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CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL, ARMENIA REMAIN THE SAME: ERDOGAN
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 30 2012
Turkey
"We will never reconsider restoring our relations with Israel,"
until Israel lifts its Gaza blockade, apologizes to Turkey and pays
compensation for the nine Turkish nationals killed on a Gaza-bound
vessel by Israeli commandos in May 2010, Erdošan said in his address
to his ruling Justice and Democracy Party (AKP) congress in Ankara.
The prime minister also said Turkey will continue to give support to
the Palestinian cause in order to make them live in peace.
On Armenia, Erdošan said Turkey's stance will not change, until
"they give our Azeri brothers' their rights."
"We will continue to stand by our principals on the issues of Cyprus
and Nagorno-Karabakh," Erdošan said.
Erdošan has meanwhile called on Russia and China to reconsider their
stance on Syria, while also vowing to provide logistical support to
Syrians and welcome refugees from the country flowing into Turkey,
during his speech.
"I call on China and Russia: Please, reconsider your stance. History
will not forgive those who side with this cruel regime," Erdošan said
during his party's congress today in Ankara.
Turkey is currently hosting around 90,000 refugees, he said. "We
will do what brotherhood necessitates. We will continue to give
logistical support."
Call for action against Islamophobia
Erdošan called on France and Germany to take action against recent
incidents against the Muslim identity in their countries during
his address.
"I call on Germany. We do not accept the attitude against women who
wear head coverings," said Erdošan. Recent posters publicized by
the German Interior Ministry advertising a hotline for those worried
that a friend or family member may be turning to radical Islam did
not coincide with the freedom of religion, Erdošan said.
He also called on France to take steps in "the cartoon crisis,"
referring to cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad that were recently
published by a French magazine.
Erdošan also vowed to continue his efforts to make Islamophobia a
recognized hate crime in Turkey and the international arena.
"Islamophobia is a hate crime. Insults to [Islam's] Prophet Muhammad
cannot be tolerated under the name of freedom of speech. This is not
freedom of speech, this is a disrespect to freedoms," said Erdošan.
"We are now taking steps in domestic and international grounds. Our
foreign minister is holding discussions [on the issue] with world
leaders," said Erdošan, recalling his previous call for a ban on
attacks on religious and sacred values. Erdošan also said it is
unacceptable that the West hasn't recognized Islamophobia as a crime
against humanity, although it has recognized anti-semitism as a crime
against humanity.
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 30 2012
Turkey
"We will never reconsider restoring our relations with Israel,"
until Israel lifts its Gaza blockade, apologizes to Turkey and pays
compensation for the nine Turkish nationals killed on a Gaza-bound
vessel by Israeli commandos in May 2010, Erdošan said in his address
to his ruling Justice and Democracy Party (AKP) congress in Ankara.
The prime minister also said Turkey will continue to give support to
the Palestinian cause in order to make them live in peace.
On Armenia, Erdošan said Turkey's stance will not change, until
"they give our Azeri brothers' their rights."
"We will continue to stand by our principals on the issues of Cyprus
and Nagorno-Karabakh," Erdošan said.
Erdošan has meanwhile called on Russia and China to reconsider their
stance on Syria, while also vowing to provide logistical support to
Syrians and welcome refugees from the country flowing into Turkey,
during his speech.
"I call on China and Russia: Please, reconsider your stance. History
will not forgive those who side with this cruel regime," Erdošan said
during his party's congress today in Ankara.
Turkey is currently hosting around 90,000 refugees, he said. "We
will do what brotherhood necessitates. We will continue to give
logistical support."
Call for action against Islamophobia
Erdošan called on France and Germany to take action against recent
incidents against the Muslim identity in their countries during
his address.
"I call on Germany. We do not accept the attitude against women who
wear head coverings," said Erdošan. Recent posters publicized by
the German Interior Ministry advertising a hotline for those worried
that a friend or family member may be turning to radical Islam did
not coincide with the freedom of religion, Erdošan said.
He also called on France to take steps in "the cartoon crisis,"
referring to cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad that were recently
published by a French magazine.
Erdošan also vowed to continue his efforts to make Islamophobia a
recognized hate crime in Turkey and the international arena.
"Islamophobia is a hate crime. Insults to [Islam's] Prophet Muhammad
cannot be tolerated under the name of freedom of speech. This is not
freedom of speech, this is a disrespect to freedoms," said Erdošan.
"We are now taking steps in domestic and international grounds. Our
foreign minister is holding discussions [on the issue] with world
leaders," said Erdošan, recalling his previous call for a ban on
attacks on religious and sacred values. Erdošan also said it is
unacceptable that the West hasn't recognized Islamophobia as a crime
against humanity, although it has recognized anti-semitism as a crime
against humanity.