| Submit your comments on this article |
| The Grand Turk |
| Iran rejects report on Turkey donation |
| 2010-09-16 |
| [Iran Press] The Iranian Embassy in Ankara has rejected a report by a British daily that Tehran agreed to buy part ownership of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). "The Telegraph, which is affiliated with certain circles, is known to have a record in releasing such fabricated reports and has no objective but to damage the friendly relations between Iran and Turkey," the embassy said in a statement released on Wednesday. "By publishing such a report, the daily sought to spoil the joy of the Turkish people's recent success," the statement added, referring to the constitutional amendments approved in a referendum on Sunday. Iran and Turkey enjoy historical, cultural and religious bonds and such accusations cannot have the slightest impact on two countries' relations, the statement concluded. The London-based Telegraph said in a report released on Tuesday that Turkey had negotiated a deal with Iran, under which Tehran would make a substantial contribution to the campaign funds of Turkey's AKP. The report claimed that Iran had agreed to transfer USD 12 million to the AKP, with further payments of up to USD 25 million to be made later in the year to support Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in next year's general election. Omer Celik deputy chairman of the AKP rejected the report and demanded that the paper issue an apology. "Should they not, we reserve the right to turn to international courts," he said. Turkish voters in a referendum supported Erdogan's proposed amendments to the constitution introduced after the 1980 military coup. Erdogan has called the changes a victory for democracy and a "step in the right direction" towards European Union membership. The opposition, however, has campaigned against the amendments, accusing the ruling AK party of plotting to undo the secular principles of the country. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 "25 million? We gave 'em billions!" |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-09-16 04:05 |