CE SECRETARY GENERAL SUGGESTS TO AWARD TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NOBEL PRIZE FOR EFFORTS ON NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
ArmInfo
2009-11-27 11:47:00
ArmInfo. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may deserve the
Nobel Peace Prize for his work to promote peace both in Turkey and
regionally, Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary-general of the Council of
Europe and also chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, suggested
in an interview with a Turkish news agency.
According to the Turkish sources, praising the ruling Justice and
Development Party’s (AK Party) recent democratic initiative, Jagland
said Turkey is fast becoming the strongest country in Europe. Saying
that the AK Party is taking important steps to advance democracy
throughout Turkish society, Jagland praised the government’s policies.
"I admire his (Erdogan’s) leadership," Jagland said. Citing Turkey’s
recent moves to normalize relations with Armenia and lift visa
requirements with many countries, Jagland said he can’t understand
people who oppose Turkey’s EU bid. Turkey has one of the strongest
armies in Europe, is a bridge between the East and the West, and
plays a unifying role in the Middle East, he said.