[ad_1]
Levent Gümrükçü, Ambbadador of the Republic of Turkey
Political developments in Turkey have for a long time been vigorously treated throughout the media in Europe, including Belgium, but in a tone of all the more unfavorable. Of course, it is only natural that developments in a country with a geostrategic importance and EU candidate country such as Turkey be closely followed by the European press. However, the harmful approach in question, has clearly gained momentum recently and especially following the attempted coup of 15 July 2016 in Turkey. Indeed, over the past two years, every step taken by Turkey has been reflected as a regression in the democratic values of the country and its remoteness from the EU. Certainly, this kind of interpretation seriously deteriorates the image of Turkey vis-à-vis the public opinion of the countries of Europe.
In view of the state of affairs, it is highly essential that this misperception and misinterpretations, caused rather by a lack of information and dialogue, be dispelled as soon as possible and that a more correct with respect to Turkey. Indeed, taking into account the crucial importance nowadays of relations between Turkey and the EU in various fields, be it terrorism or the migration crisis, it goes without saying that should put an end to such an illusory and harmful atmosphere between Turkey and its European partners and allies.
In this regard, I consider the fact that we are seizing today the second commemoration of the coup attempt of 15 July – that should absolutely discern the public opinion of the European countries, so that the events occurred in Turkey can be better put in perspective – we grant the most opportune time to carry out such a concerted badessment and ensure a better mutual understanding.
In this context, it would be necessary, first of all, to briefly recall the events that occurred on July 15, 2016. Essentially, during that night, the members of a terrorist organization, which being discreetly infiltrated over the years in multiple public institutions, including the Turkish armed forces, attempted to overthrow a democratically elected government and attempted to seize power through the use of force.
Fethullah Gülen © REUTERS
I use the term "discreetly" because "the Terrorist Fetullah Organization" (FETO) is now undoubtedly regarded as a The terrorist organization, in view of its role as author of the coup attempt, as well as its previous illicit activities, has been successful for many years, not only in Turkey but also abroad, in a religious charity focused on dialogue, and, in this case, was able to hide the infiltration of its members in many public institutions without raising concerns.
Nevertheless, regardless of how the events were handled before, the overall vision that arises clearly following the night of July 15, 2016, is the fact that this organization – managed by a so-called " Imam "who lives in the United States – has infiltrated virtually all public institutions, including the armed forces, police forces, judicial authorities and educational institutions; and finally, following a steadily increasing unmasking of which it became aware between 2013-2016, it deployed, as a last resort, its elements within the army in order to seize power through a coup.
In doing so, she not only hesitated to lead battle tanks on the millions of civilians who paraded in the streets to safeguard democracy, but also to bomb the Parliament in plenary session, under the roof of which the power and opposition acted with one heart against the coup. She also killed 250 innocent people indiscriminately. However, the Turkish people were able to suppress the coup attempt, demonstrating heroic resistance to the putschists, in order to safeguard their homeland and their democracy, to the detriment of hundreds of lives lost and thousands of In addition, on the night of July 15, the Turkish people not only protected democracy in Turkey but also prevented the great dangers that might have arisen in their region and beyond, in case this obscure and hypocritical organization, not afraid of exploiting religion for its political interests and committing acts of violence, had seized power in Turkey. As a result, our country has contributed to safeguarding regional and global stability.
I believe that Turkey's fight against FETO would be easier to understand if we took into account the events of that night in their true context and see the developments in a broader perspective. Because, it is clear that no state facing a threat of such magnitude, can not be content to simply bring to justice the pawns of the putsch. It goes without saying that each State will also make every effort to kneel and judge all the members of this evil organization.
This is exactly what Turkey has been doing since July 15, 2016. In other words, we do not just judge the terrorists who opened fire on the people in the streets that night, but at the same time we strive to bring to justice all the members of this terrorist organization who voluntarily supported FETO by material and intellectual means. Of course, this legal effort also includes those who had obtained their positions in public institutions because of their membership in this organization – indeed, this membership was their only merit in obtaining these positions – as well as those who abused their positions in the institutions. media, in education as well as business and political circles for the sole purpose of creating a "legitimate" basis for the actions of the said terrorist organization.
Indeed, the struggle led by Turkey against FETO, is surely not unprecedented in the world. For example, Belgium had initiated legal proceedings against 5% of its population because of some suspicious activity during the Second World War. Similarly, half a million people in East Germany had been fired following the unification of Germany after the Cold War. All these events clearly demonstrate that, under extraordinary conditions, States can take significant precautions to ensure security and peace within their country.
Nevertheless, all the steps in the fight against FETO after 15 July 2016 have been made in full transparency and in accordance with the rule of law, in full cooperation with the Council of Europe. The state of emergency, for example, did not envisage limiting fundamental rights and freedoms, but on the contrary, it was declared and implemented in order to make the state apparatus more efficient and to ensure the security of the country. while pursuing the fight against terrorism. Since Turkey is a State governed by the rule of law, every citizen against whom legal proceedings have been commenced during this period has the fundamental right to lodge a complaint with the courts against them and also enjoys the right to
Indeed, in a relatively short period of two years in relation to the seriousness of the threat, virtually all judicial and administrative proceedings have been finalized. During this period, there have been, certainly, people who have been convicted, but also thousands of people falsely dismissed who have been acquitted or reinstated in their former post, following their appeals to the competent authorities. The rights of those who had been, in one way or another, victims of the decisions taken during this period have been restored. Therefore, in view of the progress in the fight against FETO, the decision to revoke the state of emergency, which had been exclusively declared in the context of this fight, has already been announced.
Finally, after more than two years, it is clear that the coup attempt of July 15, 2016 was a real and great danger and that not only Turkey, but the whole world, escaped that day, to fall into a chasm. Turkey has fought a considerable and determined struggle against this great threat, as all countries would have done in the face of such danger. It did so without departing from the principle of the rule of law. In this astonishing period, of course, there have been mistakes. However, Turkey spared no effort to solve them, while respecting the general principles of law. And today, having made significant progress in this struggle, we are now in the midst of normalization.
On the other hand, the thing that we missed the most during this period was the understanding and solidarity towards the Turkish people and Turkey, which could have been demonstrated by the governments of our Western allies and their media. Indeed, we felt very well alone during this difficult time. The fact that our Western friends, instead of condemning this terrorist organization threatening our democracy and sovereignty, has criticized, sometimes in a far from constructive way, the measures we have taken to fight this organization was rather worrying. Moreover, the fact that they did it based on arbitrary information without using the channels of dialogue existing between us, caused us deep sadness.
Nevertheless, the time has now come to turn us to the future. Indeed, the fact that the entire Euro-Atlantic community, including Turkey, is confronted with severe threats and challenges must not be lost sight of. Many issues in the fight against terrorism, including FETO and PKK, conflicts in the Middle East, the proliferation of weapons of mbad destruction, the migration crisis, the future of international free trade, to the cyber Security, force us to cooperate closely.
Indeed, following the elections of June 24, the new government composed under the aegis of Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdo? an, President of the Republic of Turkey, expressed his will to achieve this cooperation in the most effective way possible, with its Western friends and allies, mainly the EU, with whom we share mutual values and ideals, and to build together a common future. In this new era, I hope that we will leave behind prejudices and misperceptions, in order to implement together, for the benefit of our peoples, a common vision through dialogue and mutual understanding, to which I am trust.
By Levent Gümrükçü, Ambbadador of the Republic of Turkey
[ad_2]
Source link
