^{Polish Foreign Minister Prof. Stefan Meller in Turkey:}

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Poland offers mediation role between Turkey, Armenia

Ayhan Simsek - The New Anatolian / Ankara



Poland recently offered Ankara its services to act as a mediator between Turkey and Armenia to overcome their differences over genocide claims and to normalize relations, The New Anatolian learned yesterday.

Diplomats said that Warsaw's proposals include the Polish government acting as a mediator between the Turkish and Armenian governments, organizing meetings and conferences between Polish, Turkish and Armenian scholars and further sharing Polish experience in conflict resolution and reconciliation with neighbors.

European Union member Poland is also an important ally to Turkey in NATO. The Polish Parliament's decision in April last year to adopt a resolution backing the Armenian claims of genocide triggered a sharp response from Ankara at the time. Later statements by Polish government officials disassociating themselves from the resolution and further steps by the two countries prioritizing their common foreign policy goals brought relations back to an even keel. Poland has become one of the main supporters of Turkey's EU accession process, and Turkey has offered humanitarian assistance as well as transportation to Polish troops in Iraq.

According to diplomats, Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller, during his visit to Ankara two weeks ago, conveyed to his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul a list of proposals including mediation by Poland aimed at a normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Foreign Minister Gul reportedly responded positively to Meller's ideas and stressed that Turkey is willing to overcome differences over genocide claims and normalize its relations with Armenia. Gul further said that Ankara's suggestions so far have not received positive response from Yerevan but also added that he is willing to go forward with the Polish proposals if they will facilitate proper grounds for the normalization of relations with Armenia.

Diplomatic sources told TNA yesterday that due to talks of a new coalition government in Poland and the foreign minister handing in his resignation, Ankara now waits for the new government before having more detailed talks on the issue.


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Meller: Turkey's membership will bring positive added value to EU

The New Anatolian / Ankara



After pledging to further develop and strengthen bilateral ties with Turkey, visiting Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller yesterday said, "Turkey's membership will bring a positive, added value to the European Union."

Meller made the remarks at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul following a meeting in Ankara where they

Expressing his country's support for the EU enlargement process, Meller said, "The members of the bloc expect new political and cultural values from possible future members." In accordance with this goal, besides Turkey's contributions to the EU, the members expect Turkish membership will bring with it a positive, added value since the country has an important position in the region.

"I believe that the criteria applied to Turkey should be the same as the EU criteria applied to other candidate states," said the Polish foreign minister while at the same time underlining the importance of a complete fulfillment of obligations for Turkey to become a member of the bloc.

'Polish stance on Armenia shouldn't affect relations with Turkey'

Meller stated that Poland's positive stance towards the Armenians shouldn't negatively affect relations with Turkey, referring to the Polish Parliament's decision taken in favor of the Armenians over the controversial "genocide" claims.

The visiting foreign minister denied the recognition of Armenian genocide claims by the Polish Parliament, saying, "The Parliament only expressed its view which reflected the atmosphere of that era."

Meller also stated that Poland used to be composed of different nations up until the end of 18th century, adding that many Armenian-origin bureaucrats, soldiers and artists still live in Poland.

Gul praises strengthening of ties between Turkey-Poland

Foreign Minister Gul, for his part, praised the development and deepening of bilateral relations especially in the areas of trade, economy, the defense industry and culture, citing 600 years of ties between Turkey and Poland.

"The countries are together under NATO's umbrella and I believe that Polish support for Turkey's EU membership will continue," Gul said.

Meller said that Turkey and Poland are friends and allies in NATO, adding that his country will never forget Turkey's support during Poland's NATO membership process.

The polish foreign minister also praised the high level of investment from Turkish businessmen in his country and called on Turkey to cooperate in joint investment projects in third countries.

Gul: No Turkish mediation in Iranian nuke standoff right now

Asked whether a Turkish official will be asked to be responsible for bringing Iranian and Western officials towards a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear activities, Gul stated that such a role isn't on Ankara's agenda.

Gul also called on all concerned states to contribute to efforts to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue and to work towards easing the standoff.


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Meller proposes commission into Armenian genocide claims

The New Anatolian / Ankara



Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller late Thursday suggested the establishment of a commission composed of Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians to look into the Armenian genocide claims.

Meller said that he proposed that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul undertake a goodwill mission in order to bring together Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians.

The Polish foreign minister's proposal came during his meeting with Turkish acting Parliament Speaker Sadik Yakut in Ankara in response to Yakut's criticism of the Polish Parliament's recognition of the Armenian claims of genocide.

"We felt very disappointed about the Polish Parliament's decision taken in April 2005 about the Armenian genocide claims," Yakut said. "This distressing development against the Turkish nation emerged after Armenia's unilateral propaganda, which distorts the realities. I believe that Poland will not allow the initiatives of marginal Armenian groups to go against the relations of the two countries. I believe such groups will not be supported by the Polish Parliament."

In a move to justify the actions of the Polish Parliament, Meller recalled that a number of Polish citizens with Armenian origin have carried out significant duties in his country and therefore Poland considers the decision a kind of moral compensation for Armenian suffering and pain stemming from the 1915 events.

Stressing that the decision did not have any binding impact on Poland's foreign policy, Meller said, "The decision doesn't reflect the view of the government and it wasn't taken against Turkey."

Meller: I apologize to Muslims for cartoon crisis

The visiting Polish foreign minister apologized to the Muslim world for the crisis earlier this year over the publication of the Prophet Muhammed cartoons in various European newspapers.

The Polish apology came following Yakut's criticism, saying, "The cartoon crisis first emerged because of Danish behavior that again brought up the clash of civilizations idea. Those who used freedom of expression irresponsibly have deeply depressed billions of Muslims. We believe that Poland's exerting efforts to end anti-Islamic winds by using its influence within the European Union will bring important consequences."


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ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Reflections                                   


ŞEFİK KAHRAMANKAPTAN
Whenever the issue is piano, Frederick Chopin immediately comes to mind. He is the greatest piano composer ever. Chopin's name is associated with piano. In his short life of 39 years, Chopin composed hundreds of piano pieces reflecting the Polish culture and spirit, and his nation's sufferings, his own loves, longings and state of mind. Chopin and Poland strongly complement each other.

Chopin's music is highly praised in Turkey as well. The funeral march we are used to hearing in its brass band adaptation since childhood is the third movement of Chopin's "Sonata in B-flat minor." Turkish musicians have made important contributions to Chopin's music becoming an enduring one. For instance, our “wondrous pianist” İdil Biret has made a recording of the entire Chopin collection, and these albums, released by the Naxos Record Company, have become the Chopin recordings that are sold the most all over the world. Gülsin Onay has also made recordings of Chopin.

Next year the recordings of Chopin's piano concertos No. 1 and 2 by Emre Şahin, accompanied by the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra under the baton of İbrahim Yazıcı, will also take their places among the Chopin albums throughout the world. A German company, CPO, has decided to release these recordings.

Last week Emre Şen performed a very special Chopin recital. Among the listeners of the recital that took place at the residence of Professor İhsan Doğramacı were Polish Foreign Minister Professor Stefan Meller and his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül. The Polish members of the audience were astounded by Şen's brilliant interpretation of Chopin, his superior technique and his musicality.

The occasion for this recital and the dinner that followed, hosted by Doğramacı, was Chopin himself. A Turkey Chopin Center was founded at Bilkent University's Faculty of Music and Performing Arts during the term of its former dean, Professor Ersin Onay, who was also a great lover and performer of Chopin. An International Chopin Piano Competition was held at the center in 1999, where some of the recordings were later released in CD format. Under the faculty's current dean, Işın Metin, the Chopin-based activities are still continuing. Among them are the head of the piano department Emre Şen's recordings, which are set to be released on CD, and the UNICEF concerts, which will feature Chopin pieces.

And thanks to all these events, the Turkey Chopin Center was accredited a member of the Warsaw-based International Federation of Chopin Societies. As Polish Ambassador Grzegorz Michalski expressed his appreciation to Şen with a bouquet of flowers and to Professor Doğramacı with a speech he made in Turkish, he also recounted a memory of his. During his previous term in Ankara, Michalski asked the then Higher Education Board (YÖK) President Doğramacı for the improvement of Polish philology departments at Turkish universities. Doğramacı responded to this request in just half an hour, saying that a new department on Polish philology was to be opened at one of the universities in Istanbul.

Michalski also expressed his appreciation to Associate Professor Neşe Taluy and Dr. Osman Fırat, both of whom are lecturers at the Ankara University Language, History and Geography Faculty's Department of Polish Language and Literature. Meller, meanwhile, expressed his country's gratitude with plaques of appreciation.

This is the third time Michalski is serving in Ankara. He first came when he was a young diplomat, and his child was also born here. In his second post here he was appointed counselor, and in this third time he is in Ankara as his country's ambassador. Thus he does not refrain from making all his speeches in Turkish.

The friendship, peace and the support Turkey gave during Poland's independence dominates the history of mutual relations between Turkey and Poland, not enmity and conflict. Famous Turkish poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı being appointed the first ambassador of the Turkish Republic in Warsaw highlights the importance the two countries put on cultural solidarity. Just like the Poles who worked at the Ottoman palace and in various state institutions during the Ottoman period, there were many Polish people who served in educational and technical institutions of the Turkish Republic as well. There is no doubt that this common history has created a mutual friendship among the two nations.

Today, Bilkent University is continuing the tradition of having Polish scientists and artists serve in Turkey. Rector Ali Doğramacı says there are 322 foreign lecturers at Bilkent University and that Polish lecturers constitute a significant part of this group. This means, approximately 30 percent of lecturers at Bilkent University are from foreign countries.

Dean Işın Metin told me that, apart from famous jazz musician Janusz Szprot, music theory lecturer Maria Nowotna was also working at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts. Famous graphic artist and painter Marek Brozozowski has been working at the Fine Arts Faculty for years. Brozozowski and Szprot were among the guests at the reception.

Gül said an “empty chair” statue to be erected in Poland symbolizing Turkish-Polish friendship was on the agenda. The symbolic meaning of the “empty chair” comes from this anecdote: The Ottoman sultan, during a meeting of envoys, asks where the Polish envoy is. Polish territory was then occupied by the Russians. After he gets the answer, “He is on his way,” the sultan keeps an empty chair for the envoy, thus showing all the envoys in attendance that he does not approve of the invasion of Poland.

It is possible to say that the Polish foreign minister felt at home in Doğramacı's residence. He was very glad to see that the menu was inserted in UNICEF cards. Having listened to a magnificent Chopin recital, being welcomed warmly and hearing the meaningful speech by 91-year-old Doğramacı, the minister, when it was time to depart, kissed the host three times on his cheeks to show his gratitude for the hospitality shown to him.

It is likely that the positive effects of music in the relations of the two countries will gradually increase. Maestros such as Taduezs Strugala and Marek Pijarowski, who come to Turkey a few times a year to contribute in Turkish orchestras, and pianists and instrumentalists such as Jablonski, who come to Turkey as soloists, keep the relations between the two countries warm. The Polish Embassy in Ankara occasionally hosts Turkish musicians. The latest example of this was when Mrs. Michalski hosted a piano recital, sponsored by the Anatolia Modern Education Foundation (ANAÇEV). Pianist Yeşim Gökalp and soprano Hülya Kazan, who kindly agree to take part in all events held by ANAÇEV, performed a recital at the historic embassy, one of the first constructed in Ankara. Of course it is unnecessary to say what was performed on the piano that day, because the answer is quite clear: Chopin!

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ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Friday, April 14, 2006

Expressing strong support for Turkey's European Union membership drive, Poland's visiting foreign minister said that Turkey would bring “value-added optimism” to the bloc.

Speaking at a joint press conference following talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, at the historical Ankara Palace, Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller described his country's support for Turkey's EU bid as continuous and constant support.

Meller voiced Poland's stance favoring further enlargement and said newcomer countries were expected to bring “added value” concerning politics, culture and civilization.

Within this framework, in addition to its other contributions to the bloc, Turkey will bring “value-added optimism to the EU” due to its regional importance, Meller said.

Poland, a former Soviet Republic, joined the EU in 2004 with nine other countries as part of the bloc's last major enlargement wave.

Turkey and Poland have historical ties dating back centuries. The first economic agreement between Poland and the Ottoman Empire was signed in 1489 by Sultan Beyazıt II. That country was also the first beneficiary of a trade alliance with the Turkish Republic after the founding of the new state in 1923.

Referring to the centuries-old relations between the two nations, Gül expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to further improve in commerce, economy, culture and the defense industry.

Poland and Turkey are also NATO allies as Poland joined NATO in 1999.

Meller said his country would not forget the strong support from Turkey for Poland's NATO entry and promised that more high-level visits between the two countries would take place soon.

Praising jobs created by the Turkish business sector in his country, the minister said Turkey and Poland could together invest in third countries in the future.



‘Polish parliament's Armenian resolution is an expression of opinion':

When he was reminded of the fact that the Polish Parliament is one of several European parliaments that have passed resolutions backing Armenian genocide claims, which are categorically denied by Turkey, Meller said the resolution didn't amount to a decision recognizing allegations of genocide against Armenians.

The resolution, however, should be considered an expression of opinion, he said, and added that the resolution actually reflected the atmosphere in Poland regarding the Armenian issue.

Historically, Poland has good relations with Armenians since there were many bureaucrats, officers and artists of Armenian origin in Poland when the country was a multi-national state until the late 18th century, he noted.

Nevertheless, these relations should not be reflected in Poland's foreign policy, he also said.

None of the governments of EU countries -- except France -- has endorsed any decision recognizing allegations of genocide against Armenians.

The visiting minister also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday and is today scheduled to travel to Istanbul to visit historic places there before departing for Poland.