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“TURKEY CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ITS DEMOCRATIC VALUES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1954 on Oct. 30, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TURKEY CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ITS DEMOCRATIC VALUES
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HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA
of american samoa
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, we have been debating in this body for some time now how to achieve the appropriate balance, in war and in peace, between protection of the state and protection of the individual liberties that are so important to a healthy democracy. As we wrestle with the aftermath of September 11th, we begin to see the same debate and the same concerns echoed in other democracies around the world.
One debate, not much focused on, has occurred in our ally and good friend, Turkey. That nation, which has lost over 30,000 of its citizens due to terrorist attacks, and which has suffered great hardship as a result of their support for our policy of economic sanctions against Iraq and others in the Middle East, has nonetheless conducted a vigorous public debate about what kind of democracy should flourish in Turkey. That debate has ended with a series of constitutional reforms, reforms that the State Department says ``embodies the values that the international coalition is defending.''
These reforms are broad ranging. In some cases, they expressly limit the power of the state to stifle freedom of expression, or to pry into the private lives of citizens, even those who might be suspected of criminal behavior. Others enshrine individual rights to gather, to protest or to form political parties. Still others aim for a more inclusive society by allowing use of languages other than Turkish. A group of the reforms seek to place an economic floor of support below the citizens in order to help assure opportunities for economic betterment. Finally, a group of reforms seek to streamline government and make it more responsive to the citizenry.
More than 30 constitutional reforms were adopted. Once implemented, they should go a long way toward erasing any opposition to Turkey's entry into the European Union.
It is also important to note that these reforms have been made in a Moslem nation. Turkey has always believed it important to protect the secular nature of its society, often at the risk of being criticized from within and without. Turkey's reforms, indeed its impetus to reform, is living proof that democracy and Islam are compatible.
Mr. Speaker, there are two other things about these reforms that are remarkable. First, Turkey moved boldly on many fronts to examine past practices and seems willing to make large changes to enshrine democracy. Second, despite economic pressures, political pressures, and the exigencies of the current war against terrorists, it never wavered in its pursuit of a democratic ideal. Turkey, and the entire community of democracies, should feel justly proud of what has been accomplished to date.
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