Rice: United States should speak up for democracy in Turkey

[Marcus Marulus]

Rice: United States should speak up for democracy in Turkey



US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has praised the Turkish government for its efforts at democratization and said her country should support reform and secular democracy in its NATO ally.

Her comments appear to be one of the strongest expressions of support from the US for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which faces a closure case, coming in a speech at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) last week.

Rice described US relations with the AK Party as "excellent." She said Turkey is now "one of Iraq's more supportive neighbors" and has become a "really global partner" in the international agenda.

"I also believe that the agenda for democratization that the AK Party has undertaken has been good for Turkey. They have reached out to people who are different -- Kurds, for instance -- and got a large amount of the Kurdish vote in the last election. They have reached out to the poor and rural in Turkey in ways that were not done before. They have reached out to religious people," Rice said, according to a transcript of the speech published by the State Department late on Friday.

The AK Party currently faces potential closure on charges of becoming a "focal point for anti-secular activities." The Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its verdict on the indictment before autumn, and expectation is widespread that the verdict will mean the party's closure. Without specifically referring to the case or related charges, Rice said: "I think the secular democracy in Turkey is important, but it is also important that religious people are a part of the country." She added: "Sometimes, when I am asked what might democracy look like in the Middle East, I think it might look like Turkey."

Rice said the United States is not getting involved in debates in Turkey over the closure case but that Washington will defend democratic institutions and "speak up" for secular democracy in Turkey. "What can we do? I think we have to continue to support the democratic institutions of Turkey. Obviously, we are not going to get involved in the current crisis or the current controversy in Turkey about the court case, that's a matter for Turkey to resolve," she said. "But I do think that we need to continue to speak up for reform in Turkey, for democracy in Turkey, for secular democracy in Turkey."

Rice in addition said the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join, also holds great responsibility. "The people who could do the most are the Europeans. Because, frankly, if Turkey is not given a fair chance to accede to the European Union, we will all pay. Europe will pay, the United States will pay. We cannot have a dividing line at Turkey," she said. "The Europeans -- and I understand that it's hard, but the European Union-- the prospect of European Union accession has been extremely important to reform in Turkey. And without that prospect, it is going to be hard to continue."

Turkey's aspirations to join the EU face difficulties due to objections from countries like France and problems over the divided island of Cyprus. President George W. Bush said during a visit to Europe earlier this month that Turkey should become a member of the EU. The EU says there will be consequences if the AK Party is eventually closed down, but whether the possible sanctions could include a suspension of the accession talks is a difficult question for the bloc's officials because of the realistic chances that, once suspended, the process may not resume again due to public resistance in Europe.

23 June 2008, Monday

İSTANBUL

[source]

[Monolith]

United States should speak up for democracy in Turkey

What democracy? Are they going to invade Turkey now?

[orieleye]

They're funny people alright.