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The Journal of Turkish Weekly
January 31, 2009
Armenian Moderator Ignatius Provokes Erdogan-Peres Meeting in Davos
DAVOS and ANKARA (JTW) - David Ignatius, who caused a great scandal in Davos
with his unacceptable attitude against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, triggered a high tension between Turkey and Israel. Ironically Mr.
Ignatius is of Armenian descent and from Armenian Diapora. It is well-known
that the Armenian Diaspora has serious problems with Turkey and has made all
possible efforts to undermine Turkish interests.
Sedat Laciner, head of the Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK told the JTW
that it is quite strange to prefer a diaspora Armenian for such an elite
gathering. "As all we know there is a strong anti-Turkish circle in Armenian
Diaspora. They are against anything Turkish. Diaspora Armenians even try to
prevent Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. Some of the Armenian diaspora
organizations were not happy with the Turkish-Israeli friendship on Armenian
claims and they have been trying to spoil that co-operation. I cannot
understand how an Armenian moderator can be preferred for Turkish Prime
Minister's panel. There is clear provocation, a clear conspiracy there"
Laciner said.
Laciner further underlined that Ignatius is known for his anti-Turkish media
comments. "He wrote against Turkey and Mr. Erdogan in Washington Post. His
position is clear, he does not like Turkey and Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan. He should not have been a moderator in any gathering on Turkey. He
is not impartial" Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laciner added.
Turkish media harshly criticized David Ignatius and accused him of planning
a scandal against Turkish Prime Minister in Davos. Turkish daily Yenicag
wrote "Ignatius was not happy with an active Turkey in the Middle East. He
is a pro-Israel columnist".
* Turkish Anchorman Dundar: Ignatius Behave Ugly in Davos
Turkey's influencial and famous anchorman Ugur Dundar claimed the Daos
Crisis was triggered by the anchorman, David Ignatius. Turkish Star TV
anchorman Mr. Dundar said "Moderator in this kind of elite gatherings should
be kind, fair and just. Yet Washington Post columnist and the moderator in
Davos David Ignatius, who caused the crisis in Davos, had none of these
features."
Mr. Dundar argued the moderator was not fair:
"For instance to giving only 12 minutes to speak to Turkish Prime Minister
while Perez spoke 25 minutes was not fair. The moderator should have
silenced Peres while he was accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
the moderator should have told Tayyip Erdogan "Don't worry Mr. Erdogan, I
will give you opportunity to reply Mr. Peres' speech. If he followed this
way, Prime Minister would not have left the meeting. Ignatius did not follow
such an expected way, but touching to Mr. Erdogan interrupted and tried to
silence Mr. Erdogan. His attitude was not kind but ugly."
Saturday, 31 January 2009
By Meryem SONGUL and Gulgun SEVINC, jtw
January 31, 2009
Armenian Moderator Ignatius Provokes Erdogan-Peres Meeting in Davos
DAVOS and ANKARA (JTW) - David Ignatius, who caused a great scandal in Davos
with his unacceptable attitude against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, triggered a high tension between Turkey and Israel. Ironically Mr.
Ignatius is of Armenian descent and from Armenian Diapora. It is well-known
that the Armenian Diaspora has serious problems with Turkey and has made all
possible efforts to undermine Turkish interests.
Sedat Laciner, head of the Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK told the JTW
that it is quite strange to prefer a diaspora Armenian for such an elite
gathering. "As all we know there is a strong anti-Turkish circle in Armenian
Diaspora. They are against anything Turkish. Diaspora Armenians even try to
prevent Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. Some of the Armenian diaspora
organizations were not happy with the Turkish-Israeli friendship on Armenian
claims and they have been trying to spoil that co-operation. I cannot
understand how an Armenian moderator can be preferred for Turkish Prime
Minister's panel. There is clear provocation, a clear conspiracy there"
Laciner said.
Laciner further underlined that Ignatius is known for his anti-Turkish media
comments. "He wrote against Turkey and Mr. Erdogan in Washington Post. His
position is clear, he does not like Turkey and Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan. He should not have been a moderator in any gathering on Turkey. He
is not impartial" Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laciner added.
Turkish media harshly criticized David Ignatius and accused him of planning
a scandal against Turkish Prime Minister in Davos. Turkish daily Yenicag
wrote "Ignatius was not happy with an active Turkey in the Middle East. He
is a pro-Israel columnist".
* Turkish Anchorman Dundar: Ignatius Behave Ugly in Davos
Turkey's influencial and famous anchorman Ugur Dundar claimed the Daos
Crisis was triggered by the anchorman, David Ignatius. Turkish Star TV
anchorman Mr. Dundar said "Moderator in this kind of elite gatherings should
be kind, fair and just. Yet Washington Post columnist and the moderator in
Davos David Ignatius, who caused the crisis in Davos, had none of these
features."
Mr. Dundar argued the moderator was not fair:
"For instance to giving only 12 minutes to speak to Turkish Prime Minister
while Perez spoke 25 minutes was not fair. The moderator should have
silenced Peres while he was accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
the moderator should have told Tayyip Erdogan "Don't worry Mr. Erdogan, I
will give you opportunity to reply Mr. Peres' speech. If he followed this
way, Prime Minister would not have left the meeting. Ignatius did not follow
such an expected way, but touching to Mr. Erdogan interrupted and tried to
silence Mr. Erdogan. His attitude was not kind but ugly."
Saturday, 31 January 2009
By Meryem SONGUL and Gulgun SEVINC, jtw