17 Aug 2008
Alan
This is how Ahmadinejad sidestepped a question on why he was not visiting Ataturk's mausoleum:
Ahmadinejad Refuses to Visit Ataturk's Tomb
NTV: "It is tradition that heads of states who visit Turkey visit Ankara the capital and Anitkabir [Ataturk's mausoleum]. You will come to Istanbul and Anitkabir is not in your program. Is there any special reason why you would not visit Anitkabir? The Turkish public is waiting to hear your reply on this matter."
Ahmadinejad: "This visit is a working visit and Istanbul is designated for it. Turkish authorities at this time are in Istanbul and the timing was done with that in mind. We, the Iranian people, love the Turkish people, and I am certain that the Turkish people love the Iranian people very much."
CNNTurk: "I want to stay on this subject a little more. You are talking about the warmth and love between Iranian and Turkish peoples. Why is it that you would not make a short, a half-day visit [in Ankara] and become the first [Iranian] leader to visit Anitkabir, to show respect to Ataturk's resting place? Wouldn't this draw the two countries even closer? And also I am curious to learn. What does Mustafa Kemal Ataturk mean for you?"
Ahmadinejad: "We have programmed this earlier. Turkey is a big country and it has a great people. There are many places a president should go to and visit. But our visit is a working visit, we will have intense work to do, and Istanbul was offered. We are coming to you as guests."
CNNTurk: "So are you saying that had this been not a working visit and you had come to Ankara, you would visit Anitkabir?"
Ahmadinejad: "You keep insisting on this, but these are side issues and not important ones. Do not forget that the main purpose of this visit is talks, analyses, and the pursuit for the rights of our two peoples. We will spend all our time on this."
(Source: MEMRI).
http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD202508
18 Aug 2008
Johnny
Yes, Iran's president sidesteps the issue.
That said, I doubt very, VERY much if Turkey's Islamist leaders are putting any pressure whatsoever on Ahmadinejad to visit Attaurks memorial.
Look, only two months ago during a visit to Turkey, The Queeen was forced to wear islamic clothing and then sit in a mosque while some 'moderate' Turkish Imam screamed prayers and yelled of Islam's rabid perfection.
It would seem then that since Turkey's leaders force visiting western dignitaries to listen to BELIEVE-IT-OR-ELSE! ISLAMISTseromons, they really aren't interested in anything connecterd to Attaturk, and only invoke the man's name for the consumption of gullible ( and greedy! ) westerners.
Turkey is now PART OF THE PROBLEME.
