tr_imparator
28-07-06, 16:53
Lebanese: Turkey Should Lead Peace Force
By Yuksel Durgut, Alper Sancar, By Cihan News Agency, Beirut Ankara
Friday, July 28, 2006
zaman.com
Lebanon’s Ambassador to Ankara, Georges Habib Siam, as well as the Lebanese public want Turkey to lead the likely international peace force in Lebanon.
While thousands of foreigners have left the country following Israeli attacks, Lebanon called the Turkish military to active duty for the establishment of permanent peace in the region.
Some Lebanese residents, who met with a Cihan news reporter, said they want Turkey to lead the possible peace force.
The locals emphasized that the leadership of Muslim-populated Turkey is very important for them. Ebu Ahmad, revealing that they admired Turkish soldiers’ success in Afghanistan, expressed: “Turkey is a Muslim country and has a noticeable prestige in the region. Turkey proved itself in several crises in the region, including Bosnia Herzegovina. Turkish soldiers should head the international troops as soon as possible. Many Lebanese people also agree with me.”
Siam, expressing his satisfaction with the material aid sent and the moral support from Turkey for Lebanon, also stressed the importance of Turkey’s leadership of the possible international peacekeeping force to be stationed in southern Lebanon.
Siam said during Saadet Party (SP) Leader Recai Kutan’s visit to the embassy, Kutan pointed out that Israeli attacks caused $3 billion in damage to the country and highlighted the lack of international support.
Western media is also reporting that lasting peace in the region is not contingent on an only “Christian peacekeeping force,” and highlights the importance of the participation of countries such as Turkey.
Sharing his sentiments on the subject with the British daily Telegraph, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said: “The international force might include others so as to prove that not only Christian people deal with the issue. If Turks are assured, they might be active in the region
Erdogan: Turkey may Send Peacekeepers to Lebanon after Ceasefire Friday, July 28, 2006
zaman.com
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled that Turkey might participate in the international peacekeeping force proposed for southern Lebanon.
Erdogan told CNN International's Larry King that Turkish soldiers could take a role in the prospective international force for the south of Lebanon if a ceasefire was introduced.
"We hope all the relevant parties will take steps to ensure the introduction of a ceasefire. The peace process could commence after the introduction of the ceasefire," Erdogan said. At Wednesday's summit in Rome to discuss the current war in the Lebanon, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, backed only by Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon - saying that a ceasefire could only be implemented when it was likely to be ”sustainable.”
The international community is discussing the establishment of a 15,000-strong international military contingent in southern Lebanon, which would be expected to ensure peace between Israel and Lebanon. The US and Israel are hoping that such a force will disarm the Hezbollah organization.
Speaking on Larry King Live, Erdogan criticized Israel for using disproportionate force in the region. At least 600 civilians have been killed in the Israeli attacks on Lebanon following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.
The foreign Ministers of some European Union countries, pro-American Arab states, the US Secretary of State and UN officials convened in Rome on Wednesday to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon in addition to the issue of a peacekeeping force.
It has been widely reported that Turkey may undertake a leadership role in the proposed United Nations peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon.
Regarding the fight against the PKK in northern Iraq, Erdogan said Turkey, USA and Iraq should cooperate to oppose the PKK.
:wink:
By Yuksel Durgut, Alper Sancar, By Cihan News Agency, Beirut Ankara
Friday, July 28, 2006
zaman.com
Lebanon’s Ambassador to Ankara, Georges Habib Siam, as well as the Lebanese public want Turkey to lead the likely international peace force in Lebanon.
While thousands of foreigners have left the country following Israeli attacks, Lebanon called the Turkish military to active duty for the establishment of permanent peace in the region.
Some Lebanese residents, who met with a Cihan news reporter, said they want Turkey to lead the possible peace force.
The locals emphasized that the leadership of Muslim-populated Turkey is very important for them. Ebu Ahmad, revealing that they admired Turkish soldiers’ success in Afghanistan, expressed: “Turkey is a Muslim country and has a noticeable prestige in the region. Turkey proved itself in several crises in the region, including Bosnia Herzegovina. Turkish soldiers should head the international troops as soon as possible. Many Lebanese people also agree with me.”
Siam, expressing his satisfaction with the material aid sent and the moral support from Turkey for Lebanon, also stressed the importance of Turkey’s leadership of the possible international peacekeeping force to be stationed in southern Lebanon.
Siam said during Saadet Party (SP) Leader Recai Kutan’s visit to the embassy, Kutan pointed out that Israeli attacks caused $3 billion in damage to the country and highlighted the lack of international support.
Western media is also reporting that lasting peace in the region is not contingent on an only “Christian peacekeeping force,” and highlights the importance of the participation of countries such as Turkey.
Sharing his sentiments on the subject with the British daily Telegraph, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said: “The international force might include others so as to prove that not only Christian people deal with the issue. If Turks are assured, they might be active in the region
Erdogan: Turkey may Send Peacekeepers to Lebanon after Ceasefire Friday, July 28, 2006
zaman.com
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled that Turkey might participate in the international peacekeeping force proposed for southern Lebanon.
Erdogan told CNN International's Larry King that Turkish soldiers could take a role in the prospective international force for the south of Lebanon if a ceasefire was introduced.
"We hope all the relevant parties will take steps to ensure the introduction of a ceasefire. The peace process could commence after the introduction of the ceasefire," Erdogan said. At Wednesday's summit in Rome to discuss the current war in the Lebanon, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, backed only by Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon - saying that a ceasefire could only be implemented when it was likely to be ”sustainable.”
The international community is discussing the establishment of a 15,000-strong international military contingent in southern Lebanon, which would be expected to ensure peace between Israel and Lebanon. The US and Israel are hoping that such a force will disarm the Hezbollah organization.
Speaking on Larry King Live, Erdogan criticized Israel for using disproportionate force in the region. At least 600 civilians have been killed in the Israeli attacks on Lebanon following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.
The foreign Ministers of some European Union countries, pro-American Arab states, the US Secretary of State and UN officials convened in Rome on Wednesday to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon in addition to the issue of a peacekeeping force.
It has been widely reported that Turkey may undertake a leadership role in the proposed United Nations peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon.
Regarding the fight against the PKK in northern Iraq, Erdogan said Turkey, USA and Iraq should cooperate to oppose the PKK.
:wink: