POLITICS > Albania refused to bow down to PM’s pressure on Palestine vote: Report

ISTANBUL

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tried but failed to convince Albania to abandon plans to abstain on a vote to upgrade Palestine’s status at the United Nations and vote “yes” instead, according to daily Hürriyet.

Erdoğan told reporters earlier that he had personally called the leader of an unnamed country to discuss their planned abstention vote despite their previously positive attitude.

Erdoğan then said the world “heavily consisted of cowards."

Albania, the country Erdoğan reportedly targeted his criticism at, changed its vote from “no” to an abstention following heavy pressure from Ankara, but refused to vote “yes,” Hürriyet reported.

Erdoğan reportedly pressured Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berişa, saying an abstention "means a vote of no."

"I told them that this would upset the bilateral relations we have, and that it would upset us too," Erdoğan said.

December/02/2012

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Alban Kcomment

12/5/2012 1:12:23 PM

Dear Erdogan! Don't forget that you are the PM of Albania's best friend but not the Albanian PM. When you're placing a request you should keep in mind that. We sympathize palestinians sacrifice but: 1 - Albania recognized Palestinian state and has already diplomatic relation. Vice versa Palestinian state hasn't recognized the Rep. of Kosova. 2 - Your request is not about Turkey but about a third party. 3 - You and our PM have the duty to strength a friendship based in reciprocity and RESPECT.

albanian alb

12/3/2012 11:04:52 AM

Albania supports palestinian people and Palestine.But Erdogan shoulkd be ashamed to call such names Albania and to offend albanians.From now on he will never get the support from albanians because we don't deserve to be called that way.He insulted albanians for 100 years anniversary of independence.Erdogan always gets more friendly with those who he SHOULDN"T.Comes to balkans and makes friends with those who hate albanians,turks and muslims in general

Dr Paul -Palok Camaj

12/3/2012 2:49:00 AM

Albania is not a muslim country. It is a nation of thre religions: christian orthodox, catholics and orthodox. In Europe, religion does not an element of a nation. Language is. I do not know whats the klegacy of Erdogan to ask Albania to vote for Palestine. We are an independent and sovereign country. Not the province of Ottoman Empire. We are the land of Skenderbeg, Mather Theresa and Ibrahim Rugova.

Alb Gizmo

12/2/2012 11:35:12 PM

Worst message toward relations between our countries Mr.Erdogan, our foreign policy is done in Tirana, not in Ankara! If you consider yourself a friend you should undestand that albania has a national interest to abstain the voting. since we never interfere with turkey's national interests,you should do the same and not interfere with ours. I hope my government treats this as a diplomatic incident, and requests an apologize for calling us cowards. A disappointed Albanian who always supported TR

turkic voice

12/2/2012 11:17:40 PM

@Zareh Sahakian you asked “Isn't this an unacceptable political interference in another country's affairs?” what’s you thoughts on Americas policy of aid to countries that don’t recognize Palestine, would you call that unacceptable interference?

mr who

12/2/2012 11:14:07 PM

Albania is an independent nation that does what it wills and that’s how good close friendships are initiated. Europe has a huge Jewish intertwined ,culturally and economically Diaspora .

turkic voice

12/2/2012 10:57:46 PM

Dear PM, this means that the ties and support of the Albanian government needs to be strengthened, move in the right direction so they can later make the right vote.

pearl jam

12/2/2012 9:17:02 PM

all countries play the delicate game of give and take-its called diplomacy. diplomacy is an established art form with specific protocol. it has a format, if you will, for countries to follow. countries will always do what is in their best interest. "refusing to bow," is not a phrase in the language of diplomacy. "could not persuade," make the same point without the harshness implied in the articles heading. Mr. PM and his cohorts are off the charts when it comes to the language of diplomacy.

edward rooking

12/2/2012 9:00:32 PM

May the Albanians fear the wrath of The Chosen One!

albanian alb

12/2/2012 7:13:19 PM

Really? If mr.Erdogan really wants to help to strength cooperations and ties between eachother he should first help albanians in arab countries to recognize Kosovo.Why Egypt,Lebanon,Indonesia,Lybia etc. don't recognize Kosovo (Do they have a reason for not recognizing a 93% muslim country, logically they're out of sense).Also when mr.Erdogan visits albanian territories he should pay more attention and help albanians who live outside Albania's border.

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