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Israeli President to Turkish PM Erdogan: "I am Sorry" |
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Friday, 30 January 2009DAVOS (JTW) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked out of a panel discussion in protest the moderator's and Israeli President Peres' attitude. Erdogan, 54, was attempting to respond to Peres the moderator cut him off. Erdogan protested that he was being given less time than Peres, said he would not return to Davos and quickly left the stage.
After relatively brief remarks from Turkish PM Erdogan, Israeli President Shimon Peres launched a lengthy and fiery defense of his country's assault on Gaza over the past month. Mr. Peres gave all the examples from Turkey and raised his voice pointing his finger Turkish prime Minister Erdogan. Mr. Peres tried to accuse and question Turkey and Turkish PM by asking what Erdogan would do if rockets were fired at Istanbul every night. The Turkish leader Erdogan furiously took notes. As the debate, which also included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Arab League chief Amr Moussa, was ending, Erdogan demanded one minute to respond. The moderator granted Erdogan a moment to reply to Peres, but then cut him off shortly after when Turkish leader was trying to respond. It is reported that the moderator was also not kind enough towards Prime Minister Erdogan.
"I don't think I will come back to Davos because you don't let me speak," the Turkish prime minister said, as he stood up and walked out of the conference hall in the Swiss ski resort.
Erdogan said Mr Peres had spoken so loudly to conceal his "guilt".
The Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan later complained that he was given just 12 minutes to speak while the Israeli president was given nearly half an hour. "The president spoke for only 25 minutes. I have only spoken for half of that" he added. He said his frustration was aimed at the moderator and not at Jews or the Israeli people.
Turkey's state-run Anatolian news agency quoted Erdogan as saying to Peres: "When it comes to killing you know very well how to kill. I know very well how you killed children on the beaches."
In a hastily-called news conference, Erdogan later explained that he had been upset with both the moderation of the debate and Peres' manner.
"My reaction was directed at the moderator. I think that if we have moderation in this way, we won't really get out of Davos what we all come here to get out of Davos, and it would cast a shadow over efforts to reach peace," Erdogan said.
"President Peres was speaking to the prime minister of Turkey -- I am not just some leader of some group or tribe, so he should have addressed me accordingly," he told reporters.
* Peres Apologized To Erdogan
Diplomatic sources cited Israeli President Shimon Peres as telling Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday that he was sorry about what happened at a panel discussion on Gaza in the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"I am very sorry for what happened and friends could sometimes have an argument between themselves. I have always had a great respect for the Republic of Turkey and you as the Prime Minister. I consider myself as a friend of Turkey and Premier Erdogan," Peres told Erdogan during a telephone conversation.
* Amr Moussa: 'Erdogan's Action is Understandable'
Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League and former Egyptian foreign minister, said Erdogan's action was understandable.
"Mr Erdogan said what he wanted to say and then he left. That's all. He was right," he said, adding that Israel "doesn't listen".
* Audience Reaction
Eesa Niamatullah, one of the audience from northwest said Mr. Peres's defense of Israel's military operation was "belligerent". Most of the audience found Peres aggressive and not kind enough when he was speaking with another country's Prime Minister.
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Friday, 30 January 2009
JTW and news agencies
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