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Turkish MP discusses foreign policy at Rumi Forum event
January 30, 2008
By Beth Hearn
The progress made by Turkey over the past fifteen years was at the center of a speech delivered by Suat Kiniklioglu, Member of Turkish Parliament and Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Rumi Forum in Washington on Wednesday.
Kiniklioglu spoke about the turnaround that has taken place since the end of the Cold War, when Turkey’s attention was focused on domestic struggles, claiming that it is now “an inspiration for Middle Eastern nations,” and adding that “this puts a responsibility on our shoulders.”
Faced with questions that challenged his optimistic outlook, Kiniklioglu continued to paint a rosy picture. On freedom of speech issues, he asserted that Turkey “is a country that’s transforming” but that “values don’t change overnight.”
In terms of Turkey’s relations with other countries, he acknowledged that one relationship that is yet to see improvement is that with Armenia. In response to a question about whether reluctance to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide has the potential to hold the country back in its aspirations for continued progress, he said that further investigation is needed. “We believe that the story of 1915 is not all told yet,” he said, “but what matters is that Turkish-American relations should not suffer on the basis of the claims of an effective ethnic lobby.”
The issue of headscarves was also discussed, with Kiniklioglu stressing the importance of personal choice in this area.
The discussion brought to light several of the most contentious issues currently facing Turkey, but Kiniklioglu asserted that they are not holding the country back, as he said, “what is life without conflict in Turkey?” |
