
the face of all minorities in Turkey," according to an announcement
by the Alevi Community of Germany.
The initiators say that the prize arising in a private initiative is
supposed to honour personalities "who have distinguished themselves
through straightforwardness, openness, humanity, and tolerance."
According to the police, seven rallies have been registered. The
Bochum police requested support from other cities to be prepared for
the large number of demonstrators. The umbrella organization of the
Alevi communities alone announced 20,000 participants in the protest.
The non-monetary Steiger Award is conferred annually.
Spiegel Online
March 17 2012
Germany
[translated from German]
[Report by "ff": "Controversial Prize Award: Erdogan Surprisingly
Calls off Visit in Germany. The Controversial Awarding of a Prize for
Tolerance to the Turkish Prime Minister in Bochum Will Not Take Place:
Erdogan Called off His Trip to Germany. His Office Gave as a Reason
the Crash of a Turkish Helicopter in Afghanistan. Mass Protests Were
Planned Against the Award"]
Bochum - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called
off his planned participation in the awarding of Bochum's "Steiger
Award" on Saturday [ 17 March], the organizer said. According to a
communication on Friday evening, the reason is the crash of a Turkish
military helicopter in Afghanistan. The initiator of the prize, Sascha
Hellen, confirmed Erdogan's cancellation. "The Steiger Award will
not be conferred in his absence. We are now looking for a different
solution," Hellen said. On Saturday, Erdogan was supposed to receive
a prize on behalf of the Turkish people for 50 years of German-Turkish
friendship. Former Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) [Social
Democratic Party of Germany] was foreseen for the laudation. At least
14 people were killed in the crash of the Turkish military helicopter
into a dwelling house in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday.
In advance in the award ceremony, there were strong protests against
the planned presentation of the award to Erdogan. The police in the
Ruhr District had prepared for a large-scale operation because of
announced mass protests. Armenians, Kurds, and Alevis have called for
protests on Saturday. They see the prize for Erdogan as a "slap in
the face of all minorities in Turkey," according to an announcement
by the Alevi Community of Germany.
The initiators say that the prize arising in a private initiative is
supposed to honour personalities "who have distinguished themselves
through straightforwardness, openness, humanity, and tolerance."
According to the police, seven rallies have been registered. The
Bochum police requested support from other cities to be prepared for
the large number of demonstrators. The umbrella organization of the
Alevi communities alone announced 20,000 participants in the protest.
The non-monetary Steiger Award is conferred annually.