WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey, as a highly Muslim populated country, would continue to contribute in spreading and developing universal values in its region.
Erdogan said in a speech he delivered at American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, ''Turkey's democratic structure, rich historical heritage and identity, economic potential and membership to western institutions gives such a responsibility to Turkey and it shapes our national interest in this direction. We should make these values sovereign firstly in ourselves to fulfill it successfully.''
Noting that an important part of Turkish society wanted a modernity that did not exclude tradition, a universality that accepted localness, a rationality that did not reject meaning and a change that was not radical, Erdogan said that conservative democracy understanding was an answer to this request.
Erdogan said that conservative democracy, which Turkey built up, included universal values that could be source of inspiration to other countries as well. He noted that the future of world went through cooperation, not clash of civilizations. He stressed that the secular and democratic structure of Turkey, which was a bridge between East and West, Islam and Christianity, and Europe and Asia, could survive together with traditions coming from Islamic culture.
Erdogan said that Turkey would be a pioneer to overcome instability that could continue around it and especially in Middle East and a locomotive in efforts to provide economic development and a reliable partner that would restore security.
When asked his views about a federal structure in Iraq, Erdogan said that he believed that a structure based on ethnical origin would not be right and healthy and also a structure based on religious sects would not be healthy. ''We are ready to discuss how a healthy democracy would be built in Iraq. Otherwise, Iraq's future would be full of difficulties. Turkey's only interest is a healthy Iraq.''
When asked how Turkey would act in case a structure based on ethnical federation was to emerge in Iraq, Erdogan said that Turkey made evaluations through realities, not possibilities and Turkey said an ethnical structure would not be healthy, adding that if such a thing would happen, all Iraqi people would endure consequences.
Upon a question asking what would happen if the United States leaves Iraq early, Erdogan said that there was muddy waters in Iraq and it should be cleaned. Otherwise, he said, this step would have no meaning.
Noting that Iraq was like a ''training field of terrorist organizations'', he said that coalition forces would have things to do in Iraq until the system settled and Turkey was ready to help.
Replying questions about Cyprus issue and the European Union (EU), Erdogan recalled that EU officials told Turkey that solution in Cyprus was encouraging and easing Turkey's membership to EU. He said that Turkey was doing its best to solve this problem and added that if Greece and Greek Cypriot side was ready, Turkey would take one more step.
Erdogan said that Turkey was in favor of continuing efforts which took Annan Plan as reference. He added, '' Turkey had been waiting on the door of EU for 40 years for EU negotiation process and Turkey would certainly gain something, but EU would also gain many things as well. Otherwise, the EU, unfortunately, would remain as a Christian club,'' he said.
(GC-AÖ) 29.01.2004