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SHARM EL-SHEIKH - ''Turkey is working on nuclear energy to have a competitive industry and economy. We are conducting meetings with the United States, Canada, Britain and Germany on the issue. We can not accept nuclear energy when it is used as weapons of mass destruction. However, we must state that no one can interfere when nuclear energy is used for peaceful means,'' said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister, in Sharm el-Sheikh today.
Erdogan participated in a meeting titled ''Strengthening Cooperation and Dialogue'' and organized as part of the World Economic Forum's Middle East Meeting on Sunday.
In a speech delivered at the meeting, Erdogan stressed that dialogue is not the end. ''Dialogue is rather the beginning. What is important is to go beyond dialogue and establish alliance. In order to facilitate alliance, we need dialogue,'' told Erdogan.
PM Erdogan noted that, when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, Turkey had serious dialogue problems with its neighbors. ''Turkey today has excellent relations with its neighbors. We have adopted a policy to make friends, not enemies,'' commented Erdogan.
Asked about how Turkey can help in dialogue with Iran, Erdogan replied that he talked to the Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad twice in the past month. ''We believe in a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program. Political dialogue is essential in the case of Iran,'' expressed Erdogan.
In response to a question on Syria, Erdogan reiterated that dialogue between the people and government of Syria has increased recently. ''Women's movement is rapidly developing in Syria,'' stated Erdogan.
''After the September 11th attacks, Islam has began to be associated with terrorism. Islam itself means 'peace'. Associating terror with a religion of peace, Islam, has caused uneasiness and deep sorrow in the Muslim World. Just as anti-Semitism is regarded as a crime against humanity, so should anti-Islamism be viewed as a crime against all of humanity. International bodies and organizations have an obligation to eradicate anti-Islamism,'' added Erdogan.
