Turkish Justice Minister, Sadullah Ergin said that Turkey had conflicts with neighboring countries in the past but now they were like brothers with them. He emphasized that Turkey realized common projects with her neighbors and abolished visas to Syria and Jordan.

Ergin said that the recent economic crisis in the world influenced Turkey the least. He also stated that some people wanted to destroy Turkey's unity and solidarity but they would never allow this to happen.

Source: Yeni Safak (Turkey), January 30, 2010

The head of Republican CHP, Deniz Baykal, said that it would not be the army but rather the TEKEL workers who would topple the government. He emphasized that the workers have been protesting for 50 days now and the Prime Minister was indifferent to their demands. He said that this scene offended his feelings of humanity.

Baykal accused the government of exploiting the news of military coups to its advantage. He said that there were no military coups in Turkey but there were the exploitation of military coups. He stated that the ruling party wanted to succeed by crushing the Turkish armed forces.

Baykal emphasized that the next elections would bring a change in the government and the votes of the CHP were rising.

Source: ntvmsnbc (Turkey), January 30, 2010

Head of the Turkish Parliament, Mehmet Ali Sahin, attended the 5^th general meeting of parliament speakers of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Uganda. Sahin spoke during the General Assembly where he evaluated the main issues on the agenda. Sahin said that the meetings of the Organization of Islamic Conference allowed for the integration of the member countries which also led to the integration of their peoples.

Sahin stated that the Middle East Process and the Palestinian issue, the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen and the oppression that the Muslim peoples faced in Cyprus, Western Trachea, Caucasus and other parts of the world and also the Islamophobia in the West were issues of concern. He said that the prohibition of minarets in Switzerland was proof that Islamophobia which was an unjust and wrong discourse, would increase in Europe in the future. He emphasized that Turkey always reacted to attitudes exhibited against the religion of Islam in different platforms.

Sahin said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lay at the center of the problems in the Middle East. He stated that the Jewish settlement activities, the restrictions on the mobility of Palestinians and the construction of the Wall should be ended. He stated that Turkey did not keep silent and would not keep silent on what was going on in Gaza and would provide aid to the region.

Sahin stated that Turkey helped Afghanistan both militarily and civilly. He also said that Turkey followed the developments in Yemen and Africa closely and they were important issues in Turkey's foreign policy.

Source: habervaktim (Turkey), January 30, 2010

Think-tanks from a host of Islamic countries gathered this week at the Think-Tank Forum of Islamic Countries under the theme Civilization of Peace and Cooperation, organized by the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) in Istanbul. The focus of the forum was the role of think-tanks in the Islamic world, which was late to recognize their importance in policy formation. The rising tide of conflict in the world was also discussed. These points were stressed in both speeches and seminars.

TASAM Chair Suleyman Sensoy pointed to the "golden ages" in the history of the Islamic world. Instead of referring incessantly to the past, Sensoy urged, "It would be more useful to establish a foundation for cooperation in the name of the whole Islamic geography." The role and development of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) were discussed in a specific session, with appraisals and critiques. Turkish scholar Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC's secretary general, said that think-tanks now shape daily life and explained the OIC's process of evolution in recent years. Ihsanoglu said that there are certain developments in the Muslim world that need to be properly considered. Stressing that for many years the OIC was not very active, Ihsanoglu said that over the last five years the group had asserted its presence, including a 2005 meeting in Mecca organized by Saudi King Abdullah which brought together leaders of Muslim countries. The summit produced a 10-year action plan on international commerce, sustainable humanitarian development, technological development, human and women's rights, the importance of family, and the image of Islam.

Source: Today's Zaman (Turkey), January 29, 2010

India has lodged a protest with Turkey for not being invited to a conference of Afghanistan's immediate neighbours held in Istanbul this week and that country was "apologetic" over the action.

Source: PTI (India), January 29, 2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke during the “Governor’s Meeting”. Erdogan said that the 72.5 million citizens of Turkey were all first-class citizens. He emphasized that his government would never discriminate against any citizen and they would take care of everyone’s problems whether they were Christian, Jewish or any other minority.

Erdogan said that there was a thin line between security and democracy and it was important to preserve the balance between them. He stated that they would fight terror and any other threats but it was also wrong to cause divisions between the citizens and push them out and create dirty scenarios. He emphasized that an attitude that regarded the citizens as threats was an outdate one and was against democracy. He also said that it was the duty of the security forces to fight terrorism and no one had the right to ask them to lay down their arms.

Erdogan stated that the democratic initiative would gain momentum in 2010 and they would take more concrete steps. He emphasized that the initiative required changes in the Constitution and hopefully a democratic Constitution would soon be formulated.

Source: ntvmsnbc, Milliyet (Turkey), January 27, 2010

Turkish Minister and the Chief Negotiator for EU, Egemen Bagis, said that EU had an important role in the modernization and Westernization of Turkey. He emphasized that Turkey came across many obstacles in the past 50 years regarding the EU process but she continued her way in a determined manner. He said that the government was working to make Turkey a democratic nation with a state of law.

Bagis said that there was a need for a new constitution that met the EU standards. He called upon the opposition parties to start preparing a draft constitution which could later be evaluated by the Constitutional Committee.

Source: Habervaktim (Turkey), January 28, 2010

Acting Iraqi Trade Minister Safa al-Din Al-Safi has encouraged Turkish contractors to undertake projects and participate in tenders outside of northern Iraq and called for a free trade agreement between Turkey and his war-torn country.

Speaking at the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Economics and Technology University (TOBB-ETU) in Ankara yesterday in an event organized by TOBB, Al-Safi stressed the importance of Turkish contractors for Iraq’s development, but noted that they need to step outside of their comfort zone in northern Iraq and undertake projects throughout the country. Noting that tenders are currently being organized for the construction of hospitals and schools in Iraq, he noted that Turkish contractors have a high chance of winning those tenders.

Source: Today's Zaman (Turkey), January 28, 2010

"The US government strongly desires to boost bilateral trade volume and economic cooperation with Turkey, which it sees as an important market and a key powerhouse of the world," US Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey said yesterday. Speaking at a banquet hosted in honor by the Turkish-US Business Council (TAIK) head Haluk Dincer in Ankara, Jeffrey complained that Turkish-US economic ties don't keep pace with the cooperation level enjoyed by the two close allies in the political area, and underlined the need to forge stronger economic and trade cooperation between Turkey and his country with active participation of private sector firms from the two countries. Stating that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Washington visit in early December last year had laid the groundwork towards better Turkish-US trade ties and economic cooperation, Jeffrey told about his government's efforts to flesh out the framework forged during Erdogan's visit to that effect.

"We're focusing on enhancing economic ties, energy partnerships and cooperation in the tourism sector. Of course, only governmental efforts cannot be sufficient in this respect. Privates sectors from the two countries should create synergy. TAIK-like organizations are of great importance to ensure this. We have covered a great distance towards that end." Turkish-US bilateral trade volume can enjoy a three times increase in the years to come, he added. Stressing that Turkey is the most stable and successful country in a region extending from the Middle East to India, which is continually plagued by emergence of new crises, Jeffrey said, "This should never be forgotten. Turkey and US engaged in a cooperation process based on model partnership concept. Turkey is a country that brings security and stability to its region especially through its policy of zero problems with neighboring countries. For these reasons, the US is closely working with Turkey both in political and diplomatic areas. Turkey is very successful. It has the 17th biggest economy among G-20 countries." Sharing his views on the driving forces behind Turkey's success, Jeffrey said, "Firs of all, the Turkish people gravitates towards freedom, democracy, free market and enterprise principles. With the guidance of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who is a great leader of not only the 20th century but a good model for everyone, Turkey has followed a peace policy since the establishment of the Republic. Ataturk's 'Peace at home and Peace in the world' principle is of great importance even today.

The third reason rests with Turkey's strong relations with the international community." He also touched on Turkey's well-positioned economy in the face of the global economic crisis, saying that Turkey's financial structure remained undamaged from the crisis thanks to the reforms of recent years. Speaking in Turkish, Jeffrey also said that Turkey and the US should also strengthen their geo-strategic cooperation.

Source: Cumhuriyet (Turkey), January 28, 2010

Turkey powerfully warned Israel one more time at the UN Security Council due to its policies and implementations against Palestinians. Turkey’s UN Permanent Representative Ertugrul Apakan conveyed Turkey’s views on the issue at the UNSG’s monthly Middle East themed meeting. At the meeting Turkey said, “Israel should end its forcefully evacuations against Palestinians in Jerusalem and Jewish settlements on the territories it occupied and suffering of people in Gaza.” Apakan said that there’s a large-scale unemployment and poverty in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade.

Source: Sabah (Turkey), January 28, 2010