SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned “reckless” and”highly offensive” comments made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in thewake of the Christchurch massacre, warning he would consider “all options”in reviewing ties.
On the campaign trail, the Turkish leader has used video footage of theterror attack that killed 50 people and painted it as part of an assault onTurkey and Islam.
He has also warned anti-Muslim Australians — like the suspected gunman –would be “sent back in coffins” like their grandfathers at Gallipoli, whichwas the scene of a blood-drenched WWI battle.
More than 8,000 Australians died fighting Turkish forces around the seasidetown, a landmark moment in Australian history.
“Remarks have been made by the Turkish President Erdogan that I considerhighly offensive to Australians and highly reckless in this very sensitiveenvironment,” Morrison said after summoning the Turkish ambassador anddismissing the “excuses” offered.
“I am expecting, and I have asked, for these comments to be clarified, tobe withdrawn,” Morrison, who also faces an election challenge in the comingweeks.
“I’ve asked for these comments, particularly their reporting of themisrepresented position of Australia on Turkish television, thestate-sponsored broadcaster, to be taken down and I expect that to occur.”
He described claims about Australia and New Zealand’s response to the whitesupremacist attack as “vile.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to be drawn on Erdogan’scomments, but said her deputy would be going to Turkey to “set the recordstraight.”
Morrison said Australians travelling to Turkey should exercise common senseand cautioned that travel advice for Turkey was under review.
“I will wait to see what the response is from the Turkish government beforetaking further action, but I can tell you that all options are on thetable,” Morrison said.
In fiery remarks, Morrison accused Erdogan of betraying the promise ofMustafa Kemal Ataturk — the father of the modern state and a reveredfigure in Turkey — to forge peace between the two countries.
A memorial at the battlefield carries Ataturk’s words: “There is nodifference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets… after having lost theirlives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
“Ataturk sought to transform his country into a modern nation and, anembracing nation, and I think these comments are at odds with that spirit,”Morrison said.——————————
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*‘Totally unfair’ *——————————
Erdogan had already been sharply rebuked by New Zealand for his commentsand for using gruesome video shot by the Christchurch mosque gunman as anelection campaign prop.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters protested on Monday thatsuch politicisation of the massacre “imperils the future and safety of theNew Zealand people and our people abroad, and it’s totally unfair”.
Peters announced on Tuesday that he would be travelling to Turkey this weekat Istanbul’s request to attend a special meeting of the Organisation ofIslamic Cooperation.
Three Turkish nationals were wounded in the rampage that killed 50worshippers at two mosques in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurchon Friday.
The accused gunman, a self-avowed white supremacist from Australia,live-streamed much of the attack and spread a manifesto on social mediaclaiming it was a strike against Muslim “invaders”.
The manifesto references Turkey and the minarets of Istanbul’s famed HagiaSophia, now a museum, that was once a church before becoming a mosqueduring the Ottoman empire.
“This is not an isolated event, it is something more organised,” he saidduring a campaign event on Monday in Canakkale in western Turkey.
“They are testing us with the message they are sending us from New Zealand,16,500 km (10,250 miles) from here.”
Erdogan did not project the video at the Monday event.
Peters said he had complained directly to visiting Turkish Vice-PresidentFuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. – APP/AFP
