Democracy cannot be compromised
by
GRAHAM WATSON*
Turkey’s military is stirring against democratic forces for the fourth time since 1960 -- in a move which could spell disaster for EU relations, not to mention the country’s economy and its international standing.



Barely 10 years after mounting a coup against Necmettin Erbakan’s government, the generals have spoken out again, this time against Abdullah Gül’s nomination as president of the republic.
Last Friday’s statement claims the army is defending Turkey’s secular roots by protesting his candidacy. Yet by claiming they “are a side in this debate” and “will display their position and attitudes when it becomes necessary” -- presumably by any means necessary -- they are violating the strict separation of powers that Turkey, as a democratic state, officially adheres to.

As far as the EU is concerned what happens next will be a test of Turkey’s democratic maturity. The German presidency, quite rightly, has rallied around Gül’s candidacy and urged that no external pressure should be put on the Constitutional Court when it decides on the legality of the election in advance of the second round of voting on Wednesday. Europe’s leaders have already made clear that they consider the current foreign minister a safe pair of hands to guide Turkey into the next round of reforms and dig the EU accession process out of the hole it is currently in. Whether his wife wears a headscarf or not, whether he is a practicing Muslim or not, should be irrelevant to his nomination.

Furthermore there is nothing to suggest that Mr. Gül is not a committed democrat. The fact that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has its roots in Islamic values -- much as the Christian Democrats, who are currently the biggest political force in the European Parliament, have their roots in Christian values -- does not imply it is a threat to Turkey’s secular constitution. Rather a moderate Islamic force could act as a stabilizing influence in politics across the Middle East, providing a model of reconciliation between religious beliefs and democratic principles that many Muslim majority countries currently lack. Suppressing the will of the people will simply force the Islamic agenda underground and risk inflaming tensions, rather than calming them.

Indeed it could be argued that Turkey’s brand of secularism is amongst the most extreme and inflexible in the world. Modeled on the French Third Republic, it preaches a brand of laïcité which has evolved little over the past 80 years and has problems with recognizing certain religious and minority rights. Easing up on headscarf bans in universities, allowing Koran-reading competitions on national days, or any of the other “unmentionable” ideas Gül is said to have a hand in, does not herald a fundamentalist takeover but rather goes hand-in-hand with the enhanced freedom of expression and religious liberty that Turkey agreed to promote when it became a candidate for EU accession.

Experience in Europe shows that, while the separation of religion and state is scrupulously observed, that prevents no one from adhering to the religion of their choice -- including in public buildings like schools and universities, where students are allowed to abide by their religious or cultural dress codes and often given the choice of kosher, halal or vegetarian meals.

Likewise many European heads of state are practicing Christians, notably British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who have made no secret of their beliefs. Indeed my own mother -- who is a pious Christian -- followed the Paulian tradition by covering her head when she entered a church for many years, which is by no means unusual. Gül should be judged by the same standard as other leaders -- not made to choose between secularism and his personal faith. It is clear from the million-man march for secularism that took place in İstanbul last week, however, that the prospect of a joint Gül/Erdoğan premiership has split Turkish public opinion into two distinct camps. What both sides need to recognize, however, is that the army’s behavior threatens to undermine Turkey’s prosperity, security and stability.

Far more worrying than moderate Islam, for the average Turkish citizen, is the effect of the cancellation of elections, or the specter of another coup could have on Turkey’s rapidly-expanding economy. Financial markets had reached record highs before last week’s threat of intervention caused the İstanbul Stock Exchange (İMKB) 100 Index to fall 8 percent in one day. Further uncertainty about Turkey’s democratic status could well see stock market asset values freefall.

A healthy, stable democratic system is necessary for investors, as it is for Turkey’s international standing. Allowing the army to overstep the line will set back a decade’s worth of progress and impede all prospects of a settlement with the EU. For now perhaps only a reappraisal of the will of the people, through early parliamentary elections, can provide the indicator that Turkey -- and the rest of the world -- needs of the resilience of its democratic institutions.


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*Graham Watson is the chairman of Liberal Group in the European Parliament

"As far as the EU is concerned what happens next will be a test of Turkey’s democratic maturity."

Thank you for your concern EU, but we don't want to be a part of you anymore. We won't apply your advices.

I have thought this for a long time. Piss on the EU...
In 10 years, there will be no advantage.
Stay true to self governing secularism.

And on top of that, if Turkey becomes an Islamic Republic, then there won't be any EU membership anyways.

The gap between the rich and the poor in Turkey is very high. There are only a handful of industrialized areas in Turkey to find good-paying jobs. Because of this, the poorest of Turks (and least educated) will be the ones that seek employment in Europe's Industrial cities if the borders were opened. It won't be the educated, skilled Turks that attempt to find work elsewhere.
Turkey will be Europes's largest country within 10 years (population).
The possibility of so many workers (maybe more than a million) flooding Europe with cheap labor frightens most Europeans.
This is the major reason I see that Europe is hesitant to integrate Turkey into EU. I doubt very much that religion has much to do with it. The EU's religion is profit...

I sincerely hope that Turkey will join the EU someday. One of the most important reasons is that it could be a link between west and middle east, and it is easy to see the positive negotiation between Turkey and the EU has brought so far when it comes to human rights etc.

The one that belongs to everyone actually belongs to no one. Similar is Turkey, it is just in the middle without any position and in future also tries to remain neither west nor east. It has adopted all the bad of west but not the good things and qualities.
It has only dressed itself as europe but has not tried to be advanced and honourly like Romans.

A friend named "Yılgün" wrote an article translated by "Faruk" about Türkiye and European Union about this topic which is very informative article...
Here it is =

"TÃœRKİYE VE EUROPEAN UNİON

After First and Second World War, Europe, right alongside of using subvention in accordance with common interest within the framework of the USA's Marshall Plan, signed European Coal and Steel Community Treaty in Paris on 18.04.1951.
After this, by 6 countries from Europe, European Economic Community (EEC) was established. This community, was predicted providing free circulation of goods and people and capital, and establishing social Europe within a 12 year transition period.
But later, the name of the community, upon wasn't able to provide an economical community, has changed as European Union (EU).
According to history, The Turks' existance begins in Central Asia in 300 BC. The Turks establishes 29 nations until Turkish Republic. There aren't many culture which has the ability of establishing nations as Turks.
The Turks, continuously moved from Central Asia from 7 branchs and 24 clans.
The Turks has a national tradition on Anatolian lands about 1000 years.
The Turks' westernizing movement starts with Proclamation of Tanzimat in the time of Ottoman Empire (1300-1915). During Tanzimat Period (1839) The Turk Otoman Empire made a lot of laws according to European Laws.
The New Turkish Republic was founded in 29.10.1923 and made a lot of laws according to European Laws.
In 1963, Ankara Treaty was signed between Turkey and EEC.
On 17.12.2004, member countries of the EU accepted Turkey as candidate of a candidate coutry of the EU.
On 03.10.2005, 25 member countries of the EU signed "Framework Agreement" relating to accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU.
The number of full members of The EU increased to 27 in 2007. It is presumed that this number may increase in the future.
Turkey's relations with the EU, which has been started in 1963 and continued for 44 years, is continuing. ). During last years, The Turkish Republic made a lot of new laws according to Eurpean Union Laws..
The main point to be emphasized, the focal point of the relations with the EU is that:
Modernization, is a dialectic concept that Atatürk has foreseen it.
The aim is that, not only westernizing or being a European country but predicting of modernization in a wide universal vision. This goal includes both westernizing and being member of the EU".