EGYPT: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says visit to Egypt not strategic threat to Israel and says Israel has nothing to say in the name of peace

Record ID: 217492

  • Title: EGYPT: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says visit to Egypt not strategic threat to Israel and says Israel has nothing to say in the name of peace
  • Date: 14th September 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (SEPTEMBER 13, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EGYPTIAN CABINET BUILDING TURKISH FLAG EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER, ESSAM SHARAF, WAITING FOR TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TO ARRIVE ERDOGAN'S MOTORCADE ARRIVING AND SHARAF GREETING ERDOGAN JOURNALISTS WAITING FOR START OF NEWS CONFERENCE ERDOGAN AND SHARAF ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE SEAL OF EGYP
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7SS1XO3THL9KNQS8ZGFLC45KY
  • Story Text: Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday (September 13) accused Israel of obstructing peace in the Middle East, and said that his country would not remain silent about Israel's actions.
    The Turkish leader is on a two-day visit to Egypt, where he attended an Arab League meeting and declared Turkey's unequivocal support for a Palestinian bid to be given statehood by the United Nations.
    Erdogan's visit to Egypt comes amidst an ongoing diplomatic row between both countries and Israel.
    Turkey's once close relations with Israel turned sour following Israel's blockade of the Gaza strip and the killing of nine Turkish citizens by Israeli commandoes aboard a Turkish ship bringing aid to Gaza. Turkey recently expelled the Israeli ambassador.
    Likewise relations between Egypt and Israel have taken a turn for the worse following the Egyptian revolution that toppled longtime President Mubarak, a steady ally of Israel. Israel's recent killing of five Egyptian border guards led to protests in Egypt culminating in the storming of its embassy last week and the withdrawal of its ambassador.
    Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has been given a warm reception in Egypt, where his critical stance of Israel has made him extremely popular. Erdogan's recent criticism of Israel has drawn strong support in the Arab world, buttressing his campaign to promote Ankara's blend of Islam and democracy as a model for movements that have toppled several Arab autocrats, including Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
    Erdogan met senior Egyptian officials including the head of the military, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.
    At a news conference with the head of Egypt's interim government, Erdogan accused Israel of misjudging the immense political upheavals now taking place in the Arab world.
    "But there are some countries in our region that would not be able to read and see the changes that are taking place in the region. And of course, first among these is Israel. And there is no doubt that we will not stand silent when faced with the obstruction of stability in the region. And I believe that, standing hand-in-hand, we can establish peace in the area," he said.
    Asked if his visit to Egypt was a strategic threat to Israel, Erdogan said that Israel had done nothing to advance peace in the region, and so could not judge Turkey's diplomatic strategy.
    "I don't think that Turkey's strategy and visits need to be defined through Israel first. It is us who define these strategies, and we take our steps accordingly. And a short while ago, as I said we have reached an agreement especially with Egypt, which always supports peace. Israel launched an attack in international waters, and nine Turkish citizens were martyred. Israel also was the aggressor and five Egyptians were killed a short while ago. Israel has nothing to say in the name of peace. We don't have to answer to anyone with regards to our strategy," he said.
    Sharaf said that it was crucial that Ankara and Cairo cooperate during this moment of extraordinary change.
    "Anyone following the developments and the current circumstances would say that Egypt and Turkey must have more cooperation, and not only for the benefit of both countries but for the whole region and probably the world," he said.
    Erdogan's tour will include Tunisia and Libya, which have all witnessed the fall of entrenched leaders to grassroots revolts this year, challenging the old order across the region.
    Palestinians will bid for full membership of the United Nations later this month, a move opposed by the United States, which has a veto. Arab states endorsed it at the Cairo meeting.
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