MESSAGE DELIVERED TO OBAMA’S UNIVERSITY
Sabah
Nov 14 2008
Turkey
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke at a conference held at the
university from which US President elect Obama Barack graduated,
Columbia University in New York, and stated; "We are expecting the new
US administration to pay close consideration to Turkey’s sensitivities
on certain vital issues."
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, delivered messages to the university
US President elect Barack Obama studied at. Erdogan stated that he
expects Obama to pay close consideration to certain sensitive issues
for Turkey, such as the Armenian genocide claims, and the struggle
against the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq.
COMPLIMENT FOR ORHAN PAMUK
For the first time ever, Erdogan mentioned the Nobel award winning,
Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk in a positive light. Erdogan also stated:
"I would like to express the excitement I feel in addressing you in
this cradle of education with more than 250 years of rich history
and rooted knowledge. I am sure that the new President elect Obama
Barack, having graduated from this very university, is a great
source of pride for you all. The fact that a Nobel award-winning
Turkish writer, Mr. Orhan Pamuk is a part of the educating staff is
just another reason for us to hold special importance for Columbia
University." Meanwhile, Erdogan, also called to congratulate the
37-year-old Turkish Professor Murat Gunel for receiving two million
dollars in grants from the United States government in order to further
research genes connected to cerebral hemorrhages. Erdogan, also made
a speech to the United Nations General Committee on "Peace Culture"
prior to his speech at Colombia University. During this speech he
touched on the importance of the struggle against terrorism and said;
"There should no longer be a division between good and bad terrorists,
and protecting terrorists of another country and supporting them
should be abandoned." Also touching upon the issue of freedom of
speech, he stated; "Cautious attention must be paid to the thoughts
put forth, as to how they may affect those from differing cultures,
for example this will be the only way we can change qualifying those
not like us as an ‘other’."