Tweet
ERDOGAN EXPECTS ARMENIANS TO TAKE STEPS TOWARD SOLUTION
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 30 2014
Speaking at his party's group meeting and in an exclusive interview
with the U.S.-based Public Broadcasting Service, PM Erdogan came to
the fore with remarks on issues facing Turkey
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBUL -- "As Turkey prepares for the 100th anniversary of many
important issues, we [the AK Party] think we should evaluate history
from different perspectives. Our history has been written by other
powers and we endured great pains," said Erdogan, adding that Turkey
should evaluate historical issues by moving away from political
disputes and prejudices.
The prime minister touched on how polarization and reactionism have
been used to discipline the nation for the last 200 years, but it
also caused fear in the public. A nation that lives with fear is not
able to reform and set up a healthy future, Erdogan stated.
Reiterating his message on the eve of the 1915 incidents, Erdogan said
he wished selfconfidence and strength for every Turkish citizen. "If
an individual in the country is exposed to discrimination due to his
or her ethnic origin, religion, lifestyle or values, it means that
there is oppression," he said, noting that since the AK Party came
to power it has been working to improve the nation's self-confidence.
Addressing Turkish citizens, Erdogan said, "Are you a Turk? You will
have no fear.
Are you a Kurd, Arab, Circassian, Laz, Georgian, Romani, Bosnian? You
will have no fear. Are you Alevi, Sunni? You will have no fear.
You will have no fear or shame because you wear the hijab, observe
fasts or pray. You will have no fear because you speak in the language
you learnt from your mother. You will have no fear of expressing your
opinion or protecting your lifestyle."
In an interview with Charlie Rose on a program aired on the U.S.-based
TV channel Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on April 28, Erdogan
echoed his sentiments on the Armenian issue. When asked whether it
was possible to define the Armenian issue as genocide, Erdogan said,
"It is not possible because there are Armenians living in Turkey now."
Touching on the normalization of relations between Israel and
Turkey, Erdogan thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for his efforts
to normalize relations between Turkey and Israel after Israeli
commandos attacked the Mavi Marmara ship carrying humanitarian aid
and construction materials to the Gaza Strip, killing eight Turkish
nationals and an American of Turkish origin in international waters.
On international social networks and Twitter's temporary ban in
Turkey in February, the prime minister said, "Firstly, Twitter has
to respect everybody's freedom. Second, they have to establish an
office in my country.
They have to pay taxes in my country as they did in the U.S." Erdogan
added that the Twitter issue is not only about paying taxes but also
about the court's decision that the social network did not respect
the rights of individual citizens, including the prime minister
himself who requested to have certain Twitter accounts frozen for
insulting remarks.
During his interview, Erdogan touched on political remarks made by
Turkish Constitutional Court (AYM) President Ha癬_im K覺l覺c on April
25 after K覺l覺c and Erdogan's dispute over the Twitter ban where
Erdogan criticized the AYM's verdict to lift the Twitter ban and
K覺l覺c responded harshly. Erdogan said, "Courts should speak with
their verdicts, but his [K覺l覺c's] speech aims to teach a lesson to
all. I sadly listened to that speech and I think President [K覺l覺c]
will remain under the burden of his speech for the rest of his life."
When asked about Turkish-EU relations regarding expectations that
Turkey can be the bridge between the Western and Islamic worlds,
Erdogan stated that it is expected, however he is not certain of the
West's sincerity on the matter.
Erdogan pointed out that the EU has kept Turkey at the door for years
even though its member countries increased from 15 to 27 during
Erdogan's terms of office. Referring to the delay tactics used by
the EU against Turkey, Erdogan noted that if there would be no EU,
it would not be the end of the world for Turkey.
Regarding the ongoing Syrian civil war and Turkey's hosting of Syrian
refugees, Erdogan criticized the U.N. for not taking important and
necessary steps on the conflict.
He said there are more than 700,000 refugees in Turkey and the country
spent $3.5 billion on them, including $150 million in contributions
from other countries.
Erdogan called for the international community to take action on the
situation in Syria.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/04/30/erdogan-expects-armenians-to-take-steps-toward-solution
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 30 2014
Speaking at his party's group meeting and in an exclusive interview
with the U.S.-based Public Broadcasting Service, PM Erdogan came to
the fore with remarks on issues facing Turkey
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBUL -- "As Turkey prepares for the 100th anniversary of many
important issues, we [the AK Party] think we should evaluate history
from different perspectives. Our history has been written by other
powers and we endured great pains," said Erdogan, adding that Turkey
should evaluate historical issues by moving away from political
disputes and prejudices.
The prime minister touched on how polarization and reactionism have
been used to discipline the nation for the last 200 years, but it
also caused fear in the public. A nation that lives with fear is not
able to reform and set up a healthy future, Erdogan stated.
Reiterating his message on the eve of the 1915 incidents, Erdogan said
he wished selfconfidence and strength for every Turkish citizen. "If
an individual in the country is exposed to discrimination due to his
or her ethnic origin, religion, lifestyle or values, it means that
there is oppression," he said, noting that since the AK Party came
to power it has been working to improve the nation's self-confidence.
Addressing Turkish citizens, Erdogan said, "Are you a Turk? You will
have no fear.
Are you a Kurd, Arab, Circassian, Laz, Georgian, Romani, Bosnian? You
will have no fear. Are you Alevi, Sunni? You will have no fear.
You will have no fear or shame because you wear the hijab, observe
fasts or pray. You will have no fear because you speak in the language
you learnt from your mother. You will have no fear of expressing your
opinion or protecting your lifestyle."
In an interview with Charlie Rose on a program aired on the U.S.-based
TV channel Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on April 28, Erdogan
echoed his sentiments on the Armenian issue. When asked whether it
was possible to define the Armenian issue as genocide, Erdogan said,
"It is not possible because there are Armenians living in Turkey now."
Touching on the normalization of relations between Israel and
Turkey, Erdogan thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for his efforts
to normalize relations between Turkey and Israel after Israeli
commandos attacked the Mavi Marmara ship carrying humanitarian aid
and construction materials to the Gaza Strip, killing eight Turkish
nationals and an American of Turkish origin in international waters.
On international social networks and Twitter's temporary ban in
Turkey in February, the prime minister said, "Firstly, Twitter has
to respect everybody's freedom. Second, they have to establish an
office in my country.
They have to pay taxes in my country as they did in the U.S." Erdogan
added that the Twitter issue is not only about paying taxes but also
about the court's decision that the social network did not respect
the rights of individual citizens, including the prime minister
himself who requested to have certain Twitter accounts frozen for
insulting remarks.
During his interview, Erdogan touched on political remarks made by
Turkish Constitutional Court (AYM) President Ha癬_im K覺l覺c on April
25 after K覺l覺c and Erdogan's dispute over the Twitter ban where
Erdogan criticized the AYM's verdict to lift the Twitter ban and
K覺l覺c responded harshly. Erdogan said, "Courts should speak with
their verdicts, but his [K覺l覺c's] speech aims to teach a lesson to
all. I sadly listened to that speech and I think President [K覺l覺c]
will remain under the burden of his speech for the rest of his life."
When asked about Turkish-EU relations regarding expectations that
Turkey can be the bridge between the Western and Islamic worlds,
Erdogan stated that it is expected, however he is not certain of the
West's sincerity on the matter.
Erdogan pointed out that the EU has kept Turkey at the door for years
even though its member countries increased from 15 to 27 during
Erdogan's terms of office. Referring to the delay tactics used by
the EU against Turkey, Erdogan noted that if there would be no EU,
it would not be the end of the world for Turkey.
Regarding the ongoing Syrian civil war and Turkey's hosting of Syrian
refugees, Erdogan criticized the U.N. for not taking important and
necessary steps on the conflict.
He said there are more than 700,000 refugees in Turkey and the country
spent $3.5 billion on them, including $150 million in contributions
from other countries.
Erdogan called for the international community to take action on the
situation in Syria.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/04/30/erdogan-expects-armenians-to-take-steps-toward-solution