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Strong Reactions In Turkish Media For Exceptional Treatment Of Saudi King
Criticism continues in Turkey’s mainstream media about President Gul’s breaking with state protocol during Saudi King Abdullah’s recent visit in Ankara. Many columnists express the opinion that by going to the King’s “feet” at his request, honoring the “King of Shari'a” with the highest medal of secular Turkey - on the very day of commemoration of Ataturk’s death - after the King had refused to visit Anitkabir (the resting place of Ataturk), Gul dishonored the Turkish people. What was most criticized was the photograph of the King taken at his hotel, sitting in the middle on the throne he brought, with the Saudi flag and his own picture behind (instead of Ataturk’s), “accepting” in Turkey, President Gul and PM Erdogan. Columnists noted that the same King had not behaved in this arrogant manner in any of his visits to other countries on his European tour and had even gone to see London’s mayor, yet he dared order the president of Turkey to come to his door. Source: Milliyet, Hurriyet, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Turkey, November 12-15, 2007
Posted at: 2007-11-16
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