Transcript
FOREIGN MINISTER GÜL: I would like to use this opportunity to share with you my thinking on why I believe that the relationship between the United States and Turkey will continue to gather new strength and force in the years ahead.
Turkey and the United States have been strong allies since decades past. And naturally, over the course of nearly 60 years, their ties have flourished in many areas, always containing an important defense component. This being so, it is rather what has been taking place at home in Turkey that leads me to this conviction:
I'm referring to the remarkable pace of reform that, during the last four years or so, brought Turkish democracy to European standards. In all respects, Turkish democracy has deepened thanks to wide-ranging legislative and administrative reforms that encompass almost every aspect of Turkish citizens' daily life.
This reform movement has two main dimensions. From the very start, we have recognized the need to couple political reform with economic reform. Indeed, in order to achieve overall success, these two should go hand in hand. If one lags behind, the other fades away soon after. In our case, the two, namely economic and political reforms, were successfully recoupled, each reinforcing the other.
More importantly, Turkey's success has ramifications beyond itself. After all, these reforms have been realized in a Muslim country, making a unique case so far. This is a gift to the world because the Turkish experience shows that Islam is compatible with democracy and because it inspires other Muslim societies as well. Indeed, it attracts the attention of the Islamic countries and societies who desire reform and good governance.
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