Turkish Prime Minister Walks Off Stage Over Gaza (Davos World Economic Forum)

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stalked off the stage at the World Economic Forum, red-faced after verbally sparring with Israeli President Shimon Peres over the fighting in Gaza.

Erdogan was angry after being cut off by a panel moderator after listening to an impassioned monologue by Peres defending Israel's recent offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan declared to Peres: "You are killing people."

A finger-pointing Peres told Erdogan at Thursday's panel that he would have done the same if rockets had been falling on Istanbul.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ih7ekzGzHleDVPZdrK-i3cqG7sowD960VUU80

[bdamomma]

1. oh crap, some tongue lashing there.

both are hypocrites Turkey and Israel, Turkey still does not acknowledge the Armenian genocide.

[Idealism]

4. I don't believe the US does, either

De Lay and the GOP leadership blocked the bill from getting to the floor (the one that recognized it as genocide) for years.

[Alameda]

7. There is a difference between what is happening now

in front of the world, and what is purported to have happened almost 100 years ago.

[ArmeniansForObama]

10. 'purported' ? nice Genocide denialist comment

To educate yourself on the term Genocide, its definition, its meaning please listen to the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g6FjTNvs3I

Raphael Lemkin, creator of the word Genocide, uses the Armenian Genocide as his primary example of Genocide. There is nothing 'purported' or 'alleged' about its meaning.

Incidently, Samantha Power, Obama's adviser, is in the video.

Another note: 1915-1923 does not a 100 year make unless you're living in the years 2015-2023.

[Alameda]

12. Well Armenians for Obama.....

like there is any confusion regarding your objectivity? Let's look at a few facts, OK? And by the way, I've been following this story over 40 years. I used to believe the story...swallowed it hook line and sinker....I've educated myself now. During that time the numbers of victims more than double in that time. What is that?

The time is question was during WWI, a time in which many many millions died...NOT just Armenians. 20 million people died internationally of influenza during that time.....Certain groups of Armenians allied themselves with the Russians British and others, against the Turks. They were fought against and some were deported.....and by the way...how about the many Turkish victims of Armenian terror?

How about the Hunchaks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunchak

or the Dashnaks....or ASALA?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Secret_Army_for_the_Liberation_of_Armenia

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) was a Marxist-Leninist militant organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986. The group also operated under other names such as The Orly Group and the 3 October Organization.<7> The stated intention of ASALA was "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland

Major actions Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives.
Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives.
Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe.".

So...tell me, what is this about? Just what piece of real estate are we talking about? I notice the headwaters of the Tigress and Euphrates seems to fall in the area both the Kurdish separatists and Armenians say is theirs.....how interesting....

And I don't give a damn about who supports the Armenian Genocide recognition, I've done my own research on the matter and have come to my own conclusions.....

[ArmeniansForObama]

15. You're obviously copying and pasting crap from the ATA

I don't have time to read crap from a propagandist Genocide denier.

Did you even look at the video? If you really did your research, you would know who Raphel Lemkin is and what he said when he invented the word Genocide. Saying the Armenian Genocide isn't a Genocide is like saying an Apple isn't an Apple.

[Alameda]

16. what made you conclude I don't know who Lemkin is????

and I don't have to watch your video.....did you look at the links I sent? As I said, I've been following this issue for 40 years and don't need ATA to inform me about events leading up to WWI, or the great Influenza Epidemic....or the terrorism of Hunchak, Dashnak or AALA.....or to inform me of the Armenian alliance with Russia....and yes,


I do know who Lemkin was.....and yes I know what he said when he invented the word Genocide....FWIW I'm more concerned about what is happening NOW, than what maybe happened almost 100 years ago. Is that too hard to understand?

[ArmeniansForObama]

17. If you know who Lemkin is, you wouldn't say 'purported' in front of the word HE invented

Regarding your diversionary tactics, if you are truly interested in what is happening NOW, then look at those who murdered Hrant Dink in Turkey, a conspiracy of young Turkish terrorists and Turkish government officials intent on finishing off the Armenian race in Turkey.

You should also probably ready up on the Ergenekon case as well as what Sibel Edmonds, of Turkish heritage, said about the conspiracy to 'conceil' the Armenian Genocide between Turkey and corrupt US Officials. All of this is happening NOW. In addition, if you know anything about Genocide, you should realize that the last step of Genocide is Denial, the phase we are in NOW.

Good day.

[Alameda]

18. and claims of Genocide have been used to extract revenge

used as a justification for killing inocent people, like:

July 31, 1980 in Turkish Embassy in Athens, Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.

or... * April 28, 1984 in Turkish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Işık Yönder was killed.

ASALA's most criticized attack was on August 7, 1982 in Ankara at Esenboğa International Airport, when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested militant Levon Ekmekjian condemned the ASALA in the aftermath of the attack and appealed to other members to leave and stop the violence. The Esenboga attack also precipitated a split in the group over tactics, between the Nationalists (ASALA-Militant) led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire) led by Monte Melkonian. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members. On August 10, 1982, Artin Penik a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.

Prominent Armenian poet Silva Kaputikyan in 1983 wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<23>

On July 15, 1983, the ASALA carried out another attack at the Orly Airport near Paris, in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<24> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<25> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister Gaston Defferre called cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Secret_Army_for_the_Liberation_of_Armenia#Attacks

[Alameda]

19. so, let me be a good student....

I should not review or question historic facts...you have spoken the magic words.....

"if you know anything about Genocide, you should realize that the last step of Genocide is Denial.........."

Yes, don't question, just shut up and accept your version....don't look at the history...do I have it right?

FYI there was a lot of background work done to destabilize the Ottoman Empire....it took years. In particular Armenians were targeted as an exploitable group to destabilize things. Have you read anything about the work of Gertrude Bell?....the British agent?

Diversionary tactics....look who is talking. I have brought up historic facts that you have not addressed at all.

[ArmeniansForObama]

20. your Genocide denialist crap is old, tired, and boring

You are defending the great freedom loving 'Ottoman Empire' now? LOL give me a break, next you will be saying Jews were targeted in WWII to destabilize Nazi Germany. Let me guess, Armenians owned all the banks in Ottoman Turkey and needed to be taken out? I guess it takes all kinds, even in a Democratic forum.

[Alameda]

21. and you have not addressed ASALA terrorism

....as for the Ottoman Empire...I'm not defending it, but I am stating facts....undeniable historic facts. In fact, you have not addressed any of the facts I brought out. All you do is make derisive comments and call me names....

[ArmeniansForObama]

22. And you have not addressed Turkish terrorism against minorities, look up Hrant Dink

If you want to debate Terrorism be my guest. Who killed Hrant Dink last year? What about Mehmet Ali Ağca who tried to murder the Pope? No Armenian citizen has ever committed a terrorist act.

Now that I've humored you on your side subject, the truth of the Armenian Genocide is not up for debate.

[Alamuti Lotus]

23. ugh.. self-scrubbed

on second thought and after closer reading, not stepping into this mud; I am filthy enough. One exception: Nagorno-Karabakh -- your thoughts?

[ArmeniansForObama]

24. lol, nice segway

Here is some useful reading; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumgait_pogrom

On February 27, 1988, large mobs made up of ethnic Azeris formed into groups that went on to attack and kill Armenians both on the streets and in their apartments; widespread looting and a general lack of concern from police officers allowed the situation to worsen. The violent acts in Sumgait were unprecedented in scope in the Soviet Union and attracted a great deal of attention from the media in the West. The massacre came in light of the Nagorno-Karabakh movement that was gaining traction in the neighboring Armenia SSR.

[Alamuti Lotus]

26. eh, decided after the fact that I couldn't bother

after re-reading the 'white is black' true-believer screeds you were pounding off to the other guy here. I deal with enough of those types in the I/P dungeon downstairs.. And yet I responded, so perhaps I have something to say afterall. Half-hearted, chambered auto-reply: Khojali..

And anyway, I was asking for your thoughts, not some anonymous cut'n'paste.

[ArmeniansForObama]

30. Thanks for expanding...Here are my thoughts...

Sumgait

And one more thought...are you saying the Jewish Holocaust isn't black and white because of what is happening now in Gaza?

[Alameda]

25. ahem excuse me???? No Armenian citizen has ever

committed a terrorist act????

........and those incidents I posted did not happen? You may not like to admit the fact that they are part of the historic record.

As for Hirant Dink, it's an unfortunate incident, however it was a criminal act. Exactly who killed him, I don't know, but it was not an act condoned by the Turkish government. As for Ergenekon, they are being rounded up and prosecuted. Your bringing these matters up is like blaming all US citizens for some crazy anti abortion tactics....IOW they are fringe groups.

May I point out the fact that you posted the fact that the reason Israel is now threatening to recognize the "Armenian Genocide" is political....


July 31, 1980 in Turkish Embassy in Athens, Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.

or... * April 28, 1984 in Turkish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Işık Yönder was killed.

ASALA's most criticized attack was on August 7, 1982 in Ankara at Esenboğa International Airport, when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested militant Levon Ekmekjian condemned the ASALA in the aftermath of the attack and appealed to other members to leave and stop the violence. The Esenboga attack also precipitated a split in the group over tactics, between the Nationalists (ASALA-Militant) led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire) led by Monte Melkonian. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members. On August 10, 1982, Artin Penik a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.

Prominent Armenian poet Silva Kaputikyan in 1983 wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<23>

On July 15, 1983, the ASALA carried out another attack at the Orly Airport near Paris, in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<24> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<25> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister Gaston Defferre called cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Secret_Army_for_the_Liberation_of_Armenia#Attacks

[ArmeniansForObama]

29. You're showing your true anti-Armenian racism, got anything better?

Since you are a true expert in history, you would know Mr. Expert in history, that Armenia didn't gain its independence until September 21, 1991. Your allegations should be directed towards the governments where those people you have a problem with come from and are a CITIZEN of. They do NOT come from Armenia, capish? The fact that you are generalizing on a handful of incidents on a whole race, people, or the Armenian Republic, shows your true hatred towards Armenians. You Genocide deniers will never get anywhere, the world is laughing at you. Thousands of Turkish Intellectuals are asking for forgiveness for the Armenian Genocide and you are still stuck in the past, using old talking points, and new hate towards Armenians.

[Larkspur]

2. Good. I'm glad that Israel is isolating itself

Maybe it will force our allies to pressure us to rein in Israel against the Palestinians.

[ArmeniansForObama]

3. The inconvenient truth of Governments who have lost their moral compass

It seems Turkey and Israel are using Genocide as a 'deal making' commodity:

For further background information, read the following article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harut-sassounian/israel-may-retaliate-agai_b_157354.html

"Israel 's Deputy Foreign Minister, Majalli Whbee angrily
lashed back at the Prime Minister of Turkey. Several Turkish media
outlets quoted Whbee as stating: "Erdogan says that genocide is
taking place in Gaza . We < Israel > will then recognize the Armenian
related events as genocide." Whbee, a member of the Israeli Knesset
and a close confidante of Prime Minister Olmert, issued the following
warning to Turkey : "We, as Israel , hope that Prime Minister
Erdogan's statements will not damage our relations. But, if Turkey
does not behave fairly, this will have its consequences."

While it is unlikely that Israel would reverse its long-standing
refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, it may decide not to
accommodate future Turkish requests to have American Jewish
organizations to lobby against a congressional resolution on the
Armenian Genocide."

[Javaman]

5. Yeah, good thing the Turks don't shell Kurds or anything...

:eyes:

Pot meet kettle.

[Alameda]

8. Turkey shells PKK separatists, not Kurds. Educate yourself.

[Javaman]

9. LOLOLOLOL. I know more about it then you could possibly realize.

I'm not even going to attempt to educate you, you seem to have bought the BS story hook line and sinker.

Good day.

[Alameda]

13. Don't strain yourself patting yourself on the back....you have

no idea of what I know. And it might just be that I know more.....having followed it for over 40 years.

[madrchsod]

6. davos is getting a bit testy..yesterday putin and now this...

[bemildred]

11. Tsk, it could become irrelevant.

Nothing like taking a dump on the floor, economically speaking, to ruin your credibility.
:popcorn::popcorn:

[leftstreet]

14. Yep, seems like they're all in shitty moods

:rofl:

[classysassy]

27. Greed and hate

will destroy this planet.

[Blue_Tires]

28. UPDATE: Turkish PM given hero's welcome

Turkey's PM has received a hero's welcome on his return to Istanbul after he stormed out of a debate about Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan had reacted angrily when he was refused the chance to respond to Israeli President Shimon Peres' defence of the operation

Thousands of people turned out in the capital to greet Mr Erdogan's plane.

He told them Mr Peres' language and tone had been unacceptable, so he acted to stand up for Turkish honour.

"I only know that I have to protect the honour of Turkey and Turkish people," said Mr Erdogan.

"I am not a chief of a tribe. I am the prime minister of Turkey. I have to do what I have to do."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/davos/7859815.stm

[obsteel]

31. Gaza

To Armenians, if you want peace first you have to learn to stop spitting or blaming other side's history and parents. Maybe you want to start saying why any Turkish people don't live in Armenia, but many (70000, 2% of all Armenians in Armenia) Armenians live in Turkey. Please don't say that they live in their home soil, most of them (50000) live in Istanbul today, and even they have churches with a dangling bell on them, but you can't show a single mosque with a yelling imam on it in any European country. If you have enough power and want to change borders, just declare war clearly and say hello to a new world war. But if you really want peace just stop telling bullshit stories.

Secondly, this event is all about Gaza, there is a hot war there, happening just right now. Children are dying, injuring there just when you are reading these lines. But all you think is yourself, you don't really care about those children. Stop being so selfish and do something real for peace, or at least try to support people working for peace.

Finally, congratulations to Mr.Erdogan for protesting those child killers and their supporters.