Davutoğlu received Woodrow Wilson Award
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Services by the Woodrow International Centre at a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul, Turkish Anadolu News Agency reports.
Turkey's Dogus Holding Executive Board Chairperson Ferit Sahenk also received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Cooperate Citizenship in the ceremony. Micahel Van Dusen, deputy director of the Woodrow International Centre, gave the award to Davutoğlu and Sahenk.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Davutoğlu said, "If the ground of the world is changing, we cannot stand firm on this ground. Our principles help us stand firm."
The Turkish FM noted that providing a balance between realism and idealism was one of the characteristics of Woodrow Wilson and the harmony between them was very important.
"Turkey's ideals are clear. We will normalise our history and geography. We do not want embargo, walls or nuclear weapons," he underlined.
"If a global peace is wanted, there was need for Turkey-US cooperation," he continued.
"Turkey and the Unites States need a new paradigm in this new world order because the current system does not meet today's needs," Davutoğlu said.
Remind that a few US congressmen, among them Gary Ackerman, were against Davutoğlu's receiving the award.
Earlier the congressman had written a letter to center President Lee Hamilton slamming the center's controversial decision to honor the Turkish FM and asking him to rescind the award.
"Turkey's foreign policy under Foreign Minister Davutoğlu's leadership is rife with illegality, irresponsibility and hypocrisy and stands in sharp contrast to the legacy of Woodrow Wilson" Ackerman wrote.
