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GUL: INCREASED DEMOCRACY HAS ISOLATED TERROR
Suleyman Kurt, AlÝ Ýhsan Aydin Paris
Today's Zaman
Nov 28 2007
Turkey
President Abdullah Gul yesterday noted with pride that Turkey has
avoided sacrificing democracy and freedom in its fight against
terrorism and that this has resulted in the isolation of terrorism.
"Some countries have opted to restrict rights and freedoms in the
name of the fight against terror, but Turkey has expanded them,"
said Gul, in apparent reference to countries such as Britain that
have tightened anti-terror legislation and restricted freedoms by
measures such as extending pre-trial detention periods.
"Speaking in general terms, strengthening democracy in Turkey helps
our fight against terrorism," Gul went on to say at a press conference
in Paris, where he was wrapping up a visit to France to rally support
for Turkey's bid to host the global EXPO 2015 fair.
The Aegean city of Ýzmir is competing with Italy's Milan to host the
EXPO fair in eight years' time. Government officials have said a set of
drastic reforms would quickly be passed as soon as Parliament finishes
debates over the 2008 budget by the end of the year. The reforms are
expected to expand freedoms for Kurds and increase compliance with EU
standards. The reform plans are proceeding hand-in-hand with military
preparations for a possible cross-border operation against the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. With the Kurdish
regional administration in northern Iraq beginning to take steps to cut
logistical supplies to the PKK and with the US military cooperation,
any large-scale operation seems unlikely in the immediate future.
Gul, who met with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon in Paris
yesterday, said a recently initiated closure case against the
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) -- due to its alleged
ties with the PKK -- was not discussed during talks with the French
premier because it was a domestic issue for Turkey.
Gul did not meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is
currently on a visit to China, during his stay in France. There is
concern that Sarkozy, a firm opponent of Turkey's accession to the EU,
will block Ankara's negotiations with the EU during France's upcoming
term in the EU presidency in 2008.
Gul played down concerns about the French EU presidency, saying
Turkey must focus on reforms to achieve membership in the EU and
thus become a different country in the next years. "We need to mind
our own business. If we do this and make Turkey a stronger country,
Turkey will become a different country with a doubled per capita
income and a much stronger place in world politics," Gul said. "No
one can treat such a country in the way they wish."
In remarks published in the French Le Figaro newspaper, Gul said Ankara
was studying a French proposal to create a union of Mediterranean
states but that such a grouping is not an alternative to Turkish
membership in the EU. Gul also said that Turkey was continuing its
reform efforts with a view to joining the 27-nation EU bloc. "We are
interested in everything that touches the Mediterranean. We are also
studying the project proposed by Mr. Sarkozy," he said. "Negotiations
are ongoing, the goal has been set.
There is no question of the [Mediterranean] project being an
alternative to our joining the European Union."
In his press conference yesterday Gul said there were strong business
ties between Turkey and France, with trade volume nearing 10 billion
euros and French investments continuing to flow into Turkey. "The
French have realized Turkey's potential," he said. Gul said he
discussed Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire and the extradition of PKK leaders in his talks with the French
prime minister. "I told him that these issues must be discussed by
historians, not politicians," said Gul in reference to the Armenian
allegations. "He agreed and backed our proposal to set up a committee
of historians to study the claims," he added.
Hopes for EXPO bid
The president also said there was strong support from both the
government and opposition parties for Ýzmir's bid to host EXPO 2015.
He added that he was hopeful that Ýzmir will win in the March 2008
decision to determine the fair's host. His visit to Paris, during
which he made a speech on Monday at a meeting of the International
Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) -- the official sanctioning body for the EXPO
-- to promote Ýzmir's candidacy for EXPO 2015, was in itself a show
of Turkey's support for Ýzmir's bid at the highest level. "I did my
share and expressed our support at the highest level. From now on,
the people and authorities of Ýzmir must work hard," he said.
--Boundary_(ID_fiDPW0Nu7KjLXMzaOt4MCg)--
Suleyman Kurt, AlÝ Ýhsan Aydin Paris
Today's Zaman
Nov 28 2007
Turkey
President Abdullah Gul yesterday noted with pride that Turkey has
avoided sacrificing democracy and freedom in its fight against
terrorism and that this has resulted in the isolation of terrorism.
"Some countries have opted to restrict rights and freedoms in the
name of the fight against terror, but Turkey has expanded them,"
said Gul, in apparent reference to countries such as Britain that
have tightened anti-terror legislation and restricted freedoms by
measures such as extending pre-trial detention periods.
"Speaking in general terms, strengthening democracy in Turkey helps
our fight against terrorism," Gul went on to say at a press conference
in Paris, where he was wrapping up a visit to France to rally support
for Turkey's bid to host the global EXPO 2015 fair.
The Aegean city of Ýzmir is competing with Italy's Milan to host the
EXPO fair in eight years' time. Government officials have said a set of
drastic reforms would quickly be passed as soon as Parliament finishes
debates over the 2008 budget by the end of the year. The reforms are
expected to expand freedoms for Kurds and increase compliance with EU
standards. The reform plans are proceeding hand-in-hand with military
preparations for a possible cross-border operation against the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. With the Kurdish
regional administration in northern Iraq beginning to take steps to cut
logistical supplies to the PKK and with the US military cooperation,
any large-scale operation seems unlikely in the immediate future.
Gul, who met with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon in Paris
yesterday, said a recently initiated closure case against the
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) -- due to its alleged
ties with the PKK -- was not discussed during talks with the French
premier because it was a domestic issue for Turkey.
Gul did not meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is
currently on a visit to China, during his stay in France. There is
concern that Sarkozy, a firm opponent of Turkey's accession to the EU,
will block Ankara's negotiations with the EU during France's upcoming
term in the EU presidency in 2008.
Gul played down concerns about the French EU presidency, saying
Turkey must focus on reforms to achieve membership in the EU and
thus become a different country in the next years. "We need to mind
our own business. If we do this and make Turkey a stronger country,
Turkey will become a different country with a doubled per capita
income and a much stronger place in world politics," Gul said. "No
one can treat such a country in the way they wish."
In remarks published in the French Le Figaro newspaper, Gul said Ankara
was studying a French proposal to create a union of Mediterranean
states but that such a grouping is not an alternative to Turkish
membership in the EU. Gul also said that Turkey was continuing its
reform efforts with a view to joining the 27-nation EU bloc. "We are
interested in everything that touches the Mediterranean. We are also
studying the project proposed by Mr. Sarkozy," he said. "Negotiations
are ongoing, the goal has been set.
There is no question of the [Mediterranean] project being an
alternative to our joining the European Union."
In his press conference yesterday Gul said there were strong business
ties between Turkey and France, with trade volume nearing 10 billion
euros and French investments continuing to flow into Turkey. "The
French have realized Turkey's potential," he said. Gul said he
discussed Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire and the extradition of PKK leaders in his talks with the French
prime minister. "I told him that these issues must be discussed by
historians, not politicians," said Gul in reference to the Armenian
allegations. "He agreed and backed our proposal to set up a committee
of historians to study the claims," he added.
Hopes for EXPO bid
The president also said there was strong support from both the
government and opposition parties for Ýzmir's bid to host EXPO 2015.
He added that he was hopeful that Ýzmir will win in the March 2008
decision to determine the fair's host. His visit to Paris, during
which he made a speech on Monday at a meeting of the International
Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) -- the official sanctioning body for the EXPO
-- to promote Ýzmir's candidacy for EXPO 2015, was in itself a show
of Turkey's support for Ýzmir's bid at the highest level. "I did my
share and expressed our support at the highest level. From now on,
the people and authorities of Ýzmir must work hard," he said.
--Boundary_(ID_fiDPW0Nu7KjLXMzaOt4MCg)--