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Turkish PM to Sharon: You went from Corporal to General, |
3 May 2005Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on an official state visit to Israel, had a one and a half hour private conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, during which many interesting topics were discussed. An overview of their conversation is as follows:
Erdogan: What can we do to achieve peace? This is what we have come to ask you. Whatever it is that we can do, we are prepared to do.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on an official state visit to Israel, had a one and a half hour private conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, during which many interesting topics were discussed. An overview of their conversation is as follows:
Erodogan: What can we do to achieve peace? This is what we have come to ask you. Whatever it is that we can do, we are prepared to do.
Sharon: I am awed by the majority you have in your parliament. Because our work is not as easy as yours. What is your secret for achieving such parliamentary support, please tell us.
Erdogan: Well, this is a subject which used to cause us many problems. But we've gotten used to it now. We have real stability now. Political stability is so important, and it's vital to recognize its value.
Sharon: Regional peace has not been founded on enough trust and security. The security of the Israeli people is the most important subject for us. Mahmut Abbas (Palestinian leader) does not have enough power to stop terror on his own. And he has not taken the steps forward which we have been anticipating on this subject yet.
Abbas was a lucky choice
Erdogan: You seem very rigid on these matters. Please don't be this hopeless. Because hopelessness like that will never bring peace. In order for peace, you have to be hopeful, you have to struggle. Whenever hope disappers, terror will rise to take its place. There has to be a strong mutual understanding put out in the open on this subject. Terror feeds on negativity.
Sharon: I am neither rigid not hopeless. But as I said, for us, security is of the utmost importance. The Palestinians have not stopped the terror completely on their side. I have put my own political life at risk. I am doing this by withdrawing from Gaza. Beside me, there is no one else in Israel today that can make this decision. I am actually the last chance for peace. Peace has no other chance, outside of me.
Strengthen Abbas' hand
Erdogan: Mahmut Abbas is positive force for peace. Make good use of this. Strengthen his hand so that he can take the correct steps, and make the right reforms on his side. Because a powerless politician cannot solve problems. Peace is important for the Palestinians, and important for the world.
Sharon: Your leadership could play an important role here. You have an effect over people, I can feel that here. Your leadership, experience, and talents could play important roles in this subject.
Soldiers of peace
Erdogan: The real experience lies with you. You went from corporal to general. You have to use this experience of yours for peace.
Sharon: Yes, I commanded this country's most elite forces. As an old soldier, I know the value of peace, and the face of war, and all of its pain.
Erdogan: Lasting world peace is always created by soldiers. Because they know the pain of war. The steps taken towards peace at Sharm El Sheik in February were important. But three months have passed, and nothing significant has been done. It is important not to lose the momentum from that meeting.
Keep up your interest
Sharon: An important road map towards peace was created there...There are some stipulations to this map. The most important is that terror, violence and provocation be ended. Then we will reach the goal on this map quickly.
Troublel at the Temple Mount
On the last day of his visit to Israel, Prime Minister Erdogan visited the mosques sacred to Muslims in the Noble Sanctuary, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock. Here, an interesting fight broke out between members of Erdogan's security detail and members of the Israeli detail. Erdogan himself intervened in the fistfight that broke out between the two groups. Later, when visiting Mahmut Abbas on the Palestinian side, the same tension broke out between Turkish and Palestinian security detail members.
Source: Hurriyet, 3 May 2005 |
3 May 2005
Turan YILMAZ - Hasan TUFEKCI
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