  Erdoğan slams American author for criticizing Turkey February 2, 2012 - 10:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slammed recent statements by renowned U.S. author Paul Auster, who said he refuses to travel to Turkey due to the high number of journalists jailed in the country. “American writer Paul Auster recently gave an interview to a Turkish daily. He said he refuses to travel to Turkey since he finds Turkey anti-democratic. He said he would not travel to Turkey because of jailed journalists. He said he also refuses to go to China. As if we need you! What difference would it make if you came or not? Would Turkey lose prestige?” Erdoğan said on Wednesday, Feb 1, during a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) addressing Auster. He was referring to a recent interview Auster gave to the Hürriyet daily. “I refuse to come to Turkey because of imprisoned journalists and writers. How many are jailed now? Over 100?”Auster said during the interview. “This writer paid his most recent visit to Israel in 2010, as if Israel is a democratic, secular country where human rights are limitless. What an ignorant man you are. Israel is a religious state. Isn’t Israel shelling Gaza?” Erdoğan added. He also criticized Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu for backing Auster. “Birds of a feather flock together,” he commented.   Top stories Azerbaijani authorities report that they have already resettled 3,000 people in the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Stepanakert. On June 10, Azerbaijani President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Turkey on a working visit. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.   Partner news |  Latest news Viva sees growing demand for cloud services  In recent years, medical institutions are starting to make use of Viva’s cloud servicesArmenian, German presidents meet in Berlin Armenian and German Presidents Vahagn Khachaturyan and Frank-Walter Steinmeier met in Berlin.Armenia assumes presidency of Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities The Commission on Television and Radio of Armenia said it expects productive cooperation in various formats.Balance of attached cards in the Idram&IDBank app From now on, users will be able to view the online balances of cards issued by ArCa system banks and attached to the app. |
