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Turkish President Strongly Warns: Turkish Republic In Danger From Within
In a strongly worded "farewell speech" today, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, whose term is set to end next month, said: - The core values of the Turkish republic – that is, a secular, democratic republic and a social state of law – are its red lines, and all must abide by them - The political impartiality of the president is a constitutional requirement - The only side that the president must be on is the side of the Constitution - Turkey's political regime is under unprecedented threat [i.e. from Islamism] - For the first time, the core principles of the Turkish republic being opened up for debate [by the AKP] - Political Islam is being imposed on Turkey as a model - It is only a matter of time before "moderate Islam" turns into "radical Islam" - It is our fundamental right to defend Turkey against all kinds of threats - A plot is being carried out, according to a well-defined timeline, against the Turkish Armed Forces - While Turkey continues to contribute to multilateral efforts to eliminate the terror threat from northern Iraq, we reserve the right accorded to us by international law to legitimate self defense On the threat of Islamism, President Sezer also said: "Foreign forces – and domestic ones, to serve their own interests – are, under the pretext of 'democracy,' trying to transform Turkey's secular republic and to create a model of a 'moderate Islamic republic' to serve as an example for Islamic countries to follow. 'Moderate Islam' would mean that the state's social, economic, political and legal system will, to some extent, reflect the laws of the religion. By this definition, the 'moderate Islam model' might represent 'progress' for the Islamic countries – but for Turkey, it means 'regression.' This is a model of 'fundamentalism' [that Turkey rejects]. Turkey can only become [and is only willing to become] an example for its region with its characteristics of a secular, democratic state of law." Sources: Hurriyet, Milliyet, and most Turkish papers, Turkey, April 13, 2007
Posted at: 2007-04-13
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