Turkish Daily News
January 19, 2007 Friday
PARLIAMENT REJECTS CENSURE AGAINST GUL
Parliament yesterday discussed a censure motion, submitted by the
center-right Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), accusing Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul of neglecting his duties. The Justice and Development
Party (AKP) majority in Parliament ensured that the proposal to
discuss the motion was rejected in Parliament.
Addressing Parliament, ANAVATAN group deputy Chairman Suleyman
Saribas expressed his view that Turkey’s current foreign policy had
reached a point where it was a "threat to the national integrity of
the country." Saribas slammed government policies in Cyprus, northern
Iraq and the European Union, adding that the government was
incompetent in addressing the Armenian question. "Why didn’t we cut
off diplomatic ties with those countries which recognized the
Armenian genocide," Saribas asked Parliament members during his
speech.
Saribas also claimed that the government slammed into a wall in the
EU process. "Well, thanks to you, now the nation is repulsed by the
EU. You have isolated Turkey." Current foreign policy brought us to
this point: Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul deputy Onur
Oymen, speaking on behalf of his group said the government was facing
breaking points in all aspects of foreign policy. "Those breaking
points have unfortunately brought Turkey to this point. Similar
mistakes were made in Cyprus. Alarming developments are taking
place," Oymen told the deputies.