Turkish Forum

Tag: The Alliance of Civilizations

  • Turkish premier says no secret agenda or intention

    Turkish premier says no secret agenda or intention

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday that they did not have any secret agenda or intention.

    Delivering a speech in the opening of the Institute of Alliance of Civilizations and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation in İstanbul, Erdoğan said that some circles claimed that there was an axis shift in the country, stating that such claims were totally wrong. “Turkey always defended peace and justice,” he said.

    “We have no secret agenda or intention. We are serving peace and justice in the Middle East, Caucasus, Balkans and other regions. Everyone should know that we want peace, tranquility and prosperity in our region,” he said.

    In regard to Turkey’s EU accession process, Erdoğan said that they would continue this process with a great determination.

    Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, wife of the emir of Qatar, also attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

    Sheikha Mozah said that Prime Minister Erdoğan became the hope of the international community in the east and the west.

    Sheikha Mozah said that she accepted to be included in the Alliance of Civilizations project due to her full confidence in Premier Erdoğan.

  • New Religious Affairs Directorate office to work to dispel misunderstanding of Islam in Europe

    New Religious Affairs Directorate office to work to dispel misunderstanding of Islam in Europe

    diyanetTurkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate next month will open an office in Brussels to educate Europe about Islam, in line with a decision made during Pope Benedict XVI’s 2005 visit to Turkey.

    During the visit, it was decided that Turkey’s presence in Europe proves the possibility of Islam and Christianity’s peaceful coexistence. It was also concluded that Turkey, with its secular state and Muslim identity, could be a good reference for Muslims living in Europe. In order to block efforts to sow misunderstandings about Islam and stir up Islamophobia in the continent, the directorate decided to open a bureau in the European capital. This decision was also supported by the Pope. It is hoped that the office will counter efforts to inflame Islamophobia. Work to make the idea a reality was accelerated in light of the Alliance of Civilizations project, co-chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Spanish counterpart, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The bureau, which will work as a research center, will be opened by directorate head Ali Bardakoğlu. Its establishment has been closely followed and supported by the European Union. Primarily targeting Turks living in Europe, the office will also organize interfaith dialogue activities. Five secretaries and 30 theologians will be employed in Brussels for these purposes.

    Source:  www.dunyagazetesi.com.tr, 14.05.2009