Davutoğlu tells PBS's Charlie Rose Turkey wants to play global role in all fields

In an interview with Charlie Rose of PBS, Davutoğlu said Turkey is highly active in many regions, including the Balkans, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Africa and that in all these regions Turkey attempts to contribute to a political dialogue, mutual economic interdependence and cultural interaction, Davutoğlu underlined.

Turkey is touted as a model for post-revolution Arab countries with its vibrant economy, functioning democracy and increasingly growing diplomatic leverage in the region. Davutoğlu said Turkey does not wish to impose any of its experiences on any country, but he said friendly countries in the region “could take lessons from Turkey's experiences.” Davutoğlu said Turkey has a principled policy, referring to unceasing protests sweeping across the Arab world. “Turkey stands by the legal rights and demands of those peoples and peaceful transformation,” Davutoğlu underlined.

He boasted of Turkey's multi-regional character and said an official or the foreign minister of Turkey can have a very friendly meeting in Tehran, then go to Cairo as if he was an Egyptian and can deliver a speech in Brussels just like any other European leaders.

“Such a status does not create a contradiction. Turkey has a unique status as a country that can communicate with different actors,” Davutoğlu said.

Lauding Turkey's multi-dimensional foreign policy, Davutoğlu stressed that his country's foreign policy is not directed merely at a single region or a group of companies, adding that Turkey has developed strategic relations with not only Muslim countries in the region but also non-Muslim countries.

The Turkish foreign minister also claimed that no other country in NATO can claim that it is more active than Turkey within the alliance.

Speaking about Turkish-Israeli ties, Davutoğlu pegged normalization of relations between the two countries to an official apology offered by the Jewish state for its lethal raid on the Mavi Marmara carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31 last year, which killed eight Turkish and one American national.

Turkey wants an official apology and compensation for families of the victims. Israel refuses to apologize and says its naval commandos acted in self-defense.

“If we are friends with Israel, then they do have to apologize. Once Israel admits its wrongdoing, they will continue to be our friend,” Davutoğlu concluded.