ANKARA - The speech delivered by Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul during meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia, was brought onto agenda of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that Alcee Hastings of the Democrat Party drew attention of members of the U.S. House of Representatives to the speech of Gul comparing it with the speech of former Prime Minister Mahatir Muhammad of Malaysia.
Speaking at the session of the U.S. House of Representatives on October 28, Hastings said, ''there has been much reaction, and justly so, to the virulently anti-Semitic remark of ongoing Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir at the recent OIC summit in Malaysia. His remark, crude, insensitive and untrue, have been roundly condemned by many world leaders who were at the OIC conference.''
''Unfortunately, the publicity over his remarks has overshadowed another speech by a Muslim leader, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gul. That speech is more tolerant and farsighted. It speaks well of Turkey's current government and the policies it seeks to enact. Foreign Minister Gul argues that Islam, tolerance and modernization are compatible, and highlights the Turkish experience. I believe the speech is well worth our colleagues reading and I am pleased to bring it to their attention, ''Hastings added.
Speaking at the Business Forum held during the 10th Term Meetings of the OIC, Gul said that Islam communities had some difficulties in following the global developments in politics, economy, science and technology.
Noting that Turkey constituted a different model in the Islam world, Gul said, ''I do not consider Islam and modernization concepts contradicting with each other. Turkey's experience constituted a good example of developing a society in all fields while Islamic values and culture play an important role. Current Turkish government, established by a political party of traditional values, has started a political and economic reform campaign in Turkey. However, there is nothing to be bewildered about it. We have the target that an Islamic society can change and renew itself by preserving its own traditions, values and identity.''
(UK-AY) 06.11.2003