ISTANBUL - There was individual, institutional and state terrorism in the Middle East, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
Erdogan addressed opening remarks of 75th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center in Istanbul and then replied to questions of foreign editors.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``Turkey has been in an effort to determine steps it can take for peace in the Middle East. But, unfortunately, Sharon didn`t help us. Recent developments are clear sign of this.``
Asked if there was crisis in Turkish-Israeli relations and what should be done in such a case, Erdogan said, ``our commercial and economic relationship with Israel is a different thing. Evaluating recent developments is a different thing. We have only evaluated incidents in Palestine. We don`t want blood or death in Palestine and the Middle East. Considering that we condemn terrorism and we are against terrorism, then we are face to face with terrorism. There is individual, institutional and state terrorism in the Middle East. When I say institutional, I mention illegal organization. I call on you to think objectively. A state can`t take a decision for an assassination. Because, a state can`t nurse a grudge. A state can never suspend laws. It should protect the laws.``
Erdogan went on saying, ``unfortunately, these started to occur in the region recently. Turkey has been in an effort to determine steps it can take for peace in the Middle East. But, unfortunately, Sharon didn`t help us. Recent developments are clear sign of this.``
``We are obliged to fulfil our responsibilities to ensure peace. So, we are in an effort to do so. But, our economic relations with Israel will never be affected. We will continue our relationship with Israel,`` Erdogan added.
A total of 72 national newspapers union, individual newspaper directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN.
More than 1400 CEO, director general, general publication director and delegates from 88 countries are participating in the congress.
WAN and FEW unofficially convened on Sunday in Istanbul.
(BRC-AÖ) 31.05.2004
ISTANBUL - There was individual, institutional and state terrorism in the Middle East, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
Erdogan addressed opening remarks of 75th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center in Istanbul and then replied to questions of foreign editors.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``Turkey has been in an effort to determine steps it can take for peace in the Middle East. But, unfortunately, Sharon didn`t help us. Recent developments are clear sign of this.``
Asked if there was crisis in Turkish-Israeli relations and what should be done in such a case, Erdogan said, ``our commercial and economic relationship with Israel is a different thing. Evaluating recent developments is a different thing. We have only evaluated incidents in Palestine. We don`t want blood or death in Palestine and the Middle East. Considering that we condemn terrorism and we are against terrorism, then we are face to face with terrorism. There is individual, institutional and state terrorism in the Middle East. When I say institutional, I mention illegal organization. I call on you to think objectively. A state can`t take a decision for an assassination. Because, a state can`t nurse a grudge. A state can never suspend laws. It should protect the laws.``
Erdogan went on saying, ``unfortunately, these started to occur in the region recently. Turkey has been in an effort to determine steps it can take for peace in the Middle East. But, unfortunately, Sharon didn`t help us. Recent developments are clear sign of this.``
``We are obliged to fulfil our responsibilities to ensure peace. So, we are in an effort to do so. But, our economic relations with Israel will never be affected. We will continue our relationship with Israel,`` Erdogan added.
A total of 72 national newspapers union, individual newspaper directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN.
More than 1400 CEO, director general, general publication director and delegates from 88 countries are participating in the congress.
WAN and FEW unofficially convened on Sunday in Istanbul.
(BRC-AÖ) 31.05.2004