Turkish Forum

Category: Eastern Europe

  • Turkey has no place for American radar

    Turkey has no place for American radar

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    © Collage: “The Voice of Russia”

    In Turkey a wave of protests is rising against the elements of the NATO missile defense system to be stationed there.

    Turkish political activists and the public at large as well as the mass media are actively discussing the protest action organized by a group of representatives from Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party led by the party deputy head Emine Ulker Tarhan. The parliamentarians arrived at the Kurecik village where the main radar of the NATO missile defense system is stationed and met with the local citizens. The place is located 550 km from the Iranian border and 150 km from the border with Syria. During the protest meeting Emine Tarhan made the following statement:

    «We are against the war. The radar you see here for us is a symbol of war. And as mothers we do not want to see symbols of war from other countries on our territory. There is no place for them on the Turkish territory».

    The citizens of the Kurecik village and seven other surrounding villages supported the parliamentarian and spoke against the missile defense radar’s location in their neighborhood.

    The Kepez village headman Kemal Koroglu reminded other participants that local population already had negative experience with such neighbors. In the 1960s NATO radar aimed against the Soviet Union was stationed in that very district. Back then a rise in cancer occurrence among local population was registered. And the present radar has a lot more powerful. According to the popular Turkish Haber Turk newspaper, there is a real threat of radiation poisoning. “The 1960s were years of the Cold War, are we really going back to that period of confrontation?” – says a frequently cited village teacher Huseyin Nazlyer.

    A well-known Turkish political analyst Turgay Turker gave his assessment of the situation with the American radar in an exclusive interview to the Voice of Russia. He pointed out the foreign policy aspect of its location on the Turkish territory. «It is well known that the Government announced the policy of «zero problems with the neighbors». But as everybody is convinced, the radar’s location in Turkey is primarily targeted against our neighbor Iran, although the signed documents do not mention that. How can our relations with Iran develop after that? How can we talk about «zero problems» taking into account the tough statements against Turkey already made by Iranian top officials», said Turgay Turker.

    The Turkish political analyst believes that the Russian factor is also important. «Russia, our strategic partner, also firmly spoke against the NATO missile defense system. Moscow is ready to locate its modern missile systems in the south of the country in order to be able to destroy the elements of the European missile defense. In means that the US radar in Kurecik can become the target of the Russian missiles», stressed Turgay Turker.

    In that event does Ankara really need the radar that pushes Turkey into a severe standoff with its neighbors and profitable partners such as Russia and Iran? Ordinary Turkish citizens as well as the parliamentarians of the country say today that «there is no place for the American radar on Turkish land. We don’t want the return of the Cold War».

    via Turkey has no place for American radar: Voice of Russia.

  • Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran

    Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran

    Russia israel flagsBy Alexei Anishchuk | Reuters

    MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be a disastrous and played down the failure of a U.N. nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic programme.

    “Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations,” Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference.

    It was one of Russia’s starkest warnings against resorting to force, an option Israel and the United States have not ruled out if they conclude that diplomacy and increasing sanctions will not stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.

    “I hope Israel understands all these consequences … and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves,” Gatilov said. “I hope a realistic approach will prevail, along with a sensible assessment.”

    Russia, China as well as many allies of the United States are concerned that any military action against Iran could engulf the Middle East in wider war, which would send oil prices rocketing at a time of global economic troubles.

    Iran has threatened to retaliate for any attack, or even if it feels endangered, by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for Gulf oil exports crucial to the global economy, and hitting Israel and U.S. interests in the Middle East.

    Tehran has refused to stop sensitive nuclear work such as uranium enrichment despite four rounds of U.N. sanctions and a slew of additional measures imposed by the United States and the European Union, which fear Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.

    The Islamic Republic says its efforts to produce nuclear fuel are solely for electricity generation.

    IAEA-IRAN TALKS GO NOWHERE

    The failure of two days of talks between Iran and senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials, who were refused access to a military site where they believe Iran tested explosives of use in nuclear weapons, dimmed the chances of Western powers agreeing to renew broader negotiations with Iran.

    A warning from Iran’s clerical supreme leader on Wednesday, hours after the Tehran talks concluded, that no obstacle would derail Iran’s nuclear course added to tensions.

    Gatilov suggested that Iran should be more cooperative but there is more room for diplomacy. He said Iran’s discussions with Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany, frozen for a year, could still be revived.

    “Iran and IAEA should boost their dialogue in order to rule out the … possibility of the existence of military dimensions in the Iranian nuclear programme. We hope that this dialogue will be continued,” he said.

    “I think we still have opportunity to continue diplomatic efforts, to renew the six-nation talks.”

    Russia, which built Iran’s first nuclear power plant, has often stressed the need for talks and that too much coercive pressure on Iran is counterproductive, a stance that has prompted concerns Moscow has helped Tehran play for time.

    Last week, Russia said global powers must be serious about proposing solutions Iran might accept, warning that Tehran’s desire for compromise was waning as it moved closer to being technically capable of building atomic weapons.

    (Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk; Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

    news.yahoo.com, 22 Feb 2012

  • Czech President Klaus backs Turkey’s EU bid

    Czech President Klaus backs Turkey’s EU bid

    Czech President Klaus backs Turkey’s EU bid

    Český prezident Václav Klaus na návštěvě Ankary, vlevo je jeho turecký protějšek Abdullah Gül.
    Český prezident Václav Klaus na návštěvě Ankary, vlevo je jeho turecký protějšek Abdullah Gül.

    published: 14.02.2012, 15:46 | updated: 14.02.2012 16:00:12

    Ankara – Current economic EU problems cannot be any reason to weaken support to Turkey’s EU bid and the reverse should be true, Czech President Vaclav Klaus said after meeting his counterpart Abdullah Guel today.

    Accompanied with over 60 Czech businessmen, Klaus has started a four-day state visit to Turkey.

    “I am sure Europe needs a change, it needs to be woken up, it needs to be shaken. The entry of such a big and dynamic country as Turkey could spark off the shock,” Klaus said.

    Klaus is a long-standing proponent of Turkey’s EU membership.

    “The Czech Republic is a clear and obvious supporter of Turkey with its EU bid,” Klaus said.

    Guel said Klaus’s stand on the EU and Turkey was well-known, adding that he thanked him for this.

    Guel said Klaus was a critic of some EU steps.

    He said it could be seen now that his views were right.

    Klaus and Guel also agreed on the solution to the situation in Syria. They said it was untenable and a change had to occur.

    “A domestic and regional solution should take precedence over decisions coming from outside the region. The farther from the area, the more simplistic view,” Klaus said.

    Klaus stressed the importance of his trip for Czech businessmen.

    “Along with me, the biggest business delegation in the history of the Czech Republic is coming. For the first time, we are flying by two, not one plane. This is evidence of our great interest,” Klaus said.

    Later in the afternoon, Klaus will open the Czech-Turkish Business Forum that will continue in the Turkish towns of Adana and Mersin.

    A number of contracts will be signed. Representatives of the Czech Export Bank are to confirm the mandate agreement on financing the construction of port infrastructure and a trade center in Istanbul.

    Author: ČTK

    www.ctk.cz

    via Czech President Klaus backs Turkey’s EU bid – ČeskéNoviny.cz.

  • Turkey Confronts Syria Imbroglio

    Turkey Confronts Syria Imbroglio

    Turkey Confronts Syria Imbroglio

    Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 9 Issue: 26
    February 7, 2012
    By: Saban Kardas
    The failure of a recent UN Security Council resolution that sought to calm Syria has once again highlighted the dilemmas Turkey has faced in its efforts to end the humanitarian catastrophe in this neighboring state. Ankara joined international outrage, condemning the Syrian regime on the one hand, and expressing concern over China and Russia using their UN veto, on the other. While calling for urgent action and exploration of fresh options to stop the bloodshed, Ankara, nonetheless, reiterated its reservations about international intervention.

    The proposed UN Resolution would have supported the Arab League’s peace plan. In the negotiations preceding the vote, Moscow’s objections prompted Western powers to soften the resolution’s tone. The failure to satisfy Russia’s expectations that the Syrian opposition is also given sufficient warning and Assad is not forced to leave power created a delicate situation. The lack of a breakthrough on a compromise draft prompted the backers of the resolution to put it to the UN Security Council for a vote. Hours before Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution, Assad forces continued their violent campaign, shelling Syria’s third largest city Homs, which, according to many reports, killed hundreds of people.

    While video footage showing Syrian forces’ alleged atrocities and the conflicting accounts of the death toll could not be independently verified and the Assad regime denied such reports, this development triggered an acute reaction in Turkey both at the governmental and popular levels (Anadolu Ajansi, February 4). Turkish anger was further fueled by the fact that the attack on Homs was executed on the anniversary of the infamous Hama massacre of 1982, when Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, had tens of thousands of people killed. Moreover, reportedly, during the bombardment of Homs some mosques were targeted, while Muslims were celebrating a sacred night marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

    More remarkably, the clashes between the Syrian army and the forces of the Free Syrian Army spread to the Turkish border, and gunfire was heard in the border villages in the Turkish province of Hatay throughout the night. While some Syrian villagers fled to refugee camps in Turkey, where thousands of people including the leaders of the Free Syrian Army were already taking shelter, bullets from the clashes hit the homes in Turkish villages, which were televised live, raising public interest in these developments (Sabah, February 5).

    Like in other nations, Turkish people also organized demonstrations outside Syrian diplomatic representations in protest against these developments (www.turkiyegazetesi.com, February 5). Though the demonstrations were not large-scale, they have nonetheless attracted a significant number of people since the beginning of the uprisings. This development was also important because it signified a gradual transformation in Turkish people’s perception of the situation in Syria. Previously, Turks focused more on the geopolitical aspects of the Syrian uprising than the humanitarian tragedy caused by the regime’s brutal crackdown, believing that there was Western manipulation to change the regional balance of power. Many Turks, including conservative segments of society, harbored suspicions about the root causes of the uprisings and were critical of the Turkish government’s outward opposition against the Damascus regime, believing that it was acting as a subcontractor of the West (EDM, November 15, 2011). The recent demonstrations indicate that the Turkish public might become more supportive of their government’s policy on Syria and focus on the humanitarian aspects of the crisis.

    The Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, attending the Munich Security Conference together with other world leaders, criticized Moscow and Beijing. Questioning the morality of their behavior, Davutoglu maintained that they acted with a Cold War mentality and the price for the vote would be paid by the Arabs and Turks in the region. Davutoglu emphasized that Turkey would continue to support the Syrian people’s struggle. Expressing solidarity with Syrians, Davutoglu added that Turkey would embrace the entire population of this country if they needed Turkey’s help (www.ntvmsnbc.com, February 4).

    Ankara’s ties with Damascus became contentious at the outset of the Syrian uprising and, over time, Turkish leaders broke with their former ally Assad and asked him to step down. Meanwhile, Ankara supported the umbrella organization, the Syrian National Council in bringing together opposition groups, as well as hosting thousands of refugees (EDM, August 10, 2011). The presence of members of the Free Syrian Army in refugee camps has led to speculation that Turkey was arming the rebels against Damascus. When an earlier attempt at imposing sanctions on Syria failed in October 2011, due to Russian and Chinese objections, Ankara went ahead and adopted sanctions in coordination with Western powers. Turkey also coordinated its diplomatic initiatives with regional countries and worked hard to ensure the peace plan by the Arab League would succeed. Davutoglu undertook enormous diplomatic efforts to convince Tehran, the chief regional ally of Damascus, to work together toward a solution of the crisis and the prevention of sectarian tensions in the region (EDM, January 10). In a subsequent effort, he traveled to Moscow to exert pressure on Damascus (Anadolu Ajansi, January 25).

    As his reaction to the recent failed resolution at the UN demonstrates, Davutoglu has been frustrated over the lack of progress on the diplomatic front. Two statements released by the foreign ministry regarding the ongoing atrocities by Damascus and the UN Security Council vote reflect similar thinking (www.mfa.gov.tr, February 4). While the first statement maintained that “The shelling by a country’s official security forces of its own cities constitutes the most concrete indication that the government of that country has totally lost its legitimacy to rule,” the second statement argued that “The stage that has been reached by the regime’s suppressing the desire of the Syrian people for universal values […] with the use of guns, violence and mass executions has acquired a threatening nature in which international peace and security is at risk.”

    This sort of language is one that values human rights over the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention and Ankara has so far underlined clearly that the Syrian regime has lost its right to legitimately rule the country. Turkey, however, has not gone as far as advocating international intervention, and believes that any solution has to come through international legitimacy. Short of international consensus on a UN-orchestrated solution, Ankara is left with little options for changing the situation on the ground.

    https://jamestown.org/program/turkey-confronts-syria-imbroglio/
  • With the observers gone, the lie industry is back in full swing

    With the observers gone, the lie industry is back in full swing

    Lie IndustryOn 4 February 2012, the media organizations of the War Party unanimously announced more than 200 deaths in Homs – a city “bleeding” -, the torture of children and “relentless” bombing. We are supposed to be witnessing the “most terrifying massacre” since the beginning of the “revolt“. Spontaneously, attacks were triggered during the night against the Syrian embassies in Washington, Cairo, Kuwait and London.

    In fact, to increase pressure on the UN Security Council and public opinion, the imperial communication apparatus has resumed services after a brief lull.

    The advocates of intervention in Syria made a mistake by sending an observer mission. The 160 observers from the 22 Arab League countries were able to establish the discrepancy between the version of events put forward by the West and the reality on the ground. For this reason, their report was smothered by the Presidency of the Arab League, and has not been presented to the Security Council, when it was supposed to constitute the very basis for the new deliberations on Syria.

    The problem is that the report would bring to light several points wholly at variance with the current Atlanticist version, when the laws of war propaganda aim to silence all dissenting voices in order to impose its own views.

    Since they refuse to endorse NATO’s storytelling, the observers have become embarrassing witnesses. Although the extension of their mission had received 4 votes in favor and 1 against (that of Qatar) by the Ad HocMinisterial Committee of the Arab League, they must leave Syria due to “security” reasons, after the Gulf observers were called back and Saudi Arabia issued a call from Al-sheik Aroor for their assassination. 

    Although he is depicted as a radical Muslim, Sheik Adnan Al Aroor is a former Syrian officer arrested and sentenced to 70 years for raping several conscripts under his command. Exiled in Saudi Arabia, he created his own sect and became one of the leading Takfirist preachers, the guru of the insurgents.

    Now that Syria is again the only one in a position to provide another version of events, the lie industry set up for this operation is back in full gear. Once again the sole source recognized by the West and the Gulf is the self-proclaimed Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, based in London and led by the Muslim Brotherhood. No evidence is submitted; a few blurred photos, the juxtaposition of images showing demonstrations and explosions, and some anonymous testimonials will do: the “information” is instantly relayed, with no verification, by hundreds of media across the world.

    While they are accused of defending cynical interests, the Russians and Chinese are essentially the last members of the Security Council to elevate the facts above communication strategies and international law above the lies.

    VOLTAIRE NETWORK 

    French version | version française

  • Turkey gives Prophet Mohammad’s hairs to Chechnya

    Turkey gives Prophet Mohammad’s hairs to Chechnya

    Grozny, February 3, Interfax – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has given three hairs of Prophet Mohammad to the Chechen Republic. The hairs were taken from Istanbul to Grozny on Thursday.

    “The Chechen diaspora in Turkey asked Erdogan to give the holy hairs to Chechnya. We received a positive response within a month and the priceless gift has been delivered to Grozny today,” Aihan Ergyuven, chairman of the Chechen committee Sivas, told reporters at the Grozny airport.

    Despite the cold weather, thousands of Chechens, including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, met the hairs at the Grozny airports and in the city’s streets.

    A religious ritual marking this event was held in the republic’s central mosque.

    According to earlier reports, a different hair of Prophet Mohammad was taken from Uzbekistan to Chechnya on January 26, 2011. The hair is a capsule, which is located in a box. According to historical documents, the hair, which was taken to the Grozny central mosque, had been in Uzbekistan since the times of the Caliphate.

    via Interfax-Religion.