Thursday, November 17, 2005

Erdogan in Denmark Stands Firm Against Terror

11.17.2005
Zaman.com
By Hasan Cucuk, Servet Yanatma

[...]
An official visit of Erdogan to Denmark transformed into the “Roj TV crisis” after he met with the Danish prime minister Tuesday.

The broadcasting organization of the PKK, Roj TV, correspondent was among the reporters attending the joint news conference. Erdogan requested that the reporter not to be allowed access to the hall where the press conference was taking place. When Rasmussen turned down his request, Erdogan made his decision and left the country. The Danish prime minister met the journalists alone and he said that he could not ask reporters to be escorted out as long as they were doing their jobs. Rasmussen also said that he was surprised by Erdogan’s attitude. [...].

The Danish Prime Minister said they have broader definition of freedom of expression and that membership talks with the European Union depends on the fulfillment of all political criteria including these freedoms. Turkey should meet these criteria as well, he defended.
[...]
Upon his return from Denmark, Erdogan responded to questions and revealed his reaction to Rasmussens’s defense of “freedom of expression”. “A country cannot approve an understanding providing support to terror, this cannot be freedom. Turkey is able to pay the price of my attitude.”

His reaction found a widespread audience in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said every Turk should do exactly what the prime minister had done and General Buyukanit found Erdogan’s challenge normal. “The prime minister of a country fighting against the PKK cannot tolerate the presence of a PKK owned television station,” the general said.
[...]

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home