TURKEY’S PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES REFORMIST GOVERNMENT AND A RENEWED EU BID

PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
Aug 31 2007
Austria

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s leader on Friday laid out a policy
vision for the next five years that focuses on economic reforms,
pursuing European Union membership and defending the state’s secular
and democratic principles.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who won a second mandate in
parliamentary elections in July, said in parliament that the government
will press ahead with democratic and judicial reforms, overhaul the
constitution, and establish "zero tolerance" against torture.

His speech came three days after his close ally, Abdullah Gul, won
the presidency in a parliamentary vote after months of confrontation
with military-backed, secular circles. Gul approved a new Cabinet
comprising politicians with Islamist and secular backgrounds, some
with reformist streaks underscoring the Islamic-oriented government’s
commitment to winning EU entry.

"Our government sees the EU entry talks both as a way of integration
and a reform process to improve political, economic, social and legal
standards," said Erdogan, a devout Muslim.

Even so, many Turks remain deeply suspicious of the government’s
long-term intentions, fearing it will seek to impose Islamic values
now that it has a virtual lock on power.

Legislators from Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party are working on
a draft proposal that overhauls the constitution _ a legacy of a 1980
military coup _ to make it more democratic, the government has said.

"Our new constitution must bring to life the democratic, secular and
social state, governed by the rule of law, and protect individuals
rights, and it must guarantee fundamental rights and liberties,"
said Erdogan, whose record shows a shift from advocacy of political
Islam to a more moderate stance in which religion is not the driving
force in policy-making.

Erdogan vowed to eradicate torture, which human rights groups say
has persisted in detention centers despite vast improvements in
the country.

"With an understanding of zero tolerance, we will fight with great
determination _ just as we have done so far _ against human rights
abuses such as torture, death under custody, which are unacceptable
in democratic countries," Erdogan said.

Erdogan promised to continue reforms to boost the economy, maintain
fiscal discipline and fight corruption. The government’s policies,
backed by the International Monetary Fund, have helped bring down
soaring inflation to single-digit figures in the past five years.

Erdogan said the government would aim to more than double Turkey’s
exports to US$200 billion (147 billion) during its five-year term.

He pledged the government’s resolve to fight separatist Kurdish rebels,
whose attacks this year prompted the Turkish military to recommend
an offensive against their bases in neighboring Iraq.

Turkey’s political leaders have instead appealed to Iraq and the
United States to crack down on rebels operating in northern Iraq.

The program, however, made no mention of any measures to lift a ban
on Islamic-style head scarves in schools and government offices,
a symbolic issue that has had an especially polarizing effect on
Turkish society.

Despite Erdogan’s pledge to improve human rights, he did not mention
Turkey’s Article 301, which has been used to prosecute journalists,
writers and academics for allegedly insulting Turkish identity. Nobel
Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk and slain ethnic Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink were prosecuted under the law, which the EU wants Turkey
to scrap.

Parliament was scheduled to hold a debate on the program on Monday
before a vote of confidence on the government two days later.

Erdogan’s party has a majority in parliament and is almost certain
to win the vote.

Associated Press Writer C. Onur Ant in Istanbul contributed to
this report.