Erdogan keynotes at WEF hosted in Istanbul

By Christopher Torchia

Associated Press

Erdogan described Turkey as “an island of stability” in a region facing difficulties.

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s leader Tuesday delivered a keynote speech at a regional meeting of the World Economic Forum, more than three years after he stormed off the stage at a previous meeting in Davos, Switzerland during a debate with the Israeli president – an event that signaled the rising profile of Turkey in its turbulent region.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the conference in Istanbul with an address that highlighted Turkey’s development in the past decade, but also touched on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the way in which he said it had destabilized the region. Without mentioning Israel –onceafirmallyofTurkey– he said Palestinians suffered bombardment and mass killing and were kept in “the largest open-air prison in the world.”

As a result, Erdogan said, “The whole region is faced with a lot of anger being pumped into it.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas followed Erdogan at the podium, sharply criticizing Israel for the deadlocked peace process, and touting his administration’s efforts to lay the economic and legal foundations for a modern state.

“Today we are neither at war nor at peace [with Israel],” Abbas said. “This condition could extend for decades.”

The forum holds its main, annual meeting in Davos. Erdogan said he would not return there after the 2009 dispute with Israeli President Shimon Peres, who had passionately defended a three-week offensive against Hamas militants, launched in reaction to eight years of rocket fire aimed at Israel.

In his speech, Erdogan described Turkey, which has forced the military out of politics but still faces internal challenges such as a Kurdish rebellion, as “an island of stability in a region that is surrounded by major difficulties.”

In introductory remarks, Klaus Schwab, the head of the World Economic Forum, placed special emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at a time when the world is concerned about the possibility another global economic downturn.

“It’s a special pleasure to welcome you today,” he said to Erdogan before turning to the Palestinian question. “We are all very eager to hear from you. Is there any hope that this problem will be solved soon?”

Peres did not attend the Istanbul meeting. Borge Brende, a managing director of the World Economic Forum, said he was pleased to see Israeli business executives and analysts at the meeting, which is aimed at, according to a slogan, “improving the state of the world.”

“When it comes to interaction on head of government, or head of state level between Israel and Turkey, I think this is something that has to be solved and dealt with bilaterally between the two countries,” he said.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on June 06, 2012, on page 6.

via THE DAILY STAR :: Business :: International :: Erdogan keynotes at WEF hosted in Istanbul.