HATAY HOSTS FIRST MEETING OF CIVILIZATIONS IN HATAY

Turkish Press
Sept 26 2005

HATAY – “To those wishing for a clash of civilizations we must be
able to say ‘no to a clash of civilizations, yes to an alliance of
civilizations’,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
on Sunday.

Erdogan attended opening of “First Hatay Meeting of Civilizations”.

Taking the floor at the meeting, Erdogan said: “Everybody had his
own historical experience in different regions of the world. So we
have developed different culture and civilizations. Our beliefs may
be different, but to those looking for a clash of civilizations we
must be able to say this: no to a clash of civilizations, yes to an
alliance of civilizations.”

Erdogan also emphasized that the clashes are usually a result of
misinterpretations.

He said nobody in the world has the right and authority to put
any religion as attribute in front of terrorism concept. “As how we
accepted anti-Semitism as a crime against humanity, I am now declaring
Islami-phobia as a crime against humanity either,” he stated.

“From time to time, particularly after September 11th attacks, some
people started to use the term of ‘Islamic terrorism or Islamist
terrorism’. We cannot accept this,” he noted.

Erdogan said, “we should not surrender to clash and violence
culture. All of us have responsibility in this respect. Mutual fate
of humanity depends on our efforts.”

Armenian, Jewish and Antakya choruses gave concerts before the
ceremony.

Meanwhile, police detained four people who attempted to read out a
document prior to the meeting.