AUSTRALIA: Old battle scars dominate Australia-Turkey talks. AUSTRALIA:

Record ID: 217726

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: Old battle scars dominate Australia-Turkey talks. AUSTRALIA:
  • Date: 8th December 2005
  • Summary: (BN08) CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (FILE) (REUTERS) LONG VIEW OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAD32OVNAR085NVRJY0N746RTB9
  • Story Text: Turkey promised to protect the graves of more than 10,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula on Thursday (December 8) as the scars of the World War One battlefields dominated talks between Turkey and Australia. Australia recognises the anniversary of the first day of the Gallipoli campaign on April 25 as its national day of military commemoration and tens of thousands of young Australians visit Gallipoli's Anzac Cove each year.
    Turkey suspended road works at Gallipoli earlier this year after Australia complained after reports workers had disturbed unmarked graves of soldiers killed at Anzac Cove, named after the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought there in 1915.
    "We will preserve the sacred character of Gallipoli," said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, on the first official visit of a Turkish prime minister to Australia.
    "Anyone who visits Gallipoli, both from Turkey or elsewhere in the world will be proud of Gallipoli," Erdogan said, after holding talks in Canberra on Thursday with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
    Gallipoli and Anzac Cove, now a national park in Turkey's north-west, play a significant role in the military heritage of both Turkey and Australia.
    The failed 1915 British-run campaign to try to capture the Dardanelles straits from the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and open up a sea route to ally Russia, was the first time Australia and New Zealand forces had fought under their own flags.
    More than 10,000 ANZAC forces were killed during the eight months of fierce fighting, which also left heavy casualties among their British, French and Indian allies, and Turkish troops.
    Gallipoli also has a special significance for Turks because Kemal Ataturk made his name there as a military commander before going on to establish the modern Turkish republic in 1923.
    A memorial at the site includes an inscription from him:
    "You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
    Howard said Australia was contributing to a study on the works at Gallipoli, and said Australia wants to list the area as a heritage site to help preserve it as a significant historical site, but without interfering with Turkish rights.
    "We are in discussion with the Turkish government regarding a proposal to list under Australian legislation in Australia the Gallipoli peninsula as a sight having special historic significance, such a listing, of course, will fully respect Turkish sovereignty," Howard said.
    The two leaders signed new agreements on working visas for holiday makers, and an agreement on sharing agricultural scientific and technical information.
    Howard said Australia also backed Turkey's push to join the European Union.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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