TURKEY: Prime Minister Erdogan defends his actions in Davos but one critic says the role of Turkey in the Middle East is damaged by the row

Record ID: 217415

  • Title: TURKEY: Prime Minister Erdogan defends his actions in Davos but one critic says the role of Turkey in the Middle East is damaged by the row
  • Date: 31st January 2009
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JANUARY 30, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAVING TURKISH FLAGS, WAITING FOR TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN ERDOGAN ARRIVING AT OPENING CEREMONY, WAVING HIS HAND PEOPLE WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAD0IKYS4AFB4D2PJ0LLXGLNMM5
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's public scolding of Israel's president at the World Economic Forum on Thursday (January 29) may have been sparked by his famous temper but the effects are already being felt at home and in the Middle East.
    During a heated exchange at Davos over Israel's Gaza offensive Erdogan told Shimon Peres sitting next to him: "When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill. I know very well how you hit and killed children on the beaches."
    Thousands turned out to greet him on his return to Istanbul and praise him for standing up to what Turks said was unfair treatment during the discussion and for telling Israel what many Turks were increasingly feeling about the Gaza offensive.
    Erdogan's drive to build bridges with the Middle East underlines Turkey's difficult balancing act. A NATO member which aspires to join the European Union, mainly Muslim Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator in a tough neigubourhood.
    Several thousands supporters of Hamas, the Islamic group running Gaza, rallied across the Gaza Strip partially in support of Erdogan, whom they described as a "hero and a brave man".
    Speaking at the opening ceremony of tube station, Erdogan said Turkey sought to be a country setting the world agenda.
    "Our understanding for foreign policy is based on about what we are going to say, based on (how) to handle the events in a pro-active way, to be a country which is setting the world agenda," said Erdogan.
    Turkey helped convince Hamas to declare a unilateral ceasefire and the government has also chaired indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria and helped relay messages between the West and Iran over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.
    Erdogan has come under frequent scrutiny for seeking to boost his country's clout in the Middle East and at home has been criticised for appearing to side with Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the U.S.
    Previous Turkish secular governments have largely shunned the Arab world, favouring closer ties with the secular West.
    "His style was really good but if he had shown this attitude earlier, this amount of people might not die. But if everything has a place in the international policy, he put the last point at the perfect place,"
    said Huseyn Gumus, a citizen in Istanbul.
    One analyst said relations between Turkey and Israel were likely to suffer in the short term as well as hurt Ankara's efforts to play a bigger role in helping negotiate peace because Israel would no longer view Turkey as a neutral player.
    "I can simply say that Turkey's role for facilitation of dialogue in Middle East is damaged. Turkey was proud that she can talk Israel, and Syria and Iran at the same time. but now we may expect a certain lack of trust on the Israeli side," said Radikal newspaper columnist Murat Yetkin.
    Turkish President Abdullah Gul also backed Erdogan.
    "If someone shows disrespect to the prime minister of Turkey, no one can expect him to endure this or to turn a blind eye. He did what was necessary and gave the necessary answer" said Gul.
    In the Arab world Erdogan's words have been welcomed after criticism over their own leaders' inability to stop Israel's offensive, in which Israeli forces killed more than 1,300 Palestinians. Israel lost 10 soldiers and 3 civilians.
    The AK Party and the opposition have battled for years over the role of religion and last year the AK Party narrowly avoided being closed down by the court for anti-secular activities.
    Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a secular system, is in a unique position in the region because it has close ties with Israel and Arab countries.
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