Turkish PM Erdogan cancels Argentina trip

[demoleft]

Source: bbc

It comes after city officials in Buenos Aires called off an event inaugurating a monument to the revered founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The Turkish foreign ministry blamed "hostile" interference from Armenian pressure groups in Argentina.

...

President Cristina Kirchner is reported to have telephoned Mr Erdogan to express her understanding of his position, but to explain that the central government could not reverse the city government's decision.

Mr Erdogan had been due to meet Ms Kirchner on Monday but will now travel directly to Chile for the next leg of the tour.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10194763.stm

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turkey has a particular skill in isolating itself from the rest of the world.
mr erdogan had better spend this energy in other ways, if he wants to take turkey out of its eurasian limbo.

[Dover]

1. I think, given their geopolitical position, that 'limbo' or autonomy is working for them.

I personally wish Europe would have embraced them regardless of their poor human rights record, etc, but that time may now have passed. And the European Union itself may seem a less attractive alliance for Turkey as it goes through its severe economic stress.

Turkey is in a unique and volatile situation receiving pressure from all sides and from within. It can be a bridge, a kind of 'Switzerland' of neutrality or ground zero for conflict in that region of the world.

What do you think it ought to do?

[Knight Hawk]

2. Change of direction

I think Turkey has decided to look East rather than West.A number of developments have caused this.Firstly ,I think they perceived that they were never going to get into the EU,secondly there is a growing Muslim resurgence in the country,which may tie in with no EU.They were upset about the Israeli fly over of there country when Israel bombed suspected nuclear sites in Syria about two years ago ,also a few months ago the Defense minister of Israel insulted Turkey's diplomat in Israel.Turkey has improved relations with Syria lately and are starting to respect and fear ,perhaps,the emergence of Iran.Turkey is looking East.

[msongs]

3. israel insulted somebody? now there's a shocker lol nt

[davidinalameda]

4. damn armenians

the Turks should have killed them all when they had he chance

:sarcasm: