During Israel’s national day reception in Ankara, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit answered reporters’ questions about EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s remarks that European Commission supported “democratic secularism” in Turkey [vs. “strict secularism” as implied by EU officials]. Gen. Buyukanit said that Turkey does not need any adjectives added to its name and that Turkish people are capable of defining themselves without the advice of other people.
In agreement with the journalists Buyukanit said that Turkish society was indeed polarizing and that this was worrisome phenomenon should be prevented. When asked about the closure case against the ruling AKP, Buyukanit declined to comment.
Source: Hurriyet, Milliyet, May 8, 2008
