Turkish Forum

Category: Regions

  • U.S. Ambassadorial nominee for Turkey doesn’t dispute Morgenthau’s record on Armenian Genocide

    U.S. Ambassadorial nominee for Turkey doesn’t dispute Morgenthau’s record on Armenian Genocide

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ambassador to Turkey designate James Jeffrey, in response to questions from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden (D-DE), affirmed that official U.S. diplomatic reports by Ambassadors Morgenthau and Elkus and other Armenian Genocide-era U.S. diplomats in the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, describe the attempted extermination of the Armenian population, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) told PanARMENIAN.Net.

    “Although falling far short of a clear and proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Jeffrey, in his response to Senator Biden’s questioning, moved U.S. policy in the right direction by publicly agreeing – after long years of official disregard, disrespect, and dismissal of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s proud legacy – that our nation’s diplomatic representatives to the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, document the Ottoman government’s clear intent and systematic campaign to destroy its Armenian population,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Chairman Biden for his thoughtful inquiries that led to this reaffirmation of the American record, and to, once again, express our appreciation to Senators Menendez and Kerry for their incisive lines of questioning during the Foreign Relations Committee’s confirmation hearing earlier this week.”

    In questions submitted to the Amb. Jeffrey, Sen. Biden asked: “Do you dispute that U.S. diplomats serving in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide documented a systematic, government-sponsored campaign ‘with intent to destroy, in whole or in part’ the Armenian population?”

    Ambassador-Designate Jeffrey provided the following response: No. I have read many of the historical records from 1915-1916 related to U.S. diplomatic reporting on these events in Turkey, and I do not dispute that Ambassador Morgenthau, Ambassador Elkus, and other diplomats during that time period reported on what they described as an attempt to exterminate the Armenian population.

    Source: www.panarmenian.net, 27.09.2008

  • Opposition website: Syria blast may be ‘work accident’

    Opposition website: Syria blast may be ‘work accident’

    Syrian opposition website suggests Damascus explosion may be result of security forces’ mishap; Lebanon PM condemns attack as ‘terror crime’

    Roee Nahmias
    Published: 09.27.08, 22:05 / Israel News

    The Damascus blast that left 17 people dead earlier Saturday may have been a result of a “work accident” by Syrian security forces, an opposition website reported. A local resident told a website reporter the car bomb that exploded in the Syrian capital may have been meant to explode in Iraq or Lebanon.The opposition website reported that Syrian television images make it appear that the explosion took place in a building belonging to the security establishment. However, at this time the reports are mostly speculations and the cause of the blast remains unclear.

    Meanwhile, Syrian opposition figures told Ynet that the explosion may in fact be a staged incident aimed at heightening fears of a growing radical Islamic threat, thereby presenting the Syrians with a pretext to deploy troops in Lebanon.

    Saturday evening, senior Lebanese figures, including Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, condemned the explosion. The Lebanese PM issued a statement saying that “this crime is despicable and unacceptable.”

    Siniora referred to the blast as a “terror crime” and said such incidents must be rejected, particularly when they take place in an Arab capital.

    According to television reports, the car that exploded in Damascus Saturday was rigged with at least 200 kg (440 pounds) of explosives, and also injured 14 people.

    The reports also said that “an investigation by the Counter-terrorism Unit is underway to identify the attackers.”

    Source: www.ynetnews.com, 27.09.08

  • Syrian FM: Israel has most to gain from terror attack

    Syrian FM: Israel has most to gain from terror attack

    Walid Muallem says car bomb which killed 17 people does not indicate a security breach and could have happened anywhere. ‘Unfortunately, in the years following the American war on terror, terror has spread even further,’ he adds

    Roee Nahmias

    Published: 09.28.08, 07:40 / Israel News

    Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday in response to the fatal attack in Damascus that “Israel is one of those who have the most to gain from this criminal act,” Kuwaiti news agency Kuna reported.Seventeen people were killed and dozens were injured in the Syrian capital Saturday morning when a booby-trapped car exploded on the road leading to the country’s international airport.

    “Unfortunately, in the years following the American war on terror, terror has spread even further. Such incidents can take place anywhere and do not indicate that there was a security breach.

    “I can promise you that Syria’s security forces will continue to stand guard for the citizens and the state,” said Muallem, who is currently in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

    Earlier Saturday, the Syrian foreign minister held a short meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and one of the issues discussed by the two were the Turkey-mediated negotiations between Israel and Syria.

    Damage caused by blast (Photo: AFP)

    The terror attack in Syria was condemned by the US, Europe and the Arab world. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora issued a statement of condemnation, saying that “the blast which hit one of Damascus’ neighborhoods and caused the death and injury of innocent civilians is a disgraced terror crime which we reject.

    “It must not be accepted under any circumstances, particularly when it takes place in an Arab capital.”

    Eyewitnesses ‘thought it was an earthquake’ (Photo: Reuters)

    Meanwhile, one of the Syrian opposition websites has raised the possibility that the blast was a “work accident” of one of the country’s security organizations, after the Syrian interior minister refrained from pointing to any possible elements responsible for the attack.

    Talking to Ynet, Syrian opposition sources estimated that the incident was a staged accident aimed at helping the Syrians deploy in northern Lebanon.

    Other Arab commentators claim that the terror attack may have something to do with the growing tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in the region and the Sunnis’ fear that Shiite Iran, which supports Hizbullah (a Shiite organization), is attempting to deepen its influence in the region.

    According to additional estimates, al-Qaeda and its affiliated organizations were behind the attack.News agencies contributed to this report

    Source: www.ynetnews.com, 28.09.08

  • Turkey Condemns Terrorist Attack In Syria

    Turkey Condemns Terrorist Attack In Syria

    Published: 9/28/2008

    ANKARA – Turkey condemned the terrorist attack staged near the Syrian capital of Damascus on Saturday.

    Turkey, which saw terrorism a crime against humanity, harshly condemned the heinous attack in Syria, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

    In the statement, the Ministry expressed Turkey’s wish that the assailants of the terrorist attack would be found as soon as possible.

    Turkey also reaffirmed its support and contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.

    A car packed with explosives blew up near Damascus, killing 17 and wounding 14.

    Also, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a condolence message to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and condemned the terrorist attack.

    In his message, Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s solidarity in the fight against terrorism.

    Source: www.turkishpress.com, 28/9/2008

  • Orthodox patriarch backs Turkey’s EU bid

    Orthodox patriarch backs Turkey’s EU bid

    BRUSSELS, Belgium: The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians urged the European Union on Wednesday to take on Turkey as a member if it improves democratic and human rights standards.

    “Europe needs to bring Turkey into its project,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I told the European Parliament.

    “What I and the majority of the people of Turkey wish is full integration, full membership of the European Union, on condition that the criteria and preconditions that apply to all candidates are abided by,” he told a later news conference.

    Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul, Turkey, is the spiritual leader of hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide.

    He appealed to the EU not to make religious or cultural differences an obstacle to Turkish membership. Turkey’s population of 70 million is predominantly Muslim.

    “But I do not think that should be considered to be a stumbling block,” Bartholomew said. “We must not exclude from the European family somebody who simply has a different belief from us.”

    But he said Turkey needs to improve protection for religious minorities as part of wider human rights reforms. Bartholomew called in particular for Turkish authorities to allow the reopening of a Greek Orthodox seminary and return Church property.

    Turkey’s efforts to join the EU have long been hampered by disputes over democratic standards, human rights and the divided island of Cyprus.

    The EU insists religion is not an obstacle to Turkey joining, but opinion polls indicate many Europeans are wary about letting the country into the 27-nation bloc.

    Bartholomew gave his backing to talks between the president of Cyprus and the country’s breakaway Turkish north in order to end the island’s 34-year division.

    “We are very optimistic and very hopeful that this time the dialogue between the two communities will have a happy outcome,” he said.

    Source: International Herald Tribune, September 24, 2008

  • Turkey starts to provide electro energy to Georgia

    Turkey starts to provide electro energy to Georgia

    Amount of import is about 1,118 square hours a day.

    Georgia started to import electro energy from Turkey, InterpressNews quoted the statement by press service of ‘Electro energetic system commercial operator’.

    Amount of import is about 1,118 square hours a day.

    Electro energy is imported based on the agreement formed with Turkish side of ‘Energo-Pro Georgia’ and is mainly provided to Ajara and Guria, the report said.

    ‘Energo-Pro Georgia’ exchanges electro energy from Turkey. Ligt to Turkish side was provided by ‘Energo-Pro Georgia’ hydro powers.

    Georgia imports electro energy from Russia apart from Turkey. Electo energy is also exchanged with Azerbaijan.

    Source: www.worldbulletin.net, 24 September 2008