STAR- Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the OIC-EU Joint Forum held in Istanbul. A summary of his column is as follows:
The OIC-EU Joint Forum, which is an obvious success at the hands of Foreign Minister Ismail and his close friends, has also shown the significance of Turkey clearly. As a consequence, it lays a burden of important responsibilities on Turkey’s shoulders. However, if Turkey will play a role focused on ‘tolerance’ and respect for ‘the other’ with its special identity based on a synthesis of the East and West, it must overcome a series of concerns regarding its important shortcomings as well as groundless suspicions. Otherwise, no one will respect a country calling for tolerance abroad when intolerance reigns high within its borders. We must accept that FM Cem’s success has lifted Turkey’s respectability on an international level. However, it is also certain that there are some who feel disturbed by this. They hate concepts such as ‘cultural diversity’ and ‘searches to overcome monotony’ which the Forum brings to mind. It must be recalled that there have been culture ministers who said that they didn’t recognize any culture other than their own national culture in Turkey. We are witnessing the presence of others who believe in not opening a can of worms, lest they would not be able to deal with political problems which could erupt. The presence of this opposition front is well known and the news that the EU is showing the way to the PKK terrorist organization are believed to bear its stamp. This front may slow down Turkey’s development or its process oftaking its place on the international stage as a respected state. However, in time all the pieces will fall into place. This is neither a political nor a cultural preference. It is the inevitable result of urbanization and industrialization. When Italian fascism, German Nazism, and Soviet totalitarianism are studied, this fact becomes evident. All distorted systems which tried to shunt humanity’s natural process of evolution into certain directions in the modern world were eventually discarded. These mistakes resulted in the loss of life for innocent millions. The Forum held in Istanbul has once more shown the greatness of Ataturk, as he didn’t pursue a restrictive or narrow ideology. He pointed to a lifestyle obliged to get into step with civilization and developments based entirely upon human values. The opposition front doesn’t want to see this. As they are afraid of the European and universal values when Turkey is strong, Ataturk had seen that the precondition for Turkey was to evolve into a nation from a Muslim society when the country was at its lowest point. The OIC-EU Joint Forum has clearly pointed out the important role Turkey can play in the international arena. However, in order to play this role and feel its importance, Turkey has to put its own house into order and as soon as possible.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION