Will U.S. and EU punish Turkey If It does not commit itself to democracy?
Posted on July 22, 2016 by Editorial Staff in 1 Top News, Exclusive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Turkish president Abdullah Gul attend the funeral of a victim of the coup attempt in Istanbul. Photo: AFP
[size=11]Abdul-Qahar Mustafa | Special to Ekurd.net[/size]
Most people including me know that Turkey has a bad history in dealing with minorities and never had any true image of democracy. It started from the time when their ancestors took the land by force from Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks in eleventh century. They have forced and murdered many people belong to these ethnicities in order to assimilate them and make them Muslim Turks.
Turkey is an Islamic society. Although Turkey become a secular country after the dissolve of Ottoman empire, but the secularization of Turkey was done by force of military general Kamal Ata Turk, so unlike the secularization of the Europe, Turkey did not become a secular society naturally.
For the last century, Turkey did have secular governments, but it was not democratic to European standards. The current AKP government of Turkey claim that they have changed turkey for better and established democracy and rule of law yet it continue to violate true democratic principles and Geneva Convention on human rights against minorities in an effort to undermine democracy and secure power to itself.
Many people believe that even though that AKP party came to power by elections and it gained the majority of votes, it would still not make the government of AKP as a true democratic government unless it support and practice western standards of democratic values.
In the past decades, Turkish military generals were holding political power, but their power was a poison to democracy. However, these Islamists of AKP party who currently in power are poisoning democracy too .They are increasingly Islamist and decreasingly democratic because they support Islamist terror groups in Syria, and also abuse human rights and freedoms of minorities.
After the recent military coup failed, AKP government got a free and upper hand now. With high levels of public support AKP government has brought the military, the police and the judiciary under his control. They have replaced most of old security members within military, police, secret intelligent services, with AKP supporters to solidify their control over the entire country. In doing so Mr. Erdogan as the head of the Turkey state, essentially makes himself a dictator free to enact whatever Islamist or otherwise detrimental policy he wishes under the guise of protecting democracy from the tyranny of military. However, it seems that the new Turkish Army has also embraced the same mindset of AKP party with the political authority. This of course poses greater risk to democracy.
Military coups might not be the best solution to solve any problem that the society and politics are encountering because all the previous military coups carried out to remove Islamic political parties from power in different Muslim countries like Iran,Turkey,Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria and Palestine, did not result in a true democracy to come to be in those countries as Islamic political parties continue to get massive votes and support from people. They still get elected to power as though in Muslim countries, religion and politics cannot be separated and secularization cannot overcome political religion no matter what the world do.
Evidence continues to show that Turkey fails to meet democratic standards because it is a state that has periodic elections but where reliable protections for diversified opinions and beliefs are missing and the political process is strictly observed in favor of the Islamic party AKP and its supporters.
On the other hand, US and EU countries do know that Turkey is not pursuing a true democratic path where it should uphold the rule of law, respect the rights of minorities and treat everyone equally regardless of religion, race and background, yet they do not want to punish Turkey, because NATO needs Turkey very much in current world situation to protect their interests in Middle East. For US and EU, Turkey is a buffer zone between Europe, Russia and Arab world. It is the main root of oil and gas pipeline to EU and geographically present in the most unstable region in the world.
Furthermore, US, EU, and Israel, need Turkey to help Sunni majority Muslims to win over in Syria, so they can cut the influence of Iran, and safely build a new pipeline to free Europe from Russian energy supply shackles. Both Iran and Russia share a common interest in limiting U.S. influence in Middle East. However, Turkey has its own strategic interest just as US and EU countries do.
Turkey wants to join EU and it expect EU country to take its membership if they consider Turkey as a trustworthy ally of the western countries.Turkey also wants US and EU to stop supporting Kurds because they perceive Kurds as a biggest internal threat for Turkey. Turkey does not want to always be dictated by NATO and lose business with Iran and Russian because both Iran and Russia are economically very important for Turkey.
As a matter of fact, Iran is one of the providers of oil and Gas to Turkey for low prices. They both share concerns regarding the Kurdish independence movement and are interested in having secure and trouble free borders.
It is really shameful for NATO to support a reckless, aggressive ally that support terrorist groups, violate human rights of minorities and bomb villages, damage property and kill innocent civilians in Kurdish areas and cities. It does not seem at all that NATO will expel Turkey from NATO one day, because the US is using Turkey against Russia and Iran equally.
If US and EU expel Turkey from NATO, or put sanctions on Turkey, than they know that Turkey will rebel and go against their interest in many parts of the world .Turkey will get closer to Russia, and Iran .Turkey with Russia and Iran will change the geopolitical map of Middle-east and consequently world power diagram. And that is exactly why US and EU have not been taking serous steps to punish Turkey for not upholding the rule of law and true democratic principles or for committing human right abuse against minorities.
As always, US and EU value and favor their economic and ideological interest over democracy and human rights. And they will continue playing double games with the world by claiming they are a advocate of democracy and human rights, yet forgo democracy and turn a blind eye to the human right abuse committed by their undemocratic allies such as Saudi Arabia, Gulf monarchies, Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria .In other words, as long as these undemocratic allies of US and EU continue cooperating with US and EU and do not go to bed with extremists,or Russia, Iran and North Korea, they will not be punished.
In addition to the interest based policies of US and EU countries, the official mission of NATO has apparently changed as well, from promoting democracy, security and peace in the world, into controlling the international, and the global energy resources .It works to protect the global interest of US’ and EU countries around the world. It practically has been supporting American friendly regimes like Saudi Arabia and other gulf monarchies regardless if they are democratic or not as long as they accept free market economy and privatize their natural resources mainly in American and EU corporations, cooperate with US and EU in battling extremists, and to work against the interest of regimes who are at odd with US and EU countries. And that is the main reason that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies are not cutting oil production to stabilize and increase oil prices, just so to damage the economies of countries such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela which all of them are against the interest of US and EU countries.
For all these reasons, I doubt it that US and EU countries will punish Turkey, put sanction on it or kick it out from NATO or press it hard enough to abide by democratic principles, uphold the rule of law, and treat everyone equally regardless of religion, race and background.
Finally, I believe Turkey will get no concession and advantage if it continues to rebel or play games or blackmail US and EU through supporting terrorist groups or by trampling the rights of minorities or by going to bed with Iran and Russia secretly. Turkey should instead become honest and commit itself to true democracy. It should also solve its disputes with Greece and Cyprus, respect and recognize the democratic rights of minorities, and compensate Armenian for their genocide. This is the only way for Turkey to become a peaceful and prosperous state, that will have a better chance to be accepted as a member of EU.
http://ekurd.net/doubt-punish-turkey-democracy-2016-07-22
Posted on July 22, 2016 by Editorial Staff in 1 Top News, Exclusive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Turkish president Abdullah Gul attend the funeral of a victim of the coup attempt in Istanbul. Photo: AFP
[size=11]Abdul-Qahar Mustafa | Special to Ekurd.net[/size]
Most people including me know that Turkey has a bad history in dealing with minorities and never had any true image of democracy. It started from the time when their ancestors took the land by force from Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks in eleventh century. They have forced and murdered many people belong to these ethnicities in order to assimilate them and make them Muslim Turks.
Turkey is an Islamic society. Although Turkey become a secular country after the dissolve of Ottoman empire, but the secularization of Turkey was done by force of military general Kamal Ata Turk, so unlike the secularization of the Europe, Turkey did not become a secular society naturally.
For the last century, Turkey did have secular governments, but it was not democratic to European standards. The current AKP government of Turkey claim that they have changed turkey for better and established democracy and rule of law yet it continue to violate true democratic principles and Geneva Convention on human rights against minorities in an effort to undermine democracy and secure power to itself.
Many people believe that even though that AKP party came to power by elections and it gained the majority of votes, it would still not make the government of AKP as a true democratic government unless it support and practice western standards of democratic values.
In the past decades, Turkish military generals were holding political power, but their power was a poison to democracy. However, these Islamists of AKP party who currently in power are poisoning democracy too .They are increasingly Islamist and decreasingly democratic because they support Islamist terror groups in Syria, and also abuse human rights and freedoms of minorities.
After the recent military coup failed, AKP government got a free and upper hand now. With high levels of public support AKP government has brought the military, the police and the judiciary under his control. They have replaced most of old security members within military, police, secret intelligent services, with AKP supporters to solidify their control over the entire country. In doing so Mr. Erdogan as the head of the Turkey state, essentially makes himself a dictator free to enact whatever Islamist or otherwise detrimental policy he wishes under the guise of protecting democracy from the tyranny of military. However, it seems that the new Turkish Army has also embraced the same mindset of AKP party with the political authority. This of course poses greater risk to democracy.
Military coups might not be the best solution to solve any problem that the society and politics are encountering because all the previous military coups carried out to remove Islamic political parties from power in different Muslim countries like Iran,Turkey,Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria and Palestine, did not result in a true democracy to come to be in those countries as Islamic political parties continue to get massive votes and support from people. They still get elected to power as though in Muslim countries, religion and politics cannot be separated and secularization cannot overcome political religion no matter what the world do.
Evidence continues to show that Turkey fails to meet democratic standards because it is a state that has periodic elections but where reliable protections for diversified opinions and beliefs are missing and the political process is strictly observed in favor of the Islamic party AKP and its supporters.
On the other hand, US and EU countries do know that Turkey is not pursuing a true democratic path where it should uphold the rule of law, respect the rights of minorities and treat everyone equally regardless of religion, race and background, yet they do not want to punish Turkey, because NATO needs Turkey very much in current world situation to protect their interests in Middle East. For US and EU, Turkey is a buffer zone between Europe, Russia and Arab world. It is the main root of oil and gas pipeline to EU and geographically present in the most unstable region in the world.
Furthermore, US, EU, and Israel, need Turkey to help Sunni majority Muslims to win over in Syria, so they can cut the influence of Iran, and safely build a new pipeline to free Europe from Russian energy supply shackles. Both Iran and Russia share a common interest in limiting U.S. influence in Middle East. However, Turkey has its own strategic interest just as US and EU countries do.
Turkey wants to join EU and it expect EU country to take its membership if they consider Turkey as a trustworthy ally of the western countries.Turkey also wants US and EU to stop supporting Kurds because they perceive Kurds as a biggest internal threat for Turkey. Turkey does not want to always be dictated by NATO and lose business with Iran and Russian because both Iran and Russia are economically very important for Turkey.
As a matter of fact, Iran is one of the providers of oil and Gas to Turkey for low prices. They both share concerns regarding the Kurdish independence movement and are interested in having secure and trouble free borders.
It is really shameful for NATO to support a reckless, aggressive ally that support terrorist groups, violate human rights of minorities and bomb villages, damage property and kill innocent civilians in Kurdish areas and cities. It does not seem at all that NATO will expel Turkey from NATO one day, because the US is using Turkey against Russia and Iran equally.
If US and EU expel Turkey from NATO, or put sanctions on Turkey, than they know that Turkey will rebel and go against their interest in many parts of the world .Turkey will get closer to Russia, and Iran .Turkey with Russia and Iran will change the geopolitical map of Middle-east and consequently world power diagram. And that is exactly why US and EU have not been taking serous steps to punish Turkey for not upholding the rule of law and true democratic principles or for committing human right abuse against minorities.
As always, US and EU value and favor their economic and ideological interest over democracy and human rights. And they will continue playing double games with the world by claiming they are a advocate of democracy and human rights, yet forgo democracy and turn a blind eye to the human right abuse committed by their undemocratic allies such as Saudi Arabia, Gulf monarchies, Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria .In other words, as long as these undemocratic allies of US and EU continue cooperating with US and EU and do not go to bed with extremists,or Russia, Iran and North Korea, they will not be punished.
In addition to the interest based policies of US and EU countries, the official mission of NATO has apparently changed as well, from promoting democracy, security and peace in the world, into controlling the international, and the global energy resources .It works to protect the global interest of US’ and EU countries around the world. It practically has been supporting American friendly regimes like Saudi Arabia and other gulf monarchies regardless if they are democratic or not as long as they accept free market economy and privatize their natural resources mainly in American and EU corporations, cooperate with US and EU in battling extremists, and to work against the interest of regimes who are at odd with US and EU countries. And that is the main reason that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies are not cutting oil production to stabilize and increase oil prices, just so to damage the economies of countries such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela which all of them are against the interest of US and EU countries.
For all these reasons, I doubt it that US and EU countries will punish Turkey, put sanction on it or kick it out from NATO or press it hard enough to abide by democratic principles, uphold the rule of law, and treat everyone equally regardless of religion, race and background.
Finally, I believe Turkey will get no concession and advantage if it continues to rebel or play games or blackmail US and EU through supporting terrorist groups or by trampling the rights of minorities or by going to bed with Iran and Russia secretly. Turkey should instead become honest and commit itself to true democracy. It should also solve its disputes with Greece and Cyprus, respect and recognize the democratic rights of minorities, and compensate Armenian for their genocide. This is the only way for Turkey to become a peaceful and prosperous state, that will have a better chance to be accepted as a member of EU.
http://ekurd.net/doubt-punish-turkey-democracy-2016-07-22
Today at 7:16 am by Rocky
» International companies offer offers to invest in the Dhi Qar marshes.. What distinguishes them?
Today at 7:15 am by Rocky
» “Tough” comments on interest rates raise the dollar globally
Today at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fifth largest oil supplier to South Korea in a month
Today at 7:12 am by Rocky
» Recovering more than 100 billion as a result of more than 200,000 employees on social welfare
Today at 7:11 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese consultant announces the completion of Baghdad Metro track designs
Today at 7:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses ending the problem of triple-shift schools
Today at 7:07 am by Rocky
» Iraq begins building two new tankers to transport petroleum products
Today at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Forming a council for “competition and preventing monopoly”
Today at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Features of an Iraqi-Turkish agreement regarding the status of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
Today at 7:02 am by Rocky
» {Al-Buzrajiya} between the hammer of fraud and the power of the owners
Today at 7:01 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» An agreement with Britain in the field of securities
Today at 6:58 am by Rocky
» Discussions between Baghdad and Ankara to open a new port
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Trade: About 11 million citizens updated their new card information
Today at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Electronic payment is sustainable growth
Today at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Experts: Iraq qualifies to be an important tourist country
Today at 6:54 am by Rocky
» utube 3/28/24 MM&C Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - SWIFT - Purchasing Power - Urban Renaissance - Releas
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 3/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - Strength Dinar - Automation ASYCUDA - World Bank - D
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Amending the Health Professions Law “robs” scientists of the central appointment 3 years after it wa
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Is the “blessings package” that Erbil paid to the citizens of Kurdistan related to the elections?
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Exceeded 5,000 projects.. Allocating 10 trillion dinars to support governorate reconstruction plans
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» “His need no longer exists.” Parliamentary Finance confirms the necessity of returning the retiremen
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» To communicate with the bases... 12 directives from Al-Sadr, including blocking numbers for non-gove
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» In an interview with "Baghdad Today"... an Iranian researcher reveals the importance of Haniyeh's vi
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» After it was 63 trillion in 2023... the 2024 budget deficit will rise to 80 trillion dinars
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliament reveals the date of the first evaluation of the governors and determines the party respon
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic informs Al-Araji and Al-Basri: Momentum must be mobilized to eliminate
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Can the Federal Court sue others? A legal clarification of its response mechanism to abuse
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Despite promises to soon stop burning gas.. What is the secret behind Iraq renewing the Iranian gas
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Advisor to Al-Sudani: The dollar is on the way to further decline, and 70% of Iraqi traders have ent
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Iraq exported more than 99 million barrels of oil last February
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Barzani “gives good news” to Kurdistan employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Alia Nassif: Nour Zuhair returned to the port of Umm Qasr to make deals.. An influential Shiite forc
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the movement of nearly 500 stalled projects
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» A government strategy to enhance investments.. Iraq is on the verge of a new era of economic develop
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Ranging between 20% and 50%.. The Kurdistan government decides to reduce service fees, customs dutie
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The reform approach in the security services is an integral part of reform in other secto
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Everyone in Iraq wants the Sudanese visit to Washington to be successful, even the factions!
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Sources and experts expect the agenda.. in his bag is the Baghdad dollar and the factions’ truce, bu
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» The decision to raise gasoline prices arouses the ire of drivers...a reminder of the large demonstra
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services: 3 important hospitals in Baghdad will enter service at the end of the year
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Iraq signs a contract to supply Iranian gas for a period of five years
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Parliament adds a voting paragraph on amending the Penal Code to its agenda
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» His political advisor: We are not afraid of Sudanese entering the elections alone
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services explain the reasons for the rise in real estate prices in Baghdad
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Attia, criticizing the government's decisions: "The citizen's feathers will be ruffled without servi
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Communications: Zain Iraq and Asiacell did not pay their debts
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» The Governor of Karbala announces the imminent establishment of the largest industrial city in the c
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» A government determination to end the issue of displaced persons in the middle of this year
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Iraq buys gas from Kurdistan to generate electricity
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary signatures to include an amendment to the internal regulations to decide the choice of
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» In Basra.. a demonstration against foreign workers in Iraqi companies (video)
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: Presidency of Parliament is an entitlement to the constituents, and calling it a “frame
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Electronic food supplies in 6 governorates... covering 11 million Iraqis and “writing off” about 700
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Corruption of the Ministry of Transport.. Representatives express their surprise at the minister’s s
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» The biggest supporter of the invasion of Iraq.. The death of former US Senator Joe Lieberman
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked “late.” A list of the most and least safe Arab countries for women
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers exempts the Gulf Interconnection Authority from guarantee fees: it is a gov
Yesterday at 7:48 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised”
Yesterday at 7:46 am by Rocky
» Popular Movement: We have many economic options away from American hegemony
Yesterday at 7:42 am by Rocky
» The Oil Parliament stresses the need to transfer part of the revenues to the producing governorates
Yesterday at 7:41 am by Rocky
» It will cover 14 regions in eastern Iraq.. A deputy reveals the “border electricity” project
Yesterday at 7:40 am by Rocky
» Experts Warn Mass Migration Threatens US Food Security
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Bama Diva
» Al-Fateh: America occupies Iraq through agreements
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Rocky
» Anger in Iraq over a "sudden decision"... and a reminder of a "general strike" that paralyzed the co
Yesterday at 7:34 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee: Parliament is discussing today a decision that “disturbed” the Iraqis
Yesterday at 7:33 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Electricity: Our production will reach 27 thousand megawatts by May
Yesterday at 7:31 am by Rocky
» Diagnosing the “most important” problems in the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil.. What is the rel
Yesterday at 7:30 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Fiqh Academy and the Sunni Endowment issue a fatwa to pay Zakat al-Fitr
Yesterday at 7:28 am by Rocky
» The National Bank of Iraq continues its digital transformation by launching its new banking system a
Yesterday at 7:26 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and the Central Bank are discussing the housing initiative
Yesterday at 7:25 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the restart of 500 suspended projects
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Barti assesses the region's employees: Your salaries are insured and will be paid after resettlem
Yesterday at 7:21 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American discussions in anticipation of the Sudanese visit
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Turkey hold meetings in Ankara to discuss technical issues related to the development road
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» A government parliamentary agreement to support budget revenues and governorate allocations for inve
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» A Kurdish-French agreement to develop trade and economic relations
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» Exchange companies in Mosul demand that they be entered into the currency selling window
Yesterday at 7:12 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance to the Czech Ambassador: Iraq enjoys a more attractive business environment and
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Britain sign an agreement in the field of the stock market
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A new parliamentary meeting with the Minister of Finance to discuss these files
Yesterday at 7:07 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee discusses these files with the Director of the Projects Department in the
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $257 million today
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance and the Minister of Planning discuss governorate allocations and investment bu
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Planning: We are discussing with representatives of the World Bank the work plan of the Social Fund
Yesterday at 7:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank and the Director of the Real Estate Bank
Yesterday at 7:01 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The 2024 budget reached 228 trillion dinars
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Barzani "gives good news" to Kurdistan's employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy: The decision to raise fuel prices targets this class
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic: Iraq is an important investment environment
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» From the accounts of Saddam's Republican Guard... Iraq returns approximately 7 billion dinars to the
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Abadi: Muqtada al-Sadr did not leave politics.. He reached a dead end
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Nassif: The leaders of the framework abandoned Al-Sudani because of his recent successes
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Baghdad stresses the continued danger of ISIS and the importance of Washington's efforts to combat i
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Oil: It is necessary to transfer part of the revenues to the oil-producing governorate
Yesterday at 6:45 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese government zeroes in on the legacy of its predecessors
Yesterday at 5:28 am by Rocky
» The Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Law is ready for its second reading
Yesterday at 5:26 am by Rocky