SABAH- Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag writes on the conference entitled ‘Civilization and Harmony’ which convened at the initiative of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. A summary of his column is as follows:
The conference entitled ‘Civilization and Harmony’ which convened last week at the initiative of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, proved to be productive in starting a European-Islamic dialogue when the relations between the Islamic world and the West was tense. One important aim of Foreign Minister Cem in launching this initiative was to etch in the minds of the attendants that as a member of both the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and a candidate member to the EU society, Turkey had an important function and even a mission to achieve a harmony between the Islamic World and the West due to its history, location and present identity. In fact, this aspect was voiced by the leading figures of the Bush administration and well-known US academics. Famous historian Bernard Lewis explained this view in a striking manner in his study on the administrative systems of Moslim societies. Lewis claimed that not one of the Arab states was able to create a state model, but only Turkey and Iran had rival models of state in Islam. He added that while the Iranian model which put religion at the core of the state model was not modern, the secular, democratic, republican model founded by Ataturk could set an example to many countries stretching from the Middle East to Central Asia due to its modern characteristic. However, we must not ignore one point when discussing Turkey as a role model for Islamic countries: Turkish model is the consequence of 150 year old synthesis beginning from the days of the Ottoman Empire. Ataturk has filtered the accumulation of reforms through his own genius and put forth a secular, democratic and republican model. These reforms by Ataturk constitute the most comprehensive, ambitious, and radical metamorphosis seen in the 20th century. That is why Turkish citizens are able to live in an environment in step with the modern world. Turkish model is an aim, a road-map and a compass point. That is why former US President Clinton in his address to the Turksh Grand National Assembly had said that Turkey was the country to shape the 21st country. However, in order to turn this possibility into a reality Turkey has to complete its shortcomings in democracy and human rights, overcome its economic problems and realize an effective political restructuring. When it accomplishes that, Turkey will be respected more both in the East and the West, and attract more interest.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION