Yeni Safak , Turkey
Jan 15 2010

Turkey Must Get Used to Referenda

by Ziya Yusuf Comert

Responding to opposition criticism that Turkey "was turning into a
single-party dictatorship" Prime Minister Erdogan said: "Many things
that were never talked about have become discussable under the AKP
[Justice and Development Party]. Let us see who was meddling with the
columnists 10 years ago." Prime Minister Erdogan said that if
necessary the Constitution could be changed in order for "Democratic
Overture" projects concerning the Kurds, the Alevis and the Romanies
to be brought to life.

Returning from his trip to Russia, Prime Minister Erdogan chatted with
journalists aboard the plane and summed up both domestic and foreign
policy developments. Stating that work to abolish visa requirements
between both countries may be concluded by the time Medvedev comes to
Turkey, Erdogan said that should the problems between Armenia and
Azerbaijan be solved this would make it easier to normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations. Prime Minister Erdogan hinted that
referenda might be held from time to time after the law is changed to
shorten the preparation period for referenda. Commenting on opposition
criticism of "civilian fascism" Erdogan said: "They are saying that
the AKP’s vote has dropped to 26 per cent. So, why are you crying?
There is only a year-and-a-half to go before the next general
election. The people will elect you and you will be in power."

The opposition should be dancing with joy

[Comert] The opposition says that Turkey is heading towards
"single-party fascism." The polls presented by the opposition show the
AKP vote has slumped to 26 per cent or so. What do you make of these
allegations?

[Erdogan] If this is really the case and the AKP vote has fallen to 26
per cent then Baykal and his friends should be dancing with joy, yet
they are talking about a civilian dictatorship. If our vote falls to
26 or below then the CHP [Republican People’s Party] and MHP
[Nationalist Action Party] combined vote will be in the 40s. If that
is the case then why are you crying? There is a month-and-a-half to go
before the next general election. You will increase your vote further.
The people will elect you. You will come to power if the nation puts
you there. But you will get nowhere by making slander.

We went from censorship to democracy

If the standard of democracy has increased it is all thanks to the
AKP. Many things that could not be talked about before have become
discussable under the AKP. Let us look back seven, eight, 10 years.
Let us see who was meddling with the columnists back then. We cannot
simply ignore the period of emergency rule. Look how far we have come.

Did the overture exist before?

We know how our citizens in the southeast gained many of their acquis.
The Romanies were never on anybody’s agenda. When we turned our
attention on them the MHP started to make preparations. Hello! Did the
Romanies not exist until yesterday? I never saw any overture because
of the "Kurdish problem" made before. I spoke in Diyarbakir in 2005.
The national unity and fraternity project includes minorities, Alevis
and Romanies.

Our colleagues have all but finalized the legal arrangements
shortening the period before a referendum. We should be able to make
these kinds of arrangements faster than 120 days. It is hard to hold a
referendum here. In the past very few referenda were held. The first
one was when Ozal was in power. Turkey should get used to referenda.

We shall seek consensus for constitution

[Comert] Is a constitutional amendment in the pipeline?

[Erdogan] Political parties are obliged to make changes to the law and
the Constitution. It goes without saying that Turkey needs to change
the Constitution. The conditions are not right for making such
detailed changes. We began work on this back in 2007. It got held up
by the 14 March process. We pressed ahead with our work. It would be
wrong for me to say that such and such a step will be taken. There are
preparations underway. Society demands it, and if a consensus is
reached in Parliament then we shall move forward. We are not boasting
that there will be 100 per cent consensus. We will work hard for a
consensus. If somebody takes a step for consensus then so shall we.
Earlier on we said let us form a consensus commission for
constitutional changes. The CHP did not join it.

Narrow scope changes

Any change to the Constitution will be narrow in scope. It will not be
broad. It will not be a package that ties up Parliament for days. Even
the simplest of changes can put wheel-clamps on work. We can do
constitutional changes that have a small number of articles. Changes
to the political parties and elections laws require a consensus.

New gas price deal

[Comert] There was a formula keeping our purchase price for Blue
Stream gas high. Has any progress been made?

[Erdogan] We pressured the Russians as much as we could. They are
saying that they can "reevaluate the situation by 10 November." A new
deal can be made regarding natural gas. Right now it is all up in the
air.

Turkey made visa proposal

[Comert] Scrapping visa requirements between Russia and Turkey was
this visit’s surprise. How did that happen?

[Erdogan] Mr Medvedev and Mr Putin welcomed the abolition of visas.
They said, "Let us start working on that." It was already on our
agenda. Our businessmen have expectations. Medvedev will be visiting
Turkey in May or June. We also suggested that the Turkish-Russian
Business Council meet in Istanbul. "Let us top that off with the visa
thing," we said. It was us who proposed scrapping visas. They regarded
it positively.

Armenia must withdraw

[Comert] Putin maintained that the Karbakh problem must be treated
separately from the normalizing of Turkish-Armenian relations. What do
you make of his approach?

[Erdogan] No matter how much we try to keep them separate, behind the
scenes they are connected. The doors closed when the problems between
Azerbaijan and Armenia began. You know the business about what the law
brings in the law can also send away, right? That is how it is here.
There has to be peace in order for such a step to be taken. The
problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia should go away. The occupation
of Karabakh should end. The Turkey-Armenia issue will be worked out
easily. If Armenia really has good intentions then it can start by
withdrawing from that region.

BDP members must be more prudent

[Comert] What do you make of the policy line to be followed by the BDP
[Peace and Democracy Party] that replaced the DTP [Democratic Society
Party]?

[Erdogan] It is our wish that they engage in politics under this roof
with diligence and prudence within a democratic parliamentary system
without making the same mistakes. There are serious democratic rights
under this roof. That rostrum grants so many opportunities. They said
so much from there. Different words said in different locations had
undesirable consequences. I have said it before, we are opposed to
dissolving legal identities. If an individual commits a crime they
should pay the price. As for Baydemir… First he spat venom then the
next day he retracted. Not elegant but unseemly. I will not tell
mayors that they are not politicians. Politicians must know very well
what they are saying. The AKP does have projects in that region. There
are investments that have not been made in 80 years. It is unseemly to
ignore all that.

International formula for nuclear power station

[Comert] A formula for "an international deal" with respect to a
nuclear power station was on the agenda. How is this process going to
end?

[Erdogan] The Council of State annulled the tender. We started a new
process. It is continuing. Work is being done. How is a deal made
between governments? The technical details are being worked on. Once
they are in place then we shall all meet up. Afterwards, all the prime
ministers will send the project to Parliament. It will be treated as
an international agreement. The Council of State will not be involved.
There are previous examples of this. It could take six months. Siemens
is Russia’s preferred partner. We are talking about two units of about
2,400-2,500 megawatts. The process will take up to seven years.
Preparations are in place for Sinop. We shall pursue the same method
here. We shall fix this using an intergovernmental agreement.

I was right when I said "it missed us"

[Comert] What do you make of the economic crisis as it stands right
now? You had said that the crisis had "missed" Turkey.

[Erdogan] Our finance sector was not affected by the crisis. In terms
of unemployment figures, we were also the least hard hit. Unemployment
was at 10.7 per cent when we came to office. The economic indicators
began to rise in 2010. We shall see this when the figures for the last
quarter are released. Our growth estimates for 2010 are modest. We are
saying 3.5 per cent, but I believe it will be higher.

I told Putin take the initiative

For us the step to be taken is obvious. There are corridors in front
of us. We took certain risks. We began with cargo flights between
Istanbul and Yerevan. We have opened the air corridor but the land
corridor is a different matter. There are currently many Armenians in
Turkey who are not citizens. Russia should take the initiative. I
spoke bluntly with Putin and Medvedev. Of the Minsk Three, the country
with the most influence over Armenia is Russia, then the United States
and then France.

We switched to strategic cooperation with Russia

[Comert] Can we assume that Turkish-Russian relations have entered a
new era with this visit?

[Erdogan] We first called our relations with Russia "a union of forces
between governments." We then switched to intergovernmental
cooperation. We are now at the level of strategic cooperation. We
expect to sign a "strategic cooperation agreement" when Medvedev comes
here. Just like with Syria and Iraq. Russia has made similar deals
with France and Germany. It will do this also with Turkey. The energy
business will change the fate of many things. We need to bring this to
life quickly.

[translated from Turkish]
From: Baghdasarian