| The visit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid to famine-stricken Somalia last week, along with his family, several ministers and celebrities, has not only brought the situation of this country to the world’s attention but it has also confirmed Turkey’s strength as a country that cares for the needy. | |
| During his visit, Erdoğan not only promised humanitarian aid for Somalia, where thousands of children have died due to starvation, but also announced some projects that the Turkish government would undertake as well as a number of extensive measures to help Somalia get back on its feet. “This tragedy here is a test for humanity, human values, modernity and modern values. We’re here to tell the world this test must be passed successfully in order to prove that Western values are more than empty rhetoric,” said Erdoğan, calling on the international community to take action for Somalia.
Sabah’s Hasan Celal Güzel thinks Turkey has fulfilled its historic mission and showed once again that it is a big state by extending a helping hand to Somalia and bringing its plight to the attention of the world. “As the Turkish nation, we are proud of the aid campaign for Somalia which is being carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Erdoğan,” says Güzel. Although he praises Turkey’s efforts to help Somalia and other African countries in the wake of disasters, Güzel thinks there is much more that needs to be done by Turkey. “There is still no Turkish embassy in Somalia. Although many developed countries of the world such as Norway and Sweden have ‘African Research Centers,’ Turkey has no such institution. Without losing time, such centers should be established at universities in Ankara and İstanbul, and Turkey’s financial, technical and humanitarian aid to the region should continue,” suggests Güzel. In regard to Turkey’s interest in Somalia and planned projects for the region as announced by Erdoğan, Star’s Mahir Kaynak says Turkey’s aid to Somalia will not be limited to the period of famine and that Turkey will lend support for the solution of the country’s major problems. He says a Westerner taking a look at this situation may think Turkey’s aim in aiding Somalia is politically motivated. Kaynak admits that Turkey’s interest in Somalia will surely have some political consequences but that the motivation which is mobilizeing Turkey to aid the region is just humanitarian concern, not a political motive. |
Sources-todayszaman
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