TURKEY - Apr 14 - Sezer Stresses Kemalism; Says Ankara Unconcerned By GMEI.

Addressing a conference at the War Academies in Istanbul, Pres. Ahmet Necdet Sezer stresses the importance of the country's Kemalist ideology and the principle of secularism as a fundamental element of this society. On Washington's Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI) for democratisation, he says this does not concern the country. He adds: "Turkey cannot take place among countries targeted by the GMEI. Attempts to describe secular Turkey as an Islamic Republic or to have people subconsciously adopt some models with meaningless qualifications like 'moderate Islam' are quite baseless and unacceptable. Some circles have been making various comments about Turkey's position and likely roles under the GMEI. Turkey cannot take place among countries targeted by the GMEI. I recommend those who advocate the contrary, to change their understanding".

(Kemalism, among other things, means secularism. A staunch Kemalist, i.e., a follower of the teachings of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, Sezer is using this occasion to re-emphasise the secular nature of the Turkish state and society, including its government. Since the Islamist AK Party won the parliamentary elections in early November 2002, the country has been ruled by an AKP government. But the Kemalists, in particular the military establishment which is by far the strongest segment of Turkish society, have since any every occasion to stress the secular nature of the nation. For its part, the AKP government has been projecting itself as the Muslim equivalent of the Christian Democrats of Europe - see News Service No. 16 of last week's Diplomat).

Sezer explains: "Attempts to describe secular Turkey as an Islamic Republic or to have people subconsciously adopt some models with meaningless qualifications like 'moderate Islam' are quite baseless and unacceptable. Since moderate Islam is not the regime of the Republic of Turkey, it is understood that some circles envisaged a new regime for our state. Although the model of moderate Islam can be considered a progress for the other Muslim countries, this model is nothing but a fundamentalist model for Turkey".

The president goes further to say: "Meanwhile, the most interesting thing are the claims saying that this model was envisaged to democratise the societies". But he warns: "Any attempt to bring theocratic state and democracy together is contrary to the history and the science".

Sezer argues that secularism in Turkey is fundamental. He adds that "the principle of secularism is the fundamental element of all values forming the Republic of Turkey. Those who propose the model of moderate Islam for Turkey ignore the irrevocable principle of the secular state in the Constitution".

The president points out: "The Republic of Turkey will survive forever with its modern (Kemalist) characteristics. Turkey, one of the oldest members of NATO, a neighbour of the Middle East and a candidate of the European Union (EU), is ready to do everything in its power to fulfil its responsibilities and to make contributions to facilitate the historic transformation in the Middle East. Turkey has an advanced democracy at a point connecting Europe and the Middle East. The EU's opening accession talks with Turkey, and accepting Turkey's membership at the end of the process will be the most important message to the Middle East and to the Muslim world. This message will reveal that values such as democracy, human rights and supremacy of law are universal; the fault line separating the societies does not lie between civilisations and religions, but between those who adopt these values and those who reject them; and the western world and the Muslim world can mingle with each other on the basis of these values".

Stressing that Turkey's relations with the EU have entered an important period, Sezer says, "Turkey has given priority to persuade the EU to open accession talks with Turkey at the end of the year. The EU membership symbolises universal values and high living standards. It means the most important social project to reach the level of modern civilisation targeted by the Great Leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk". >