The Police Have Become Politicized
By Fatih Altayli
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Published: 4/4/2005
Source: Hurriyet
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Hurriyet reporter Fatih
Altayli at the hotel in Kizilcahamam where AKP is having a retreat
this week. In the conversation, Erdogan had this to say about the
recent breakdown in public order and service: “Politics have entered
into the police force. The police have become politicized. There are
information leaks.”
(Hurriyet) “Public order is breaking down more and more every
day. There is a security problem. Purse snatchings, muggings, these
sort of incidents are increasing. Is the police force not taking
these things seriously, and does the government plan to do anything
about these things?”
(Erdogan) “At the base of it all is poverty. Actually, recent police
operations have had a serious effect on breaking down some of this
disorder…..one thing is clear, and that is that migration (to
Istanbul) is a factor in all of this. The other thing is that the
police force personnel is not growing. When I was mayor of Istanbul,
the force numbered 32,000, but now it is down at 27,000. For this
reason I say let’s add university graduates to the force….Let me
also add this: the police have become politicized.”
(Hurriyet) What does that mean? In order to wear you down, some people
are using the police? Would this be your political foes?
(Erdogan) Well, there are information leaks. We learn some things
from the press before the police have even processed them. But there
are some things that must remain silent.
Armenian Genocide and the American Congress
(Hurriyet) The Armenian issue is heating up again inside Turkey. The
American Congress has announced that it is gathering the 90 signatures
necessary to bring the genocide bill before Congress. What is being
done about this in Turkey?
(Erdogan) We have begun with the British. We have spoken with
the opposition leaders in this country, and they are being very
understanding. We are breaking down the accusations made in the
Blue Book….which is completely a tool for propaganda. Armenian
cargo planes can land and fly from Turkey, including Istanbul. The
Culture Ministry is restoring the Armenian Church located on the Van
Lake Island. It seems that while the Armenians living in Armenia are
approaching relations with Turkey this positively, the Armenians living
outside Armenia are fighting against it. They have taken the idea of
migration and told the whole world that it’s genocide. Migration is
one thing, genocide is another.
(Hurriyet) Well, will the bill pass in the American Congress? If I’m
not wrong, US presidents have in the past prevented it twice. Will
Bush do the same thing?
(Erdogan) I have absolute trust in him. Because he is very sensitive
on this issue. I believe he will take the right steps at the right
time. Anyway, we are making a point to have our groups make contact
with US groups at the appropriate times.
“He is Also Uncomfortable With the Way Things Are Going”
(Hurriyet) How are relations with the US going? It seems that everyday
some other problem happens.
(Erdogan) I speak with Bush myself about this matter. He is also
uncomfortable with the way things are going. He has asked me what
I think we should do to get over this crisis. We talked, and have
decided communicate at the highest level. When there is a problem,
the two of us will speak directly.
(Hurriyet) Turkey is being attacked even in cartoons in the US. Is
there perhaps a communications problem between the two countries?
(Erdogan) Well, if it has to be admitted, yes. The Foreign Ministry
is focusing on this right now. And so are we. But we need the support
of citizens and the press on this matter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress