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Fri, Feb 10 2012
Greek ire at Obama trip to Turkey
US president Barack Obama
Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The announcement by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton that president Barack Obama is to visit Turkey in the next month or so sparked indignation among Greek media and prompted the country's main opposition party to attack prime minister Costas Karamanlis government's foreign policy as "inept and irresolute".
On March 7 2009, Clinton said that Obama would visit Turkey: "within the next month or so. The exact date will be announced shortly. We are co-ordinating with the Turkish Government to find a date that works for both of our presidents and our governments".
Reaction among most Greek media was typified by a headline in daily Eleftheros: "President Obama rushes to Ankara and provocatively ignores Greece".
Customarily, US presidents who visit Ankara also visit Athens.
Greece's main opposition party, Pasok, said: "Obama's announcement that he plans to only visit Turkey proves once again how inept and irresolute the Greek government is in foreign policy."
On March 10, a calmer view came from Greek paper To Vima: "Why Obama is going to Turkey - Key issues: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Palestinian issue". The newspaper said that Obama, recognising an upgraded role for Turkey in the Middle East and central Asia, would visit Ankara in the coming weeks in an effort to close a series of "burning fronts" such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian issue and for rapprochement with Teheran and Damascus.
According to the White House website, on February 16 2009 Obama had telephone conversations with Turkish president Abdullah Gul and prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Obama "emphasised the importance of the United States' alliance with Turkey and said he looks forward to working with both president Gul and prime minister Erdogan on a broad agenda of mutual strategic interest," the White House said.
"The president emphasised his desire to strengthen US-Turkish relations and to work together effectively in Nato. In each call, he reiterated the need to co-operate to meet the challenges of the 21st century together. In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues, including US support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship, the importance of co-operation in Middle East peace efforts, and the U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," according to the White House statement.
On March 10, Greek daily Kathimerini said that Athens had played down its concern at the news that Obama intended to visit Turkey and not Greece in the near future.
Greek diplomats were stepping up efforts to secure a meeting between Obama and Karamanlis. Media reports said that attempts were being made to set up a meeting between the two at the Nato summit on April 2 to 4.
"Greece has no reason to follow the dead-end logic of out-and-out competition with other countries," government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros was quoted as saying.
On March 7 2009, Clinton said that Obama would visit Turkey: "within the next month or so. The exact date will be announced shortly. We are co-ordinating with the Turkish Government to find a date that works for both of our presidents and our governments".
Reaction among most Greek media was typified by a headline in daily Eleftheros: "President Obama rushes to Ankara and provocatively ignores Greece".
Customarily, US presidents who visit Ankara also visit Athens.
Greece's main opposition party, Pasok, said: "Obama's announcement that he plans to only visit Turkey proves once again how inept and irresolute the Greek government is in foreign policy."
On March 10, a calmer view came from Greek paper To Vima: "Why Obama is going to Turkey - Key issues: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Palestinian issue". The newspaper said that Obama, recognising an upgraded role for Turkey in the Middle East and central Asia, would visit Ankara in the coming weeks in an effort to close a series of "burning fronts" such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian issue and for rapprochement with Teheran and Damascus.
According to the White House website, on February 16 2009 Obama had telephone conversations with Turkish president Abdullah Gul and prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Obama "emphasised the importance of the United States' alliance with Turkey and said he looks forward to working with both president Gul and prime minister Erdogan on a broad agenda of mutual strategic interest," the White House said.
"The president emphasised his desire to strengthen US-Turkish relations and to work together effectively in Nato. In each call, he reiterated the need to co-operate to meet the challenges of the 21st century together. In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues, including US support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship, the importance of co-operation in Middle East peace efforts, and the U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," according to the White House statement.
On March 10, Greek daily Kathimerini said that Athens had played down its concern at the news that Obama intended to visit Turkey and not Greece in the near future.
Greek diplomats were stepping up efforts to secure a meeting between Obama and Karamanlis. Media reports said that attempts were being made to set up a meeting between the two at the Nato summit on April 2 to 4.
"Greece has no reason to follow the dead-end logic of out-and-out competition with other countries," government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros was quoted as saying.
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Why are you lot so worried for? its not a childish game, he obviously thinks that Turkey and North Cyprus are far more important than Greece Of RoC .
andy o: well said, but what do you expect when some Greek communists support Turkey????? in Greece it is trendy for young people to "appear" to be communists, as being centre to right wing is viewed as too conservative and "geeky".
AmericanBelle: agree, nice to see some american people thinking for themselves.
Obama appeared to be one of the "good guys" at first. Then, despite his pre-election speeches on Greek and Cypriot rights, he started "migrating" towards getting Turkey's approval, putting Greece and Cyprus second. He ignored Greece on his way to Turkey, essentially [...]
Read the full comment insulted Cyprus by supporting Turkey's inclusion in the EU. This is what he did and it says a lot about his intentions. Imperialism and downright human rights abuse do not ring a bell now.....just like his brainless predecessor (we all know who that is) he essentially sides with the opressors, only talking about justice to be seen as fair and proper. But actions speak louder than words and his actions are putting second those who had -and are still having every day- their rights being ignored by a big, imperialistic, freedom-crashing bully essentially terrorizing and invading mediterranean countries for centuries. I live abroad and everytime I have a disagreement with a Turk, and I have met a few, they always end up saying "our army is going to invade Greece up to Athens and further". This is how they are brought up, sad but true. And however sad it may be, it cannot be ignored, because ignoring the way things are is stupid to say the least. I do not harbor hate towards anyone, but the fact is that Turkey's insults are not in the past, they go on everyday without provocation, and for this reason I cannot close my eyes and ignore what I see happening. I know Greeks and Cypriots do not want history repeating itself....
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
The indignation among Greek media prompting the country's main opposition party to attack prime minister Costas Karamanlis government's foreign policy as "inept and irresolute" is certainly misplaced. It is the Obama Administration which ignores history and protocol and therefore, is inept and irresolute. Not only is Obama is so irresponsible as to be pitting classes against each other here in the US, but he's also igniting furor between countries worldwide. It's humiliating to actually have to admit that I'm an American.
Why is the Cyprus, Greek territorial, Armenian genocide and Kurd issues not on the agenda? So long as Turkey lets the US plant their nukes pointed at Russia there is are no issues right?
Well were do you expect the apple to fall, under its apple tree.
the greeks should grow up and start doing things themselfs ,who needs the americans anyway.to the greeks , start acting like greeks