Turkey's Main Opposition Uneasy With Foreign Policy

Turkey's main opposition leader criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party's foreign policy, saying it is leading Turkey into isolation in the world. 



Republican People's Party Leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said at a party group meeting on Tuesday that Turkey had previously a say in the world, and was an exemplary country, but not now. 



Kilicdaroglu refered to the current Prime Minister Erdogan, the ruling Justice and Development Party's presidential candidate, who he claims has not done enough for the Palestinian cause.



"The government just talks and foreign policy cannot be conducted only by words." 



Kilicdaroglu blamed Erdogan and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for the bloodshed in the Middle East and advised them to cut their alleged military relations with Israel.



On Thursday night, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled Palestinian territory.



Kilicdaroglu said, "It is inevitable, if you keep on with this foreign policy."



The Palestinian death toll from Israel's ongoing offensive against the Gaza Strip has risen to 612 following fresh Israeli attacks on the blockaded enclave on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



Israel's military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



"If Turkey wants to get rid of the Middle Eastern quagmire, and to become a well-esteemed and respected country again, Turkey should vote in favor of Ihsanoglu during the upcoming presidential elections," said Kilicdaroglu.



The Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party have chosen the 71-year-old Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as their candidate for the elections - the first in Turkey where the president will be chosen by popular vote.



Kilicdaroglu emphasized that Ihsanoglu can give Turkey a chance to solve the problems in the Middle East, since he is the former head of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation - the 57-member bloc of Muslim countries. 



Turkish citizens go to the polls on 10 August to vote for the twelfth president of the Republic of Turkey. The presidential post had previously been elected by assembly lawmakers. 



The public campaign for the position will continue up until August 9. Should none of the candidates take more than 50 per cent of the votes, a second round will take place on 24 August.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara