Showing posts with label Ankara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ankara. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Saturday, June 23, 2012
LE FIGARO: Erdogan lève les sanctions prises contre la France après la loi sur le génocide arménien.La Turquie a annoncé son intention de lever les sanctions prises contre la France à propos de la loi pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien. Une manière pour Ankara de saluer la fin du quinquennat de Nicolas Sarkozy, marqué par de mauvaises relations bilatérales. «Monsieur est parti, la bagarre et terminée», titrait vendredi le quotidien Habertürk, rappelant que cette normalisation était prévue depuis l'élection du nouveau président français. Elle s'est concrétisée à l'issue d'une rencontre entre François Hollande, porteur de «la nouvelle position de la France» et le premier minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan à Rio de Janeiro, en marge du sommet sur le développement durable. » | Par Burçin Gerçek | vendredi 22 juin 2012
Friday, October 07, 2011
«Je vais lancer une grenade dégoupillée», prévenait jeudi Nicolas Sarkozy devant une partie de la délégation qui l'accompagnait à Erevan, en Arménie. Le président de la République y est revenu sur un sujet sensible en évoquant la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la Turquie. Le Président a déclaré que la France modifierait sa législation pour que le négationnisme du génocide de 1915 soit condamné au pénal, si la Turquie ne reconnaissait pas officiellement le massacre de plus d'un million et demi d'Arméniens.
Une vive réaction était à prévoir et la réponse, cinglante, ne s'est pas fait attendre. Vendredi, Ahmet Davutoglu a conseillé à la France d'«affronter son passé colonial avant de donner des leçons aux autres pays». Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères a également insisté sur la situation des étrangers, considérés comme des «citoyens de seconde zone» dans l'Hexagone, selon lui. » | Par Romain Renner | Vendredi 07 Octobre 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
KUWAIT TIMES: ANKARA: Turkey plans to build a coastal nuclear power plant close to an earthquake-prone area, dismissing neighbors' fears that Japan's nuclear disaster shows that the new plant could be a risk to the whole Mediterranean region. Greece and Cyprus say the move is a gamble that could cause catastrophe and want the European Union to scrutinize the EU candidate's plan in a debate fraught with political and historical baggage. Turkish officials insist the plant is safe and necessary to keep the country's strong economy going. » | Sunday, April 03, 2011
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron will today demand an end to the anti-Muslim 'prejudice' which he claims is blocking Turkey's membership of the European Union.
In a speech in the Turkish capital of Ankara, he will tell of his "anger" that a country which is a member of the Nato coalition fighting in Afghanistan should be asked to: "guard the camp but not be allowed to sit inside the tent".
He will claim that those who seek to block the incorporation of a Muslim nation into the 27-member EU are misguided and prejudiced. His words are likely to be construed as criticism of France and Germany, which both oppose the country's membership.
The Prime Minister has embarked on a four-day trip which will also take him to India where, accompanied by a large trade delegation and several members of the Cabinet, he will seek to forge a new relationship based on trade with the emerging Asian powerhouse rather than aid.
In Ankara, he will hold talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish premier, before the two leaders sign an accord setting out plans for future co-operation.
Addressing the EU membership which Britain has supported for years along with nations including Italy and Spain, but which has stalled amid opposition from Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he will tell the Turks: "I will remain your strongest possible advocate for EU membership and for greater influence at the top table of European diplomacy.
"Together, I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels."
Mr Cameron will attack: "those who wilfully misunderstand Islam" and who "see no difference between real Islam and the distorted version of the extremists." >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent, in Ankara | Tuesday, July 27, 2010
SKY NEWS: Cameron Will Fight To Let Turkey Join EU >>> David Williams, Sky News Online | Tuesday, July 27, 2010
FINANCIAL TIMES: Cameron backs Turkey joining EU: David Cameron will express his “anger” on Tuesday at Turkey’s European Union membership bid being “frustrated” by the bloc’s leaders, as he heaps praise on an emerging power increasingly at odds with Britain, the US and Europe on the world stage.
The UK prime minister will spare no flattery on his first visit to Ankara, as he commits to “fight” for Turkey’s place at the European top table in a speech that largely glosses over differences between the two countries on Iran and Gaza. >>> Alex Barker and Delphine Strauss in Ankara | Monday, July 26, 2010
MAIL ONLINE: Turkey must join EU, says Cameron: 'Those who are against are playing on fears of Islam' >>> Jason Groves | Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Cameron is showing clearly enough what a greenhorn in politics he is. He’s as green as his face is fresh! Moreover, he’s a fool! What does Cameron know about the religion of Islam? What does Cameron understand about Muslims’ goals and aspirations? Has he ever lived in a Muslim country? Has he ever worked alongside Muslims? Has he ever left his comfortable cocoon of plenty? The man is clearly not up to the job. He’s had his chance; it’s already time for him to be replaced with a real Conservative – one who speaks for the people.
It is my firm belief that the people of this once great country do not want Turkey to be allowed into the EU, because they know full well that it will lead to further Islamization: To further Islamization of Europe; and to further Islamization of the United Kingdom. And frankly, they’ve already had enough of both!
I don’t know whether this is the “Brokeback coalition” or not, as David Davis has suggested. But one thing I do know: If Cameron goes on like this, he’ll break the back of Western civilization!
Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have got it right about Turkey’s accession to the EU. Its accession will be nothing short of a disaster for both Europe and the United Kingdom.
By the way, Cameron, are you B. Hussein Obama’s marionette? – © Mark
LE FIGARO: UE: Cameron pour l'entrée de la Turquie : Le premier ministre britannique David Cameron a exprimé sa "colère" face aux entraves à l'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union européenne, lors d'une visite officielle aujourd'hui à Ankara. >>> AFP | Mardi 27 Juillet 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
ZEIT ONLINE: Da braut sich etwas zusammen. Der Iranische Rote Halbmond hat angekündigt, zwei Schiffe zwecks “humanitärer Hilfe” nach Gaza zu schicken. Eines soll mit Hilfsgütern, das andere mit “Experten” bestückt sein. Freiwillige werden auf der Homepage des Roten Halbmonds noch gesucht.
Die Revolutionsgarden waren von der Idee so begeistert, dass sie gleich anboten, die Schiffe gegebenenfalls zu begleiten, falls der Revolutionsführer Khamenei dazu einen Befehl erteile. (Dass die Garden sich mit ihren vergleichsweise leichten Booten besser nicht mit der israelischen Marine anlegen sollten, steht auf einen anderen Blatt. Andererseits: Noch ein paar Opfer wären dem Teheraner Regime ganz recht. Offenbar gibt es gegenüber der Türkei schon so etwas wie einen Märtyrer-Neid.)
Natürlich ist es kein Zufall, dass Teheran die Gaza-Angelegenheit jetzt hochspielt. Soeben sind Sanktionen gegen Iran beschlossen worden. Der UN-Sicherheitsrat hat mit 12 von 15 Stimmen dafür gestimmt. Betroffen werden vor allem Firmen der Revolutionsgardisten sein, die am Nuklearprogramm beteiligt sind. Auch Banken werden zusätzlich zum Ziel dieser vierten Runde von Sanktionen. Und ein Waffenembargo trifft die Streitkräfte hart. Man möchte so davon ablenken, dass Teheran noch nie so weitgehend politisch isoliert dastand wie heute. Russen und Chinesen tragen die Sanktionen nämlich mit. Um diese beiden an Bord zu haben, waren zwar keine “lähmenden (crippling) Sanktionen” möglich. Aber die Amerikaner und die Europäer werden nun noch einmal bilateral drauflegen, um die Wirkung zu verstärken. Die Kosten für Irans Atomprogramm steigen enorm. Weiter lesen und kommentieren >>> Von Jörg Lau | Donnerstag, 10 Juni 2010
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
ADN KRONOS INTERNATIONAL: Istanbul - Turkey signed an agreement to establish closer links with the Palestinian National Authority on Monday. Foreign ministers representing Turkey and the Palestinians signed the agreement as Turkish president Abdullah Gul and president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas were to meet at a conference in Istanbul.
The agreement was signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad El-Maliki and aims to create a framework for Turkey's aid and support to the Palestinian state, Turkish media reports said.
A joint committee will convene at least twice every year in order to determine areas of cooperation and lay down action plans. >>> AKI | Monday, June 07, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: Ankara is losing patience after being rebuffed in its attempts to join the EU, writes Con Coughlin.
For a country that has aspirations to join the Western comity of nations, Turkey certainly has a strange way of going about it. Its government may not have personally sanctioned the dispatch of a flotilla of militant aid activists to Gaza, but it has lost no time in leading the international chorus of condemnation for Israel's cack-handed response.
Ahmet Davutoglu, the foreign minister, has claimed that the military interception of the flotilla, which resulted in the deaths of nine "peace" activists, has become Turkey's 9/11. The Turks even achieved the remarkable feat of persuading the Nato alliance to come to its aid. But throughout the tumult, they appear to have conveniently overlooked the damning evidence that, far from being innocent aid activists, many of those on board the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish-registered ship that led the flotilla, were hell-bent on an armed confrontation. How else do you explain the presence of gas masks, bullet-proof vests, knives and axes on the vessel?
The team of Israeli commandos that rappelled from a helicopter on to the ship's upper deck were met by a lynch mob, some of whom had openly professed a desire to achieve martyrdom prior to the voyage. In some cases, it appears their wishes were met.
While the Turkish government says it was not directly involved in sending the Mavi Marmara on its doomed mission, Israeli security officials claim the charity responsible for chartering the ship does have links to Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party. >>> Con Coughlin | Friday, June 04, 2010
Star comment by instansaver:
The Islamist ruling party in Turkey has been waiting for years to become more overtly Islamist. We in Europe should not kid ourselves that our correct rebuffing of their entry into the EU was the principal factor. Admitting Turkey would be demographically and culturally disastrous.
Erdogan spends half his time these days dining with Assad and Ahmadinejad. Turkey's great geopolitical priority right now is to prevent an independent Kurdistan arising out of the ashes of post-Saddam Iraq. That explains the majority of what is driving Turkey's (literal) reorientation.
The earlier dispute with Israel featuring Danny Ayalon centred around the production of an anti-semitic tv series in Turkey - a fact which was lost in the West due to the typical propensity for succumbing to anti-Israel spin.
We in the west would be greatly mistaken by thinking that the best way to handle Turkey right now is to mollify or appease it. The best hope for Turkey is if the secularist politicians get their act together. The Islamist ruling party needs a bucket of cold water throwing over it, not a bunch of flowers and the keys to the house. – (Edited by a moderator) [Source: Telegraph Comments]
Con Coughlin's article is excellent, well-written, and logically set out. But it is based on a false assumption! The assumption that if Turkey is allowed into Europe, all will be well. But this will clearly not be the case. Mr Coughlin, it appears, has little understanding of the true nature of Islam and Muslims. All Muslims have Islam coursing through their veins. Turkish Muslims are no different. They may appear to be more 'moderate' – whatever a 'moderate Muslim' is – but do not be fooled. Muslims are Muslims, and Islam is Islam. There is but ONE Islam, and therefore, by logical extension, ONE true Muslim.
Israelis understand the true nature of their Muslim neighbours. Con Coughlin, apparently, does not.
Allowing Turkey into Europe will be nothing short of a disaster for Europe. It will change the course of its future. The continent will be transformed in no time at all. If people like Mr Coughlin want to throw away our Judeo-Christian civilization in one fell swoop, then all that needs to be done is to allow Turkey into the Union. That will clinch it for them! But this will be one foolish step too many. – © Mark
Friday, April 16, 2010
LE FIGARO: Une mère de famille française de 42 ans a été définitivement condamnée aujourd'hui en Turquie à 12 ans et 6 mois de prison pour trafic de drogue, la cour de cassation d'Ankara ayant rejeté son pourvoi, a indiqué Laurent Bruneau, son avocat agenais. >>> AFP | Vendredi 16 Avril 2010
Thursday, April 08, 2010
LE FIGARO: Le premier ministre turc hausse le ton contre « les provocations » de l'État hébreu.
Le ton monte entre la Turquie et Israël. Alors que la visite à Paris du premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, devait replacer sous les projecteurs les tensions entre Paris et Ankara à propos de l'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union européenne (UE), celles-ci ont été éclipsées par des échanges très vifs entre les gouvernements turc et israélien, qui ponctuent des mois de détérioration des relations entre les deux pays.
Face à la presse, avant un déjeuner de travail avec Nicolas Sarkozy à l'Élysée, M. Erdogan a accusé Israël d'être «la principale menace contre la paix» au Proche-Orient. «Si un pays fait usage d'une force disproportionnée en Palestine, utilise des bombes au phosphore à Gaza, nous n'allons pas lui dire: «Vous avez bien fait, bravo», a déclaré le chef du gouvernement turc. Il y a eu une attaque à Gaza qui a fait 1 500 morts (fin 2008, NDLR) et les motifs invoqués sont des mensonges. Lisez le rapport Goldstone. Goldstone est juif et son rapport est clair, a poursuivi M. Erdogan, chef du parti islamo-conservateur AKP. S'il dérange Israël, c'est parce qu'il décrit des réalités. Israël mène une politique d'invasion et de provocations permanentes. Ce n'est pas parce que nous sommes musulmans que nous le disons : notre approche est humanitaire.» Il a également justifié son opposition à des sanctions contre l'Iran par le fait qu'Israël, réputé posséder l'arme nucléaire, ne subit aucune pression. >>> Par Philippe Gelie | Jeudi 08 Avril 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
TIMES ONLINE – Leading Article: The confrontation between Ankara and the army could prove catastrophic
Turkey, a pillar of Nato, a potential member of the European Union and a strategic Western ally in the Middle East, is today poised on the brink of disaster. If the current confrontation between the moderate Islamist Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the military establishment provokes a coup, or spurs political and religious violence, the loss to the West, to regional stability and to the hopes for this emerging economic power would be incalculable. What is at stake is of critical importance not just to Turkey but to countries across the Muslim world: is political Islam, even in moderate guise, compatible with democracy, state authority and secular institutions?
Tensions have eased slightly since the release of three top military commanders, taken in for questioning over an alleged coup plot. But despite the Prime Minister’s crisis talks with General Ilker Basbug, the head of the armed forces, and their joint promise to resolve tensions “within the constitutional order”, fears and rumours are still sweeping the country. The stock market has fallen. Social and political divisions are hardening. A further 14 people have been questioned, bringing military arrests to almost 40. And Turks have been amazed to see serving officers, until now virtually untouchable by civilian authorities, being charged with plots to bomb mosques, provoke violence and stage a confrontation with Greece — plots that seem as cynical as they are bizarre. >>> | Monday, March 01, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
WELT ONLINE: Ankara hebt die Visumpflicht für mehrere Länder des Nahen Ostens auf, darunter Syrien und Libyen. Für die Harmonisierung mit der EU ist das ein Rückschlag. Denn über die Türkei reisen schon jetzt zahlreiche illegale Migranten in EU-Länder ein. Die Entscheidung ist nur ein Beispiel für einen neuen Konfrontationskurs.
Der türkische Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan wurde kürzlich in Saudi-Arabien gefragt, ob sich mit einer EU-Mitgliedschaft der Türkei seine Politik gegenüber muslimischen Ländern ändern würde. Er antwortete mit einem Koran-Zitat: „Strebe nach dem, was richtig ist, wie es (von Gott) befohlen ist.“ Zugleich wetterte er, noch nie habe man einen EU-Beitrittskandidaten so lange vor der Tür stehen lassen. Parierte Ankara Unsicherheit in Brüssel nach Bemerkungen dieser Art bislang mit Beteuerungen, man sei immer noch an einem EU-Beitritt interessiert, kommen diesmal andere Signale.
Normalerweise gehört zu einem Beitritt eine Harmonisierung der eigenen Politik mit der der EU. Von 2004 bis 2006 gab sich die Türkei diesbezüglich viel Mühe. Neuerdings ist davon nicht mehr viel zu spüren, es gibt in manchen Bereichen sogar eine „Ent-Harmonisierung“. Das deutlichste Beispiel ist die Visumpolitik. In Saudi-Arabien war es Erdogans Wunsch, die gegenseitige Visumpflicht aufzuheben. Das wünschen auch viele fromme Türken, um millionenfach nach Mekka pilgern zu können.
Die Saudis sind nicht angetan. Begeistert sind hingegen Länder wie Syrien und Libyen. Mit ihnen sowie mit Jordanien und dem Libanon hat die Türkei die Visumpflicht aufgehoben – zum Entsetzen Brüssels. Denn die Türkei ist ein Durchreiseland für illegale Migranten auf dem Weg in die EU. >>> Von Boris Kalnoky | Donnerstag, 11. Februar 2010
Monday, December 07, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: Turkey's attempts to develop a strategic partnership with Iran are causing concern in America and are likely to dominate talks between its leader and President Barack Obama during a US visit that starts today.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, has introduced a "good neighbours" foreign policy that has tilted the axis of Ankara's diplomacy in the direction of Iran, Russia and bordering states.
Turkish frustration with a series of setbacks for its bid to join the European Union triggered a search for a foreign policy that reflect its historical interests in the Middle East, Caucasus and Islamic world.
Foreign intelligence officials sounded an alarm over Turkish manoeuvring closer to Iran, which has undermined the international campaign to isolate the Islamic regime. In particular it has allowed key members of the Islamic regime to move large sums of money – up to $10 million per day – into the global financial system.
Turkey has become a prized outlet for Iranian transactions since a tight regime of sanctions cut off Iranian banks from international finance.
Turkey was one of a handful of countries that refused to support a reprimand imposed on Iran over its failure to declare secret nuclear facility last month. Iranian activists have complained that the regime's agents can operate with impunity in a country that was once a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. >>> Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Monday, December 07, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
TIMES ONLINE: The Duchess of York faces questioning, and possible arrest and extradition to Turkey over allegations that she and her daughter Eugenie broke privacy laws by filming undercover in Turkish institutions for the disabled.
The Turkish government is believed to have lodged an official request for the British police to help it to secure evidence that the Duchess broke the country's strict privacy laws.
The Metropolitan Police and the Home Office are thought to be discussing the request, which arrived through the formal procedure for Mutual Legal Assistance between different countries.
Under the arrangement, British detectives would question the Duchess and relay their findings to their Turkish counterparts, who could then request further action such as her arrest and extradition.
Neither the Home Office nor the Met would comment on the record about Turkey's request this morning. But a Home Office source told The Sun newspaper last night: "We have received a request from the Turkish government for an MLA in relation to the Duchess of York. We are now awaiting the necessary paperwork but it seems likely the request will be granted."
The row concerns an episode of ITV1's Tonight programme, filmed last September and broadcast two months later, in which the Duchess and her younger daughter donned wigs and headscarves to film the cruel and spartan conditions endured by disabled women and children in two state institutions.
Eugenie wept after she saw children left tied to their beds in Istanbul's Zeytinburnu Centre for the Care of Disabled Children, where 700 youngsters are housed. The Duchess reported seeing faeces left uncleared near a bed holding two women at the Saray Rehabilitation Centre in Ankara.
Chris Rogers, an ITN correspondent who accompanied the Duchess, described what they had seen as "profoundly shocking". He reported seeing children "dressed in bedclothes and rags, some had shaven heads - which gave them the appearance of convicts rather than patients. In every corner, a child showed signs of distress, with many exhibiting the awful violent rocking of the institutionalised." >>> Jenny Booth | Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
DER STANDARD: Außenminister Davutoglu: Beispielloser Reformprozess begonnen
Stockholm - Der türkische Außenminister Ahmet Davutoglu hat die Europäische Union aufgefordert, die Verhandlungen über einen Beitritt Ankaras zu beschleunigen. Die Türkei habe einen beispiellosen Reformprozess begonnen, um den EU-Forderungen nachzukommen, schrieb Davutoglu in einem am Samstag veröffentlichten Kommentar der schwedischen Zeitung "Dagens Nyheter".
Brüssel dürfe nun nicht zulassen, dass der Zypern-Konflikt die Verhandlungen verzögere. Die EU müsse auf die griechischen Zyprioten Druck ausüben, auf eine "konstruktive Einstellung" bei den Gesprächen über die geteilte Mittelmeerinsel einzuschwenken, forderte Davutoglu. [Quelle: Der Standard] APA/AP | Sonntag, 06. September 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
WELT ONLINE: Wenn Nato-Generalsekretär Anders Fogh Rasmussen in die Türkei kommt, ruhen die Augen der Gläubigen auf ihm und erwarten Verbeugungen in Richtung Islam. Bei seinem Besuch lobte jetzt der Däne die Vorzüge des Fastens – entschuldigte sich aber nicht nach dem Streit um die Mohammed-Karikaturen.
Einst hatte sich Anders Fogh Rasmussen gegen den türkischen EU-Beitritt ausgesprochen, und es abgelehnt, sich in der aufgeregten Debatte um die Mohammed-Karikaturen 2006 für Dänemark zu entschuldigen, oder gegen die dänischen Karikaturisten oder Medien vorzugehen, die Karikaturen des Propheten Mohammed veröffentlicht hatten.
Aus all diesen Gründen hatte die Türkei sich zunächst gegen seine Ernennung zum Nato-Generalsekretär ausgesprochen und erst zugestimmt, als unter anderem angeblich ein Versprechen gegeben worden war, Rasmussen werde sich in irgendeiner Weise entschuldigen und um eine Verbesserung der Beziehungen der Nato zur islamischen Welt bemüht sein.
Eine Entschuldigung hat er bislang nicht geboten, aber an Gebärden des Entgegenkommens mangelte es nicht, als er am Donnerstag für zwei Tage nach Ankara kam. Zurzeit ist Ramadan, und er nahm an einem abendlichen Fastenbrechen der islamisch geprägten Regierungspartei AKP teil. Er hielt dabei eine Rede, von der einige Zeitungen festhielten, er habe sich über die Vorzüge des Fastens geäußert, und von seinem großen Respekt für den Islam gesprochen, den er „eine der größten Religionen der Welt” nannte. Von Ministerpräsident Erdogan musste er sich ein Zitat des islamischen Mystikers Mevlana aus dem 13. Jahrhundert anhören, in dem fast Zweifel an der Ehrlichkeit des Nato-Chefs anklangen: „Zeig Dich wie Du bist, oder sei wie Du dich zeigst”. >>> Von Boris Kalnoky | Freitag, 28. August 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
YNET NEWS: Turkish Authorities say at least 30,000 protesters gathered in downtown Ankara on Sunday to protest the arrests of university professors and other secularists accused of involvement in an alleged plot to topple the Islamic-rooted government.
Authorities recently charged more than 200 people as part of the investigation into the alleged secularist conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. Protesters, who are waving Turkish flags and carrying posters of late leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, chanting: "We are soldiers of Ataturk!" will later march to the mausoleum of Turkey's first secular leader. [Source: YNet News] AP | Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS: ANKARA, Turkey — The gunman who shot Pope John Paul II says he would like to convert to Christianity at a baptism ceremony at the Vatican after his release from prison in January.
In comments relayed by his lawyer on Wednesday, Mehmet Ali Agca also says he wants to visit the grave of Pope John Paul II, meet with Pope Benedict XVI and produce a television documentary on the Vatican. >>> Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press | Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
TAGESANZEIGER: Der amerikanische Präsident Barack Obama hat mit einer Erklärung zum Massaker an Armeniern zur Zeit des Osmanischen Reichs den Ärger der Türkei auf sich gezogen.
Einige Passagen von Obamas Statement zum Jahrestag des Beginns der Gräueltaten seien «inakzeptabel», erklärte das Aussenministerium am Samstag in Ankara. Die Beurteilung der Vorkommnisse solle einzig und allein Historikern überlassen werden. »Die gemeinsame Geschichte des türkischen und des armenischen Volkes darf nur durch unabhängige und wissenschaftliche Daten bewertet werden», hiess es in der Mitteilung aus Ankara weiter.
Präsident Abdullah Gül kritisierte am Rande eines Energie-Gipfels in Sofia, dass Obama die türkischen Opfer nicht erwähnt habe. «Jedermanns Schmerz muss geteilt werden», forderte er. Erklärung aus dem Weissen Haus >>> raa/sda | Samstag, 25. April 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
SLATE: Turkey's scheming at the Strasbourg summit proves it doesn't belong in the European Union.
The most underreported story of the month must surely be the announcement by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that he no longer supports the accession of Turkey as a full member of the European Union. His reasoning was very simple and intelligible, and it has huge implications for the Barack Obama "make nice" school of diplomacy.
At a NATO summit in Strasbourg in the first week of April, it had been considered a formality that the alliance would vote to confirm Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, as its new secretary-general. But very suddenly, the Turkish delegation threatened to veto the appointment. The grounds of Turkey's opposition were highly significant. Most important, they had to do with the publication of some cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2005 lampooning the Prophet Mohammed. In spite of an organized campaign of violence and boycott against his country, and in spite of a demand by a delegation of ambassadors from supposedly "Islamic" states, Rasmussen consistently maintained that Danish law did not allow him to interfere with the Danish press. Years later, resentment at this position led Turkey—which is under its own constitution not an "Islamic" country—to use the occasion of a NATO meeting to try again to interfere with the internal affairs of a member state.
The second ground of Turkey's objection is also worth noting. From Danish soil a TV station broadcasts in the Kurdish language to Kurds in Turkey and elsewhere. The government in Ankara, which evidently believes that all European governments are as untrammeled as itself, brusquely insists that Denmark do what it would do and simply shut the transmitter down. Once again unclear on the concepts of the open society and the rule of law—if the station is sympathetic to terrorism, as Ankara alleges, there are procedures to be followed—the Turkish authorities attempt a fiat that simply demands that others do as they say. >>> By Christopher Hitchens | Monday, April 20, 2009
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