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ERDOGAN SKIPS EU MENTION IN KEYNOTE SPEECH AT PARTY CONGRESS
Today's Zaman
Sept 30 2012
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, delivering a historic
speech at his party's congress on Sunday, made no mention of reforms
required in the European Union accession process.
However, in a 2009 speech, he made it clear that Turkey would stick
to the EU path despite difficulties, and would continue to adopt
reforms to raise Turkey's standards. His criticism for the EU was
limited to the extent that Turkey faced some injustices at the hands
of some European countries acting on populist politics.
Erdogan called on the German government to take necessary steps to
protect the freedom of belief, stressing that placing a photograph of
a headscarf-wearing woman on a billboard with the purpose of profiling
all Muslims in Germany as extremists violates the rights of Muslims.
"It is impossible to accept the attitude adopted against girls wearing
headscarves in Germany. Placing a portrait of a woman wearing a
headscarf on billboards cannot be regarded as respect for the freedom
of belief," said Erdogan.
Recent attacks on Islam's sacred values and the Prophet Muhammad were
also on the receiving end of criticism in the speech.
Speaking in reference to the California-made anti-Islam film
denigrating the Prophet Muhammad, Erdogan stated that humiliating
or insulting a religion and the sacred values of a religion cannot
be considered as falling within the scope of freedom of expression
and thought.
"Islamophobia is a crime against humanity and hatred," said Erdogan,
adding that Turkey will continue to fight against hate speech, racism
and the clash of civilizations.
Erdogan commented that Turkey will continue to raise the issue on
both national and international platforms. "We are discussing the
issue with world leaders on different platforms," said Erdogan. "We
are condemning the assaults against Muslims."
Erdogan also criticized the Western world for staying silent over
Islamophobia. "Immediate action must be taken against racism, which
has escalated with the rise of anti-Islam rhetoric in the Western
world," said Erdogan.
He also called on France to take the necessary action against cartoons
mocking the Prophet published in a satirical magazine, attempting to
create a crisis similar to that surrounding cartoons printed in Denmark
in 2005. "France must take steps. Otherwise it will harm the [United
Nations] Alliance of Civilizations [UNAOC]. These crises will create
a clash of civilizations, and we are opposed to this," said Erdogan.
The prime minister touched on relations with Israel and Armenia
in his speech. He said that Turkey will not restore relations with
Israel until it apologizes for the Mavi Marmara raid and removes its
blockade of Palestine.
Turkish-Israeli relations became strained in 2010 after Israeli naval
commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying humanitarian aid
to breach Israel's Gaza blockade, killing eight Turkish civilians
and a US citizen.
Concerning relations with Armenia, Erdogan said Turkey's policies
towards the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will not change. "Armenians, Armenia
and those who stand by them must know that Turkey's stance will not
change until the rights of Azerbaijanis are fulfilled," said Erdogan.
The escalating violence in Syria was another major topic in Erdogan's
speech. "The Syrian regime is massacring its own people," said
Erdogan, adding that 250,000 Syrians have so far fled the violence
to neighboring countries, with approximately 90,000 taking refuge
in Turkey. He also called on Russia, China and Iran to change their
stance on the crisis in Syria. "History will not forgive those who
took sides with oppressors," said Erdogan.
Today's Zaman
Sept 30 2012
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, delivering a historic
speech at his party's congress on Sunday, made no mention of reforms
required in the European Union accession process.
However, in a 2009 speech, he made it clear that Turkey would stick
to the EU path despite difficulties, and would continue to adopt
reforms to raise Turkey's standards. His criticism for the EU was
limited to the extent that Turkey faced some injustices at the hands
of some European countries acting on populist politics.
Erdogan called on the German government to take necessary steps to
protect the freedom of belief, stressing that placing a photograph of
a headscarf-wearing woman on a billboard with the purpose of profiling
all Muslims in Germany as extremists violates the rights of Muslims.
"It is impossible to accept the attitude adopted against girls wearing
headscarves in Germany. Placing a portrait of a woman wearing a
headscarf on billboards cannot be regarded as respect for the freedom
of belief," said Erdogan.
Recent attacks on Islam's sacred values and the Prophet Muhammad were
also on the receiving end of criticism in the speech.
Speaking in reference to the California-made anti-Islam film
denigrating the Prophet Muhammad, Erdogan stated that humiliating
or insulting a religion and the sacred values of a religion cannot
be considered as falling within the scope of freedom of expression
and thought.
"Islamophobia is a crime against humanity and hatred," said Erdogan,
adding that Turkey will continue to fight against hate speech, racism
and the clash of civilizations.
Erdogan commented that Turkey will continue to raise the issue on
both national and international platforms. "We are discussing the
issue with world leaders on different platforms," said Erdogan. "We
are condemning the assaults against Muslims."
Erdogan also criticized the Western world for staying silent over
Islamophobia. "Immediate action must be taken against racism, which
has escalated with the rise of anti-Islam rhetoric in the Western
world," said Erdogan.
He also called on France to take the necessary action against cartoons
mocking the Prophet published in a satirical magazine, attempting to
create a crisis similar to that surrounding cartoons printed in Denmark
in 2005. "France must take steps. Otherwise it will harm the [United
Nations] Alliance of Civilizations [UNAOC]. These crises will create
a clash of civilizations, and we are opposed to this," said Erdogan.
The prime minister touched on relations with Israel and Armenia
in his speech. He said that Turkey will not restore relations with
Israel until it apologizes for the Mavi Marmara raid and removes its
blockade of Palestine.
Turkish-Israeli relations became strained in 2010 after Israeli naval
commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying humanitarian aid
to breach Israel's Gaza blockade, killing eight Turkish civilians
and a US citizen.
Concerning relations with Armenia, Erdogan said Turkey's policies
towards the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will not change. "Armenians, Armenia
and those who stand by them must know that Turkey's stance will not
change until the rights of Azerbaijanis are fulfilled," said Erdogan.
The escalating violence in Syria was another major topic in Erdogan's
speech. "The Syrian regime is massacring its own people," said
Erdogan, adding that 250,000 Syrians have so far fled the violence
to neighboring countries, with approximately 90,000 taking refuge
in Turkey. He also called on Russia, China and Iran to change their
stance on the crisis in Syria. "History will not forgive those who
took sides with oppressors," said Erdogan.