"If Biden told these words, then he will be history for me. I never uttered such remarks," Erdoğan said after the morning prayer for Eid al-Adha -the festival of sacrifice observed by Muslims all over the world- in Istanbul on early Oct. 4.
"President Erdoğan told me, he is an old friend, said you were right, we let too many people through, now we are trying to seal the border," Biden had said during a speech on foreign policy at Harvard Kennedy School on Oct. 2, while complaining about the conduct of his country's regional allies that led to the rise of the Islamic State and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIL).
"I was Prime Minister at the time. We absolutely didn't provide even the smallest amount of support to any terrorist organization, including the ISIL. Nobody can prove it. Foreign fighters never crossed from Turkey to Syria. There were people coming to Turkey as tourists and went to Syria, but nobody can suggest that they were armed while crossing the border," Erdoğan said.
Turkish President also stressed that Ankara's "sensitivity" over the issue continues, as do its measures to prevent the jihadist flow into Syria.
"I see [Biden's remarks] regretfully. I never admitted any mistake nor did we told them that they 'were right' during my visit to the U.S. If Mr. Biden uttered these remarks at Harvard, he should apologize. I'm telling this clearly. And we won't accept slender, indirect explanations," Erdoğan added.
- Turkish PM, too, raises objections
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Biden's remarks are unacceptaple.
"It is impossible to accept his criticism. All the U.S. authorities and Biden very well know that Turkey, on its own, has hosted millions of refugees for four years. If all the warnings that Turkey made had been taken into consideration, [ISIL] would not be an issue today," Davutoglu told reporters following the prayer for Eid al-Adha in Istanbul on Oct. 4.
The Turkish prime minister also said that the tomb of Suleyman Shah, a sovereign Turkish territory in Syria, was safe.
Turkish soldiers have been alert for potential attacks as there have been concerns that ISIL was getting close to the tomb.
"Soldiers are today wishing each other a happy Eid. We are, as a whole nation, together with them, and we will always proudly appreciate their efforts, patience, and determination."
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-president-erdogan-demands-apology-if-biden-uttered-isil-remarks.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72531&NewsCatID=510
4/10/14
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Related:
Turkey Faces Pressure Over Alleged Oil Smuggling With ISIS Group (VOA News)
Obama: US Intelligence Underestimated Militants in Syria (VOA News)
'Sloppy process' of ousting Assad led to ISIL’s rise, Kerry says
Friends of Syria agree no future for Assad....
*** Friends of Syria
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Russia and its partners in the UN Security Council are pressing for effective measures to plug the loopholes being used for financing terrorist groups like the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nusra, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday...
ReplyDelete“Neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaeda, nor the so called Islamic Front, nor Jabhat al-Nusra would have been able to do what they have been doing without external support. This is clear to all,” Lavrov said. “Together with our partners, including those in the UN Security Council, we are pressing for effective steps to plug the loopholes for the financial and material support for these terrorist organizations," he stressed.
Lavrov recalled the corresponding UN Security Council resolution on the impermissibility of trafficking militants and weapons. “Just recently a resolution was adopted at our initiative to prohibit deriving incomes from trade in oil produced in the territories of Iraq and Syria that are under the terrorists’ control,” he said.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/752949
6/10/14
Biden says he never apologized to Turkey ...
ReplyDeleteDid Vice President Joe Biden really apologize to Turkey's president? The White House says he did, but Biden says he did not.
In early October, Biden placed phone calls to three U.S. allies as he attempted to smooth over a diplomatic spat sparked by comments he made at Harvard University. One of those calls was to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had angrily demanded an apology and said Biden "will be history for me" if it turned out he'd really accused Turkey of helping fuel the Islamic State group's growth.
But on Monday, Biden contradicted the White House by insisting that phone call didn't amount to an apology.
"No, I haven't apologized," Biden said in a CNN interview. "I never apologized to him. I know him well. I've dealt with him. I called him and said, 'Look, what was reported was not accurate to what I said. Here's what I said.'" ...................http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/11/04/Biden-says-he-never-apologized-to-Turkey.html
4/11/14