General Basbug in DC: "Secular and moderate Islamic models cannot co-exist"
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 08, 2005 11:51
The Deputy Chief of the Turkish armed forces, General Ilker Basbug, gave a speech in Washington, DC at a panel on defense at the meeting of the American-Turkish Council (ATC). The first part of Basbug's talk focused on attempts to link terrorism and religion. Highlights of the speech are as follows:
Unfair to Islam
"It is unfair to both Islam and the people who practise it to try and form a link between this religion and terrorism. Terrorists can come from any religion. Countries which use radical Islam as a political ideology are a threat in terms of global terrorism..."
Secularism is a sparking force
"People bring the "moderate Islam" model forward as an answer to these countries, as a way to democratize. But it should not be forgotten that just as a radical Islamic country could pass from radicalism to moderation, a moderate Islamic country could also pass to radicalism. As we see it, a secular government and a moderate Islamic model cannot co-exist. It should not be forgotten that secularism is the sparking force in the development of democracy."
Yerevan should follow the law
"Turkey desires normal relations with Armenia. But for this to happen, Armenia should follow international law, and should do everything it can to bring about good neighborly relations."
Equality in Cyprus
"We have entered into a different and more positive period in our relations with Greece. We support, as the armed forces, a lasting and fair peace in Cyprus. Today on the island there are two peoples who do not represent eachother, but who are politically equal. The new order which is put into place there must take this into consideration."
Concrete action on PKK
"It is not enough that the US put the PKK onto its list of terror groups. There must be concrete action. It is surprising and thought provoking that up until now, they have not moved against this group with any concrete action."
"It is unfair to both Islam and the people who practise it to try and form a link between this religion and terrorism. Terrorists can come from any religion. Countries which use radical Islam as a political ideology are a threat in terms of global terrorism..."
Secularism is a sparking force
"People bring the "moderate Islam" model forward as an answer to these countries, as a way to democratize. But it should not be forgotten that just as a radical Islamic country could pass from radicalism to moderation, a moderate Islamic country could also pass to radicalism. As we see it, a secular government and a moderate Islamic model cannot co-exist. It should not be forgotten that secularism is the sparking force in the development of democracy."
Yerevan should follow the law
"Turkey desires normal relations with Armenia. But for this to happen, Armenia should follow international law, and should do everything it can to bring about good neighborly relations."
Equality in Cyprus
"We have entered into a different and more positive period in our relations with Greece. We support, as the armed forces, a lasting and fair peace in Cyprus. Today on the island there are two peoples who do not represent eachother, but who are politically equal. The new order which is put into place there must take this into consideration."
Concrete action on PKK
"It is not enough that the US put the PKK onto its list of terror groups. There must be concrete action. It is surprising and thought provoking that up until now, they have not moved against this group with any concrete action."