TURKEY AND THE GME

I think we might have a role in the GME, but I wouldn’t call us its most important plank. What’s more, it’s foolhardy to believe that Turkey acting as messenger will make the plan more palatable to Arabs. If we carry out our own democratization as necessary, we can set an example not to be copied, but rather for certain countries to seek their own solutions. If you Google the words ‘democracy’ and ‘Muslim,’ Turkey pops up very quickly. The West questions how democratic Turkey really is, and Middle Eastern countries question how Muslim it is, in terms of our government.

For example, how is it possible for Turkey, which doesn’t allow girls to wear headscarves in universities, to convince Muslims in the Middle East that democracy ensures the free exercise of religion? Everybody knows that no single country can set an example to be followed by all others. Turkey is the most important country in our region. It’s close to the West, particularly to the US. However, Turkey’s goal of reaching the level of modern civilization has effectively cut it off from the rest of the Muslim world. Yet, it doesn’t put us at the center of the GME either. The GME is being prepared for the Arab world, but Turkey can contribute to certain of its projects. I say this not to anger, but to be realistic.”