GUL: "CLAIMS OF AN AXIS SHIFT IN TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY STEM FROM IGNORANCE AND BAD INTENTIONS"
Speaking to journalists en route to South Korea yesterday, President Abdullah Gul criticized renewed claims that Turkey has been shifting the axis of its foreign policy away from the West and towards the East, saying such claims stem either from ignorance or bad will. "Turkey has security forces all over the world, including in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Africa and Haiti," said Gul. "The timing of claims concerning Turkey's axis shift is poor. I keep saying this. Take Britain, France or Spain as an example. They have excellent relations with the entire world. Does anybody mention anything about an axis shift for those countries? Does anyone question whether Britain has seen a shift in axis? Does anyone talk about an axis shift for France?" Turkey's larger presence on the foreign policy stage in recent years has led some commentators to suggest that this signifies a shift in its foreign policy orientation, with Ankara turning its back on the West in favor of a closer and more institutionalized cooperation with the Islamic world. Ankara has consistently rejected such arguments, calling them reminiscent of a Cold War mentality. The axis shift debate has reemerged in the wake of last month's Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters, which left nine Turkish peace activists dead. "Turkey agrees with 98 percent of foreign policy decisions made by the European Union," Gul told reporters. "It is rather absurd to discuss the axis of Turkey by looking at its relations with neighboring countries or with countries in its region. We need to focus on common values such as respect for human rights, democracy and a free market." He also said people should compare Turkey's democracy now with the situation 25 years ago. "We need to ask ourselves whether our democracy has grown stronger or weaker," he explained. "We need to ask whether our legal system has grown stronger. And we need to ask whether we have moved closer or farther away from the EU." Gul traveled to South Korea to attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, which thousands of Turkish troops fought in. Stating that Turkey's military ties with South Korea stretched from the 1950-53 war up to 1971, Gul said, "We worked for world peace and to protect people and other countries." Gul also reiterated Turkey's commitment to end domestic terrorism no matter the cost. /Today's Zaman/
DAVUTOGLU SPURNS ISRAELI DECISION TO REJECT INTL INQUIRY INTO GAZA FLOTILLA ATTACK
Israel's failure to support an international commission to look into its attack last month on a Gaza aid flotilla which left nine Turks dead, favoring instead its own investigation, could lead Ankara to reevaluate bilateral relations, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday. "If an international commission isn't set up and Turkey's very rightful demands are ignored, surely Turkey has the right to unilaterally evaluate its relations with Israel," Davutoglu told reporters after meeting with his Senegalese counterpart Madicke Niang. The Foreign Ministry also condemned Israel's decision, saying that a purely Israeli inquiry would not be impartial, transparent or credible. /Aksam/
EU SPOKESPERSON: "TURKEY'S ACTIVE FOREIGN POLICY DOESN'T CONTRADICT ITS EU ACCESSION PROCESS"
An European Union spokesperson yesterday said there is no contradiction between Turkey's active foreign policy and its progress towards full EU membership. Angela Filote, spokeswoman for the European Union commissioner for enlargement, said she sees no discrepancy between Turkey's active foreign policy and its advancement towards full EU membership. Stating that Turkey's policy of zero problems with neighboring countries and its efforts to develop regional cooperation carry great importance for the EU as well, Filote said, "Ensuring stability in that region will also help the EU's stability." On Turkey's accession negotiations with the Union, she urged Turkey to complete all the required reforms. Underlining Turkey's importance for the 27-member bloc, Filote added, "The reforms undertaken by Turkey are important not only for the EU but also Turkey itself." /Turkiye/
GROUP OF AK PARTY DEPUTIES VISITS US TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY
A group of deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), including the party's Deputy Chairman Omer Celik, Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission head Murat Mercan, and Chief Advisor to the Prime Ministry Ibrahim Kalin, yesterday left for a visit to the US to meet with officials and express Turkey's foreign policy perspective. Asked about claims of an "axis shift" in Turkey's foreign policy, Celik rejected these, saying, "There is no shift of axis in Turkey's foreign policy. On the contrary, our country's foreign policy is getting consolidated." /Star/
TRADE MINISTERS, BUSINESSMEN CONVENE FOR TURSKON-SPONSORED FAIR IN ISTANBUL
The Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSKON) yesterday held its Istanbul Foreign Trade Ministers Summit as part of its second Turkey-World Trade Bridge event. Chaired by Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan, the summit brought together trade ministers and deputy prime ministers from 30 countries to share their experiences and discuss challenges and opportunities to boost their countries' trade ties. "I have no doubt that the bonds of cooperation and business opportunities forged through this program will help improve the world economy and trade in the years ahead," said Caglayan in his opening speech, commending TUSKON's initiative. Some 2,200 international businesspeople are in Istanbul to attend the Turkey-World Trade Bridge, during which they will hold thousands of business meetings with their Turkish counterparts. The program is also a trade fair as there will be 400 Turkish exhibitors welcoming visitors to their commercial booths as part of the event. With its trade volume of almost $250 billion, Turkey last year became the world's 17th-largest economy and Europe's sixth-largest. Caglayan also reiterated the government's aim to reach exports of $500 billion by 2023, the republic's centennial. He also touted how Turkey is the only country in the world to have its credit rating raised four times since September 2008. /Today's Zaman/
THREE TURKS ELECTED TO BELGIAN PARLIAMENT
In final election results, three candidates of Turkish origin were elected to Belgium's Federal Parliament in Sunday's election. Ozlem Ozen of the Socialist Party and Zuhal Demir from the New Flemish Alliance were elected for the first time, and Meryem Almaci of the Flemish Greens kept her seat. /Star/
TURKEY EYES ATTRACTING 1 MLN ARAB TOURISTS THIS YEAR
Even as fewer Israeli tourists plan to visit Turkey amid strained Turkish-Israeli ties due to the recent flotilla attack, Turkey is being projected to enjoy a significant boost in its tourism figures, largely as a result of travelers flocking to Turkey from Arab countries. Speaking to reporters in Antalya, Tourism Investors Association (TYD) head Turgut Gur yesterday said he expects the number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey to hit 1 million this year. Mutually scrapping visa requirements with a number of Middle Eastern nations along with Turkey's favorable image in the region, especially in the wake of its strong reaction against Israel's attack on the Gaza aid flotilla, will prompt more Arab travelers to visit Turkey, he predicted. Gur also said Mediterranean coastal areas in particular would likely enjoy a leap in Arab visitors. /Hurriyet/