The New Anatolian, Turkey
Jan 15 2008
Erdogan: Mediterranean Union no alternative to EU membership
The New Anatolian / Ankara
15 January 2008
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday the
Mediterranean Union cannot be an alternative to European Union
membership.
"We are against such an understanding. And we are definitely against
participation of Turkey in such a formation if it is put forward as
an alternative to the EU," he told in a breakfast organized by Europa
Press in Spanish capital of Madrid.
Erdogan said however, Turkey has to learn the aim of the
Mediterranean Union and see whether it will be a geographical
identity or a political or economic union.
On the other hand, Erdogan said Turkey cannot say anything about how
long cross-border operations into northern Iraq can last.
"But we hope we can end them as soon as possible," he said.
Erdogan said Spain has also been countering terrorism for tens of
years, and Turkey’s operations will not end until terrorism is
eradicated.
"The parliament has granted authorization for cross border operations
for one year. We can ask for authorization from parliament again if
we cannot solve this issue within a year," he told.
On Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Erdogan said an amendment
to the article may be brought to parliament within a month and the
issue may be solved.
Article 301 makes it a crime to insult "Turkishness".
The prime minister said U.S. authorities showed understanding about
Turkey’s gas deal with Iran and added that there was no problem
regarding this matter.
Asked why Turkey got closer with Iran although this country had
problems with the United States and Israel, Erdogan said Israel or
the United States were unable to meet Turkey’s natural gas demand.
"So I have to take care of myself," he told reporters.
"United States is a friend, a strategic partner and an ally of
Turkey. But they have to understand us since we must import gas from
Iran," Erdogan said.
"Our American friends showed understanding when we brought up this
issue in our talks. There is no problem about this matter," he added.
Despite having made a promise to Turkey that the supply of natural
gas would resume on Monday, Iran announced that the supply of natural
gas which was halted last week would not begin due to "extremely cold
temperatures in Iran."
On the new draft constitution being prepared by the government
Erdogan said Turkey was studying all the constitutions in the world.
When asked, "they say Turkey will take the Spanish constitution as an
example in its new constitution and consider recognition of some
regions and groups. Will the Kurdish region be recognized then?"
Erdogan said, "I think this information was relayed erroneously. We
are interested in all the constitutions in the world."
Responding to another question, Erdogan said, "intensification of
ethnic elements in a specific geography is regardless of question.
All ethnical elements have intermingled with eachother in our
country. Fragmentation to ethnicity is out of question."
Asked to comment on relations between military and the government,
Erdogan said, "there is a democratic structure in Turkey. There is no
problem between any question or organization in Turkey. This is a
step necessary to be successful.
Upon another question, Erdogan said his ruling Justice and
Development (AK) Party was not a religion-oriented political party.
"We have always refused to carry out politics by exploiting
religion," Erdogan said.
He also denied descriptive expressions such as "Islamist party" or
"progressive Islamist".
"These characterizations do not befit political literature," he
noted.
Erdogan also said that "headscarf" was not a political symbol and
that all political parties in Turkey have women members wearing
headscarves.
"Even if it is a political symbol, can you ban political symbols or
can you say that wearing a symbol is a crime?" Erdogan asked.
"Girls in the United States or Europe can go to universities wearing
headscarves, but we have such a problem in country where 99 percent
of the population is Muslim. I believe that we will overcome this
problem," he stated.
Erdogan said, "the (Armenian) Diaspora continues to muddle up
everything. Following their attacks in various countries they try to
obtain relevant or irrelevant support."
Erdogan said, "the matter (regarding the bill on Armenian allegations
submitted to the US Congress) seems to be postponed, particularly
thanks to the sensitivity of U.S. administration. U.S. President
George Bush and other officials exerted intensive efforts. However, I
would like to express very clearly that there are very serious
prejudices regarding this issue."
"I wrote a letter to Kocharian in 2005 and said this (the
allegations) should be assessed by historians. Turkey opened its
archives. There are more than one million classified documents.
Turkey also asked that Armenia open its archives. Kocharian has not
yet responded to my suggestion," Turkish PM remarked.
Erdogan said, "the Armenian Diaspora is in an effort to get indemnity
(from Turkey)."
"Turkey’s cause is rightful. Turkish government opened air corridors
to Yerevan and restored Armenian Orthodox church in Akdamar Island in
Van Lake. There are currently 40,000 Armenians living in Turkey who
escaped from Armenia. We have not extradited them. Armenian citizens
living in Turkey do not have problems," Erdogan said.
Responding to a question on headscarf issue, Erdogan said, "people
wearing headscarf can get education in universities in Europe and the
United States. Unfortunately, this is a problem in our country.
Overcoming this problem will also help to solve the problem on right
to education.
On Sunday Erdogan visited Sunday the Alhambra Palace and Granada
Mosque.
A group that calls itself "Los Turcos" welcomed Erdogan near the
palace. They were wearing clothes resembling those of the Ottoman
Turks.
Erdogan later visited Granada Mosque, where he was welcomed by Malik
Ruez, the head of the Spanish Muslim Union, and Abdulhasib
Castineira, the head of the Granada Mosque Foundation.
Granada Municipality was another place where Erdogan visited before
he proceeded to Spanish capital of Madrid.
Erdogan went to Madrid after having a dinner with high-level
officials of Granada and Autonomous Community of Andalusia.
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish monarchs
of Granada, in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress
was constructed), occupying a hilly terrace on the south-eastern
border of the city of Granada.