In
Turkey, migrants from the Balkans have traditionally supported Prime
Minister Erdogan. But it looks as if the forced clearance of Gezi Park
may have cost the Prime Minister some of that support.
Recep
Tayyip Erdogan's speech in Istanbul on June 16 was in effect a response
to the anti-government protests. The Turkish Prime Minister addressed
hundreds of thousands of supporters the day after police used water
cannons and tear gas to clear Gezi Park of protesters.
"I
want you to shout so loudly that Sarajevo and Zenica can hear you,"
Erdogan told the audience, and saluted the people of Macedonia and
Kosovo as well. Many Turkish Muslims in the Balkans have long been
staunch supporters of Erdogan's conservative AKP party. His political
and economic involvement in the region has usually won him their votes
in the past.
Esat
Günay, whose ancestors left Bosnia for Turkey more than 50 years ago,
says the Balkans are still very important to them. "If the people there
are content, we are content. We're pleased that Erdogan involves the
Balkans," he says.
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