DOSSIER: The UN plays the card of mulitcultural dialogue | 16/01/2008

Almost 350 representatives of 80 countries are taking part in the first Alliance of Civilisations forum in Madrid. Initiated by Spain and supported by Turkey and the UN, this initiative is aimed to show that there are concrete ways that the Islamic world can collaborate with the West.

 

Alliance of Civilizations aims to celebrate diversity by Mahmood Ayub

Several world leaders gathered in Madrid this week to address an increasingly critical global issue: managing coexistence between cultures.

Turkey and Spain: A strategic alliance? by EDUARD SOLER I LECHA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Spain this month represents further proof of the excellent relations that exist between Spain and Turkey.

L’Alliance des civilisations “contre intolérance et radicalisme”

Agence France Presse

15 janvier 2008, Madrid

Le premier forum de l’Alliance des civilisations a débuté mardi à Madrid avec l’objectif de lutter contre “l’intolérance, le radicalisme et le fondamentalisme”, a déclaré dans un discours d’ouverture le chef de gouvernement espagnol José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Alliance seeks to bridge differences

The world is in urgent need of dialogue between Western and Muslim countries as a way to combat terrorism, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday as he opened an international

Lifting the headscarf ban, promoting Turkishness

The prime minister has been answering questions on a range of issues facing Turkey, prior to his attendance at the launch of a UN forum aimed at combating fear and suspicion between different

Turkey through German eyes

On January 15th the first World forum for the Alliance of Civilizations is due to be held. The aim of this summit, launched also by the moderate islamist Turkish Prime minister, Erdogan, is to promote the the mutual undertanding between different cultures

 

PACE president to discuss reforms in Turkey

René van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), arrived in the Turkish capital yesterday for an official four-day visit during which he will meet with senior Turkish leaders, including President Abdullah Gül and Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan."

Turkish Premier Rules Out Kurdish Recognition in New Constitution

The Cyprus problem: Reality check; after all it is 2008 Ioannis KARALIS

Van der Linden calls for action on 301, minority rights

Turkish premier pushes for EU entry during visit to Spain : Europe World

HISTORICAL POSSIBILITY TO REGULATE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS - Politics - Panorama | Armenian news

JTW News - Cyprus: The complete history from 1960 to 1974 (1-8)

Istanbul to train "cultural ambassadors" ahead of 2010 - Hürriyet

In preparation for the tourism spike that authorities hope will accompany Istanbul's 2010 run as the European Union's designated cultural capital, the city has implemented a new educational program aimed at training young residents as unofficial ambassadors, announced Greater Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş."

EU-Turkey Long Lasting Relations - ampliacion ue

By Lili Deyanova
University of Bon - Germany

The EU-Turkey relationship and the future Turkish membership is probably one of the most debated topics in the Union. People associate it with different fears, personal or more immediate ones connected with job loss, terrorism as well as other cultural concerns. The different religion and culture is very frequently used as an obstacle to Turkish accession."

Turkish Flag Law needs to be revised without delay

Cengiz AKTAR

Quand la Turquie est effacée de l’Europe

Les Echos (France), Mercredi 16 janvier 2008

Marco Cappato, Flavien Deltort et Marco Pannella

Nombreux sont ceux qui ne souhaitent pas voir entrer la Turquie dans l’Union européenne. Ce voeu est désormais matérialisé sur les nouvelles pièces d’euros déjà disponibles en Slovénie, à Malte et à Chypre. Sur décision de l’Eurogroupe, la Turquie a été effacée de la nouvelle face commune de l’euro.

Debate over the constitution

By ERGUN BABAHAN, SABAH

We have witnessed a series of trials which demonstrated how criminals are generally tried for murder in Turkey.

But all terrorists are Muslims!

By SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI, ZAMAN

At a conference on intolerance and discrimination against Muslims organized by a nongovernmental organization commonly known as the Young Patriots (COJEP) this week, participants frequently stressed that the Western media’s profuse use of phrases that present all Muslims as terrorists has disappointed the majority of Muslims who condemn all massacres conducted in the name of Islam and has created prejudice among those living in the West.

Sarkozy -- Merkel summit may serve as turning point

By SEMİH İDİZ, MİLLİYET

The meeting that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will have with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has the potential of being a turning point in our relations with the EU.