ERDOGAN: "TURKISH-US RELATIONS ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS"
Turkey and the US must strengthen their cooperation to build a better world, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, Speaking to the German Marshall Fund in Washington, he said the two countries` foreign policy priorities share much in common "This, in the face of issues of common concern, makes stronger cooperation between our two countries a necessity for both bilateral interests and international stability and peace," Erdogan added. "Over 50 years of strong ties of alliance and partnership between Turkey and the US are continuing at a satisfactory level as a result of expanding foreign policy agendas and overlapping priorities of the two countries." He said that during his meeting with US President Obama earlier this week, they reached a strong agreement to improve bilateral ties based on the model partnership model Obama proposed when visiting Turkey this April. On the ruling party`s performance, Erdogan said, "There has been a great transformation in Turkey under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)." He also said the Turkish economy remains relatively undamaged by the global economic crisis thanks to its sound financial system. Rejecting claims of an axis shift in Turkish foreign policy, Erdogan said, "Some people paint a false picture of the active foreign policy Turkey has taken in recent years. There has been no axis shift in our foreign policy. Turkey works to bring stability to its region. The role we try to play in the region also serves global peace." On the government`s democratic initiative, Erdogan said, "The Turkish government`s recent national unity efforts will yield important results in eliminating the terrorist PKK from northern Iraq." On the international dispute over Iran`s nuclear program, Erdogan said, "Turkey can play a key role between Iran and other countries with regard to its controversial nuclear activities. Mr. Obama expressed his pleasure at our relations with Iran. We can serve as a diplomatic channel in talks with Iran." Also speaking in a interview with public TV network PBS yesterday, Erdogan criticized the European Union`s stance towards Turkey, saying, "They`ve kept us waiting for 50 years. If they have a different view of Turkey`s accession, they should tell us about it honestly." Erdogan added, "They say Turkey is a big country with big population, and would be a burden. We will be there to share the burden. There are already 5 million Turkish citizens in Europe." Erdogan brushed aside claim that Turkish foreign policy is placing more importance on the East and Islamic countries and less on Europe. "Turkey has never considered the East an alternative to the West, or the South an alternative to the North," he said. "Turkey is going through a normalization process and is working to maintain positive relations." Erdogan said Turkey, as a democratic, secular state under the rule of law, acts a bridge between the West and the Islamic world. Stating that Turkey co-chairs the Alliance of Civilizations with Spain, he added that Turkey is the only majority-Muslim nation in NATO. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CALDERON IN MEXICO, STRESSES STRONGER TIES
After completing his talks in Washington, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday proceeded to Mexico City for official talks at the invitation of Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who welcomed Erdogan with full military honors at Los Pinos Presidential Residence. Erdogan and Calderon later had a face-to-face meeting and chaired an interdelegational meeting. Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference afterwards, Erdogan called for further improvement of bilateral trade ties between Turkey and Mexico, calling the current $450 million trade volume very low in view of the fact that Mexico and Turkey have the world`s 13th- and 17th-largest economies. Telling how Turkish-Mexican diplomatic ties started 81 years ago, Erdogan said his government sees Mexico as key to its outreach to Latin America and the Caribbean. Erdogan said Turkey wants to cooperate with Mexico on international platforms such as the UN, G-20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at the highest levels. Erdogan also said the two countries have agreed to share their experience fighting drug traffickers and organized crimes. For his part, Calderon invited President Abdullah Gul and Erdogan to attend 200th anniversary celebrations of his country next year. Calderon also expressed his support for the Alliance of Civilizations, co-chaired by Turkey and Spain. During his visit, Erdogan also addressed a meeting of the Mexican Foreign Ministry`s diplomatic academy, and attended in a luncheon hosted by Calderon in his honor. Erdogan also visited a clock tower that was once presented to the Mexican government by an Ottoman colony. /Sabah/
ISRAEL`S PERES: "OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR PRESIDENT GUL"
Israel President Simon Peres yesterday said that he hopes to soon welcome his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, as Israel`s doors are always open to him. Receiving Turkish Ambassador to Tel Aviv Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, who presented his letter of credentials, Peres said Turkey has a long history and a bright future. For his part, Celikkol said that the president will visit Israel when conditions are right. /Cumhuriyet/
DEIK HEAD REELECTED TO HELM OF WORLD CHAMBERS FEDERATION
Rona Yircali, the chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), affiliated with the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges, has been reelected for a third term as chairman of the World Chambers Federation (WCF). At a press conference yesterday, TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the WCF is an organization under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) with more than 14,000 chambers and union of chambers in 140 countries. Yircali will serve his third term as WCF chairman for 2010-2012. /Aksam/
AKBANK CHAIR: "AS A BRIDGE COUNTRY, TURKEY CAN ATTRACT INVESTMENTS"
Akbank Chairman Suzan Sabanci Dincer yesterday urged Turkey to seize opportunities in Gulf countries, saying, "Turkish firms can attract capital through professionalism." In Dubai to open Akbank`s office in the Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC), Sabanci and a delegation met with Saudi Arabia Prince Al Talal, Al Mansur, the son of Abu Dhabi`s king, Sheikh Mansour Al Nahyan and Sheikh Maktoum. "There`s great demand for Turkey in the Gulf countries," said Sabanci. "Fewer countries in the world are attracting investments. Turkey`s population and young average age are attracting interest. People like our government, president and premier. And our bid to join the EU has gotten interest. They see Turkey as a bridge in this sense. I can see the possibility of Saudi Arabia investing in Turkey. They also have confidence in both Akbank and the Sabanci group. Our relations are at the highest level." /Milliyet/