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Erdogan irked as major players snub humanitarian summit

Turkey was expecting representatives from "all" countries to attend the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the opening ceremony of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RTSFI05
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the opening ceremony of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2016. — REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Imagine throwing a huge fundraiser. You proudly plan it for months. You invite all the must-have, high-society elites. On the big night, the place is packed, but at the last minute the big spenders — the ones you really want — don't show.

Turkey knows the feeling.

Turkey hosted the first UN World Humanitarian Summit on May 23-24 in Istanbul. Former Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan had predicted in January that "all state and government heads will be coming to Turkey.”

But they didn’t come.

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