Posted on 05/13/2008 2:14:00 PM PDT by forkinsocket
The Queen has called the founder of modern-day Turkey "one of the greatest figures of modern history" during a visit to his mausoleum in Ankara.
She laid a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as she and Prince Philip began a four-day state visit to the secular Muslim country.
In a visitor's book she wrote it was an "honour" to pay her respects to "a much valued friend of the United Kingdom".
It is the royal couple's first visit to Turkey since 1971.
Religious symbols
They are also due to attend a state banquet hosted by President Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa at the president's palace.
Mrs Gul is likely to wear an Islamic headscarf despite a ban on them in public and governmental buildings.
Turkey's staunchly secular military is deeply opposed to headscarves being worn, while the ruling party, which has Islamic roots, believes religious symbols should be more openly accepted.
Later in the trip, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will visit the western city of Bursa and will tour a school in Istanbul which has links with UK students.
The royal visit highlights the importance of Britain's relationship with Turkey.
Britain is a strong supporter of Turkey's attempts to join the EU. The country became an official candidate in 1999 and entered formal accession negotiations in 2005.
It is seen as a key ally in the fight against terrorism. In recent years it has also led the International Security Assistance Force fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Turkey last November.
The Middle East badly needs more leaders like Ataturk.
He was the architect of the Armenian Genocide.
Are you sure? I never heard anything about that, but I suppose it’s possible.
But he appreciated the importance of a secular state and created one that has survived to this day in a part of the world where that is incredibly rare.
Did not the mass starvation, executions & deportations take place under the Ottoman Sultan? I’m by no means familiar with the Armenian Genocide, but Kemal Attaturk was only a division commander at the initial battle of Gallipoli. I would think he was far too junior & in the wrong geographic location to have assisted his Ottoman bosses.
I find it curious, however, that the modern Turkish government has never been able to just blame the Sultan. Instead they concoct all manner of evasions & quasi-justifications for the actions taken against the Armenians. Probably not going to happen now that the Turkish PM is an Islamist.
Years ago, I read a biography of Attaturk and don’t recall that he was involved in the Armenian genocide. I just did a quick review of the relevant topics on wikipedia and it doesn’t look like he was involved.
Britain is a strong supporter of Turkey's attempts to join the EU.
The twilight of the Emerald Isle shall soon arrive...
Nahh. Although he may have killed a few after coming to power. He was too busy fighting on the other side of the country during most of the massacres.
Who’s talking about Ireland?
Quite correct: I meant to write ‘sceptred isle’. I hate it when that happens...
Are you sure? I never heard anything about that, but I suppose it’s possible.
Not really possible. The Armenaian Genocide began in 1915.
From 1915 to 1918 Mustafa Kemal was serving in Gallipoli, Thrace, and the Caucasus front
Really? Using the Turk aganist Britain's continental enemies has been Foreign Office policy for two centuries. (Apart from the period caused by Churchill's mistake in 1914)
Britain’s erstwhile continental enemies are now Britain’s fellow European Unioners. The Turk, as you put it, will be exerting a corrosive influence on the entire EU, including Britain. Doesn’t seem prudent.
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