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  • ANKARA: Turkish FM: Turkey a central country rather than a bridge

    Anadolu Agency, Turkey
    Sept 21 2012


    Turkish FM: Turkey a central country rather than a bridge

    LENGTH: 754 words


    Turkish FM: Turkey is a central country where Chechens, Bosnians,
    Kosovars and Kurds were also living. TORONTO (AA) - September 21, 2012
    - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that Turkey was a
    central country rather than a bridge. Davutoglu, who is visiting
    Canada, delivered a conference titled "Changing Turkey in a Changing
    World" at the Atlantic Council of Canada in Toronto on Thursday.

    Turkey was a central country where Chechens, Bosnians, Kosovars and
    Kurds were also living, he said.

    Turkey was a country in the middle of all political quakes which
    changed the course of the world history, he said.

    A human tragedy has been taking place in Syria, he said. "We told
    Assad that whole nation cannot be terrorist and what he has done is
    wrong. However Assad continues killing people," he said. Replying to
    a question on relations between Turkey and Canada, Davutoglu said that
    Turkey was eager to have good and sound relations with Canada based on
    respect and dignity. "We signed a protocol with Armenia and we
    announced that we are ready to discuss all historical events. I hope
    that one day the relations between Turkey and Armenia would reach a
    perfect level and Turks and Armenians would be good friends. We have
    very good relations with Canada as well," he said.

    Answering another question on Turkey-EU relations, Davutoglu said that
    Turkey was a key country, not a burden for the EU. Turkey was a
    country which can find solutions to all problems of the EU especially
    economic crisis, he said. In 2011, 2 million Europeans lost their
    jobs, but in Turkey 2 million people were employed in the same year,
    he added. FM Davutoglu inaugurates Monument for Martyred Turkish
    Diplomats in Canada OTTAWA (AA) - September 21, 2012 - Turkish Foreign
    Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday said that the Turkish nation will
    never forget its diplomats assassinated by Armenian terrorists while
    on duty.

    Davutoglu inaugurated a Monument for Martyred Turkish Diplomats and
    the late Turkish Military Attache Colonel Atilla Altikat who was
    killed by the Armenian terror organization ASALA in 1982 in Ottowa.

    Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird was also present during the
    inauguration of the monument.

    Speaking at the monument, Davutoglu said that the monument was made in
    memory of all Turkish diplomats who became victims of terror.

    "During the days the monument was getting completed, the U.S.
    Ambassador in Tripoli lost his life. August 27, the day when Colonel
    Altikat was assassinated, is a day when the Canadian nation met with
    international terror for the first time," Davutoglu stressed.

    "This monument here is one that condemns terror. We thank all those
    who made this monument possible," Davutoglu said.

    Addressing Colonel Altikat's spouse Ayla Altikat and children Goker
    and Zeynep, Davutoglu said he wished his deep condolences to the
    Altikat family.

    "I do hope that God's mercy is with Colonel Altikat. Martyrs never die
    in our culture. I am sure that Colonel Altikat's spirit is with us. I
    would like to thank you for letting us share your pain. On behalf of
    the Turkish nation, I would like to thank you for your strong posture
    throughout the years. Our martyrs, who have lost lives in different
    corners of the world, will never be forgotten," Davutoglu underlined.

    Minister Baird, in his part, said that the assassination of Colonel
    Atilla Altikat was a very sad incident.

    The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) is an
    Armenian terrorist organization which killed 46 Turkish citizens and
    other nationals, including Turkish diplomats and their family members,
    since the mid-1970s. The stated intention of ASALA was "to compel the
    Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the
    incidents in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian
    homeland". -Memorial at Turkish Embassy- Proceeding to the Turkish
    Embassy following the inauguration of the monument, Ahmet Davutoglu
    attended a memorial to remember Colonel Altikat.

    The memorial began with the Turkish national anthem. Verses from the
    Holy Koran were read and prayers made for all martyrs of Turkey.

    Davutoglu had a chance to speak with representatives of the Turkish
    community in Canada at the Turkish Embassy.

    Following the memorial, Davutoglu met with his Canadian counterpart
    Baird over a working meal.

    Davutoglu and Baird discussed the issues of Syria and Iran and took a
    decision to boost bilateral relations, including commercial ones.

    Davutoglu and his delegation later proceeded to New York from Canada.


    From: Baghdasarian
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