Turkish PM not to attend Davos forum this year

ANKARA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said MondayPearl ringsthat he would honor his word and would not attend this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos of Switzerland.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media in Ankara January 11, 2010.

"Once I give my word on something, it's done. I said 'I will never come to Davos againPearl rings,' so I will never go to Davos again," Erdogan told a joint press conference with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Eudogan referred to the wrangle with Israeli President Simon Peres over the situationPearl necklacein the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan stormed out of a debate with Peres at the WEF meeting held in Davos in January 2009 in a rare move to protest against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip launched in December 2008.

Erdogan complained he was not given enough time to respond to what Peres said during the debate and vowed not to come back to Davos.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, which used to be long-termallies, have soured since the latter's 22-day massive offensive in Gaza.

Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said he will attend this year's Davos meeting instead of Erdogan and stressed the importance of Turkey's presence at Davos in terms of relations with international investors, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported on its website Monday.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 29 (Xinhua)Pearl rings-- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday stormed out of a debate on the Gaza situation at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.

Turkey pursues zero problem policy with neighbors

Turkey achieved a remarkable progress in pursuing the zero problem policy with neighbors such as Iran and Syria in 2009 as part of endeavors to revive its regional influence.

The policy by the Turkish government was aimed at maximum cooperationPearl necklacewith its neighbors and minimum problems in the region