The President of the Turkish-American Business Association Zeynel Abidin Erdem, called us right after listening to Obama's speech about Libya on March 18th.
He said that Obama’s speech presented some dangers for Turkey. Erdem said that the potential danger consisted of “games to exclude Turkey” and that in order to prevent these international plans Prime Minister Erdoğan should immediately go to Libya and talk urgently with Kaddafi as well as the Benghaziadministration.
"With this sudden intervention the Prime Minister will have the opportunity to stop Kaddafi, to establish a dialog between the parties, to ensure a UN peacekeeping force consisting of soldiers from Islamic countries and to become the architect of the future of Libya. Unless this is done immediately, we are facing the risk of being excluded with international plots'' he said.
Erdem presented the following opinions: "For the solution of the problem President Obama is indicating France and the United Kingdom on the hand, and the Arab League and Muslim countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, who has the opportunity to contact both Kaddafi and the Benghazi administartion and ensure a ceasefire is not where it should be. Turkey has to be aware of this danger and intervene immediately. If Prime Minster Erdoğan goes to Libya without delay, then he can prevent these plans.
Sarkozy's jealousy
Erdem, who empahized that "Sarkozy is intending to stand in Turkey’s way” continued: “The fact that Sarkozy is so active in the Middle East as well as in Libya has to be given some thought. Sarkozy’s objective is to prevent Turkey from being active. Sarkozy is jealous of Turkey''. Zeynel Abidin Erdem issued some interesting warnings: "Sarkozy is preventing Turkey’s EU membership. He is jealous of Turkey’s position as a regional power in the Middle East. Sarkozy wants to play an ‘active Middle East role’ but Turkey's new position is an obstacle in his way. Following Washington's tracks, France is adopting the tactic of becoming influential in the region. They are hoping to make themselves accepted as an influential force in the Middle East problems, also planning to benefit from this big market. Whenever France attempts to take action in Iraq, Iran, Siria, Lebanon and Egypt, it comes across Turkey. The French claim that their Middle East policy carries the purpose of peace and stability, but everybody knows that political and financial interests are underlying that policy”.
Source of inspiration, Turkey
Zeynel Abidin Erdem, who underlined the fact that during French President Sarkozy’s five-hour Ankara visit Prime Minister Erdoğan said “Today we are the ones who are able to project European values to the Middle East; we are being a source of inspiration, not you”, continued with his analysis: “Sarkozy is very enthusiastic to undertake an active role in North Africa, politically and well as financially. He is trying to become more influential than Turkey and Italy in Libya. My last word in light of these statements is: Turkey has to prevent France's plans concerning both the Middle East and Libya".