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Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia, has summoned the Ambassador of Turkey Korhan Karakoç due to a speech held by President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the occasion of 104th anniversary of the War of Çanakkale on March 18.
Speaking after his meeting with Karakoç, Morrison said, "Remarks have been made by the Turkish President Erdogan that I consider highly offensive to Australians, and highly reckless in this very sensitive environment.
"The comments also completely misrepresent the very strong position taken by the Australian and New Zealand governments in our response to the extremist attack in New Zealand that was committed by an Australian."
"I do not accept the excuses that have been offered'
Speaking to the press after his meeting with Ambassador Karakoç, PM Morrison also stated that he did not accept the "excuses" offered for the comments. He also added that "all options are on the table" if the government of Turkey does not retract these comments.
'Australia is reviewing its travel advisory for Turkey'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australia has been reviewing its travel advisory for Turkey and added that "people should exercise common sense in relation to their travel plans."
It has been stated that the travel advisory in question might as well apply to Gallipoli, which is visited by thousands of people from Australia and New Zealand each year for the commemoration of World War I on April 25.
'It also violates the pledge etched in stone at Gallipoli'
Further commenting on the remarks of Erdoğan, PM Morrison said that his statements "insult the memory of the Anzacs" and "violate the pledge that is etched in stone at Gallipoli" by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, referring to an inscription at the Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, Çanakkale.
Inscription on the memorial in Anzac Cove in Gallipoli "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side-by-side here in this country of ours ... "You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well." |
What did Erdoğan say?
In his speech on March 18, President and AKP Chair Erdoğan said,
"We are here, we are in Çanakkale. We have been here for a thousand years, and we will be here until the doomsday. You cannot turn İstanbul into Constantinople. Your grandparents came, they saw us here, some of them returned to their countries on their feet, some returned in coffins. We wait for you as well if you come with the same intentions. Have no doubt that we will send you back like your grandparents." (PT/SD)
* Sources: Guardian, Bloomberg
