West Fears Turkey May be Drifting into "Isolationism" (Condi not helping)

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com



2//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey Thursday, April 28, 2005

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=11885


WEST FEARS TURKEY MAY BE DRIFTING INTO ‘ISOLATIONISM’

US analysts see Gen. Özkök’s remarks as a solid warning of potential change in Western-oriented policy. Some EU diplomats fear mutual 'domino effect' in ties

Washington/Ankara - Exclusive by TDN Defense Desk - A tough-worded speech by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök unveiled what analysts and diplomats view as a hidden fear in western capitals that Turkey may be slowly drifting into political isolation.


They said Özkök's remarks proved a long-time suspicion that Turkey's anchor at the Western bay -- through its NATO membership, EU candidacy and long-time alliance with the United States -- may now be at stake.



(SNIP)



In his major annual policy speech at the War Academies in Istanbul on April 20, Özkök criticized the United States on at least three key points. His first message reflected the Turkish military's uneasiness over an insistent U.S. characterization of Turkey in reference to Islam.



Turkey is neither an Islamic state, nor an Islamic country, said Gen. Özkök, calling secularism the key principle that holds together the Turkish Republic's values. Some circles want to describe Turkey in terms of moderate Islam. Almost 99 percent of the Turkish population is Muslim, but its government is secular and democratic and functions according to the rule of law, he said.



His remarks came five days after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Turkey was an example of democracy with an Islamist ruling party. So the goal is to, in those places where Muslims are either the majority or in some cases almost without any minority, is to recognize that there is no contradiction between Islam and the Muslim world and democracy. You have, in Turkey, for instance, a state that is growing up with a strong Islamic party as its ruling party, she told a meeting of newspaper editors in Washington.

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[MADem]

1. Love that turn of phrase -- the west "fears"

How can we "fear" something that we have had an active hand in fashioning? It's like taking a shit under the table and wandering around, complaining and wondering, what's that smell???