PRIME MINISTER WRAPS UP US VISIT
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 23 2009
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech on
"The Alliance of Civilizations" at the Levin Institute in New York
on Tuesday as part of his visit to the United States for the United
Nations General Assembly meeting.
The prime minister also met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon in talks that focused on the Cyprus issue, climate change,
Turkish-Armenian relations, Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process
and the situation in Gaza.
"Since the attacks of Sept. 11, we have witnessed the reign of a
discourse that risks further polarization. It is easy to divide,
disintegrate and destroy. The hardest thing to do – which is universal
and human and that we must pursue – is to build, bring together and
hold together," Erdogan said in his speech.
The prime minister also said more than a hundred countries and
international organizations have become members of the Alliance of
Civilization since 2005, when Turkey and Spain launched the project
to bridge differences between East and West through international,
intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.
"The alliance aims at contributing to the efforts to end the imposition
of one’s values upon others and to bring about the adoption of
objective principles," he said.
Cyprus talks
During his meeting with Erdogan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
expressed his appreciation for Turkey’s support to U.N. Special Advisor
on Cyprus Alexander Downer’s efforts on the divided island. Moreover,
he said he was optimistic about the ongoing negotiation process in
Cyprus, the U.N. Press Office said.
Also on Tuesday, Erdogan was set to deliver a speech at the Clinton
Global Initiative, but he canceled his address after a melee between
Turkish and American bodyguards. Prime Minister Erdogan’s American
bodyguards were replaced after the incident, according to U.S. security
officials.
The Clinton Global Initiative brings together the public and private
sectors to discuss solutions to problems in four areas: climate
change, poverty, global health and education. On the opening day of
the conference on Tuesday, former President Bill Clinton called on
attendees to support political and economic efforts toward climate
sustainability. President Barack Obama also addressed the conference,
commending Clinton and the attendees for the work they do.
As part of his talks in New York, Erdogan also met with Turkmen
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow late on Tuesday, reported Anatolia
news agency. The two leaders discussed the bilateral relations between
Turkey and Turkmenistan, regional developments and the energy issue
during their meeting, officials said.