Abant Platform Urges Greater Contribution to Democratization
The Abant Platform, a prominent discussion forum known for dealing with pressing issues that face Turkey, has called for the elimination of all factors preventing the development of democracy in Turkey and urged all parties to contribute to its growth.
A two-day meeting of the platform started yesterday at the Abant Palace Hotel in Abant, northwest Turkey. Supported by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), a civic organization championing the principles of diversity, multiculturalism and dialogue, the meeting has brought together scholars, writers, intellectuals and community leaders to discuss the subject of "Democratization: Political Parties from Sept. 12 to the European Union."
"Turkey is on the road from the process of Sept. 12 [1980], when there was no democracy and political parties, toward full democratization around an identity compliant with [membership in] the EU," stated Levent Köker, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abant Platform, during his opening speech.
Köker said recent developments in the country proved that Turkey needs to work hard in order to avoid experiencing another Sept. 12, the third coup d'état in the history of Turkey, after the 1960 coup and the 1971 coup by military memorandum.
The development Köker referred to is a recently exposed plot, allegedly put together by a colonel on active duty, with the ultimate objective of undermining the power of the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.
According to the plot, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had a systematic plan to damage the image of the AK Party and the highly respected Gülen movement in the eyes of the public.
It also aimed to play down the investigation into Ergenekon ― a clandestine terrorist organization allegedly plotting to overthrow the government ― and to gather support for members of the military arrested as part of the Ergenekon case. The military is currently investigating the document detailing the suspected plot to ascertain whether it is genuine.
"Democracy is a system which advocates that every individual is born free and is equal to others," stated Kemal Karpat, a historian and writer. Karpat said the Sept. 12 military coup was a turning point in Turkish democracy, adding that strong dialogue should be established with the military to strengthen democracy.
"You cannot achieve your objective by making the military your rival or by threatening it. I don't know where it should be started, but establishing strong dialogue with the military could be a good idea. The military is one of the most important fundamentals and guarantees of existence of this country. The establishment of democratic dialogue with the military will improve democracy and will strengthen the fundamentals of our country," he remarked.
Among other participants of the Abant Platform, which was holding its 19th meeting, were Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arinç; Egemen Bağiş, state minister for EU affairs and chief EU negotiator; Emine Bozkurt, a member of the European Parliament; Reha Çamuroğlu, an AK Party İstanbul deputy and the party's pioneer in Alevi outreach; and constitutional expert Ergun Özbudun.
'Heavy responsibility on military, judiciary for improvement of democracy'
In a speech he delivered, Deputy Prime Minister Arinç said heavy responsibility falls on the shoulders of the Turkish military and judiciary in relation to the improvement of democracy in the country. "Universities are also responsible. Universities are no longer in search of ways to overthrow governments. They are engaged in scientific research," Arinç noted.
He also lashed out at circles that question the authenticity of the suspected military plot against the AK Party and the Gülen movement.
"We are still discussing whether the document is authentic or not. We are distressed about it. We shouldn't be having these discussions now that we have come this far. I am talking about reactions to a document which aims at destroying a political party. It is nothing but treason," Arinç remarked.
Bolu Governor Halil İbrahim Akpinar also addressed the participants of the platform and complained about coup instigators going unpunished in Turkey.
"Despite the many years that have passed, we fell short of trying the coup plotters who raped our democracy, which was already not in good condition. We did not call them to account for torture, human rights violations and maltreatment of our citizens," he said.
Urgent need for new constitution underscored
Akpinar also suggested that it was a must to change the existing Constitution, drafted under military rule in 1980, to develop democracy and grant broader freedoms to individuals.
"The greatest obstacle to a more democratic life is the Constitution written by army generals who staged a military coup. The existing Constitution does not attach much importance to the will of the people and envisages limited democracy under the shadow of an oligarchic bureaucracy," he said.
The AK Party government has lately been engaged in efforts to write a new and more civilian constitution to replace the current one. Efforts to amend the Constitution, however, have so far failed due to strong opposition from other political parties, led by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
Egemen Bağiş, Turkey's chief EU negotiator, also stressed the need for a new constitution, calling on all parties to contribute to the passage of a more civilian constitution. "The current Constitution does not fit us. Let's prepare a constitution together that will meet European standards and set a good example for the whole world," he said.
Bozkurt, a member of the European Parliament, said a new and civilian constitution would strengthen Turkey's bid to become a full EU member. "The EU brings prosperity to its member countries in the long term. Turkey is knocking on the door of the EU, and the EU project will enable direct contact between different civilizations once Turkey becomes a member," she added.
Constitutional expert Özbudun said efforts to amend the current Constitution should be the number one issue of the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2011.
Launched in 1998 with the aim of organizing a platform in which people representing different schools of thought could come together and debate problems of common concern in open discussions, the Abant Platform has held more than a dozen workshops discussing a variety of topics that concern Turkey, including secularism, religion, the EU, the Constitution, education, globalization, social contracts, democracy, modernity, war and peace.
The last Abant Platform meeting, held in February, brought together more than 200 intellectuals from Turkey and Iraq to debate the thorny Kurdish issue in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in a conference titled "Searching for Peace and a Future Together."
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