Turkey's image abroad is suffering because of a crippling domestic political crisis that has shaken confidence in the financial markets, said Turkish president in an interview with FT.

- 09 / 05 / 2008 15:12

Abdullah Gul, the president of Turkey, spoke to Vincent Boland, Turkey correspondent of the Financial Times, at his office at the presidential palace in Ankara on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. The following is an edited transcript of the interview.

Financial Times: Mr President, I want to start by asking you whether the job [of president] is what you expected it to be, or is it different?

Abdullah Gul: That’s a very nice question. You are the first to actually start off with such a question. Colleagues of yours start off with other questions, and I’m quite pleased that you should start with this. Coming from my prior position as foreign minister, I’m familiar with the duties and roles of heads of state, and in that context I’ve had some practice due to the observations that I could make. Today, serving as president, I’m familiar with the daily work that needs to be done. But beyond that I’m quite happy that as president I can work for a better world and for the interests and good of Turkey and for world peace. My lengthy experience as minister for foreign affairs [2003/07] does help in my being able to conduct my duties better. Many heads of state, foreign ministers, prime ministers, are my friends, and my experience allows me to know the issues in depth and in detail. I know the files. I know the issues. And that is why we embark on numerous foreign visits, and our activities are very intense.

FT: Do you have concrete goals that you want to achieve [as president]?

AG: One of my duties, which is described in the constitution, is to ensure that there is proper coordination between numerous Turkish institutions. In this context, I am working hard to ensure the stability of Turkey. I do not deal with daily political issues. That is the responsibility of the prime minister and the government. But I work on the larger, more principled issues that Turkey is involved in. I work to ensure the prestige of the country. In this context our bid for European Union accession is a very important issue that I follow and lead, and the related reform process, which is attached to this EU bid, is something I follow very closely. I invite all that are concerned and active in this issue to be brave.

In my political life, and overall, I’m a firm believer in realpolitik. I’ve always adhered to this idea. In my present role I have no expectations beyond what I have and I have no reason to be going into thoughts about the future. What I do now is talk about building confidence for the future, to inspire this confidence, and to make sure that progress can be made and made boldly. That is one point. But there is also a second point. We, like many others, have chronic problems. These exist. Sometimes some are not in a position where they find the circumstances to openly state their thoughts and concerns on such chronic problems. This is one point where I follow developments closely and lead.

Sometimes problems are not attended to, sometimes they are swept under the rug. That is when they become chronic. I am very firm in my belief that I will, and I do, follow these closely and that I call upon and will call upon all to bring a solution to such issues.

FT: It has been a very dramatic period in Turkey over the last 12 months, roughly from this time last year. Some would say it has been damaging or destabilising. Where are things right now, in your view? Are things less stable than they were a year ago, and, if they are, what does that imply for Turkey?

AG: At present, I am removed from politics. I must preserve and protect this position, but this certainly does not mean that I have to be detached from the events transpiring. However, I don’t want to be involved in polemics, so I stay where I am, in a situation where I observe things and follow things closely. But my comments and actions should not to be made issues of polemics.

I would like to answer your question under two headings. The first one is, looking at Turkish political life, the way it is today, there are very important events transpiring and very serious discussions that are taking place. Lawsuits regarding parties and discussions involving the government and other issues are transpiring and are being openly discussed in Turkey. The most extreme things are being openly debated by all. Such political struggles can take place and these political struggles can be quite acute. But such struggles happen in other states as well. I believe in the common sense and goodwill of the people and I believe that the political problems that we are encountering today will all be overcome in the context of democratic maturity.

Now the second point that I wish to make is that perhaps we should look at things in a different light, leaving behind the conjectural discussion that is the discussion of today and looking at the trends that exist, the five- to 10-year trends. It is very clear in which direction Turkey is heading. It is a country that is rapidly modernising, has a growing economy, and is adopting EU norms, and is a country that is going in that direction. The principal foundation on which everything is being built is the democratic, secular, social state based on the rule of law. That is the foundation on which everything is transpiring. It needs to be understood that there is very wide agreement among the people regarding these basic principles. I believe that these founding principles are all in place.

The problem, if there is one, is regarding implementation. Whether the implementation in the framework of these principles is successful, whether it can be improved, whether the performance can be better. I believe this is where the real discussion is and is perhaps where some differences in perception may exist. Of course, in a country as big as Turkey there are certain marginal and extreme ideas that are being voiced. These exist, but they exist in other large countries as well. But I want to stress that these are all marginal, and not ideas or beliefs that can garner the support of the people behind them.

FT: And yet people looking at Turkey from abroad, looking at the situation where you, the popular choice for president, are now among several people targeted with an attempt to kick you out of politics in a way that people outside Turkey don’t understand. How do you convince people abroad that nothing damaging is going to happen, and how do you defend yourself against the charges?

AG: Undoubtedly this appearance [image] of Turkey that you have referred to is not a pleasant one, let’s be very frank about this. Turkey, a country about which the headlines said that it is a reformist country, a country making progress, all these positive headlines, now may not have the best appearance when looked at from abroad. I see this fact. I see it clearly. But as I said at the outset, Turkey is a country with its pluralism and democracy in place. Certainly more reforms need to be in place, and this is being worked on, and all of these factors will lead us to a way out and I believe at the end that Turkey’s democracy will continue to be strong.

FT: So you are expecting a positive outcome to the crisis that Turkey is currently in?

AG: I was referring to things generally. We will see how events unfold specifically on this issue, but generally I believe Turkey will come out of such crises successfully because I believe generally in goodwill.

FT: And do you believe you will be able to defend and resist this attempt to ban you from politics for five years?

AG: Well, as set out in the constitution, I am completely detached from politics anyway. I am equidistant to all political parties. And I have no expectation within the framework of political expectations. That’s why I have stated all that I have stated previously, from the heart and very sincerely. So when I was a candidate for the presidency I automatically and by my own hand brought about a hiatus in my political activities.

FT: When you were foreign minister you were very much identified with the whole EU direction and this is still a very important process for you. What are you doing now, what can you do as president that you couldn’t do as foreign minister that can move this process forward?

AG: I as president can make very strong calls on the government and the parliament and I can advise them on issues and I do this both openly and by summoning them here and having bilateral talks with them. Of course politicians can sometimes find themselves in a situation where they need to act in a populist manner. That’s the nature of politics. But I have a position where I will continue to call upon and dwell upon the necessity for reforms. I will tell our people through the press that this needs to be pursued. I will push for reforms. I will continue to do this and I will push for issues that may at times be tough issues to push for but I will continue to do this.

FT: The impression is that the reform process has really slowed down. Earlier you mentioned the need for bravery in tackling issues. Do you sense that there isn’t that bravery there right now?

AG: In the last year energy was spent on different issues and therefore it is true that less work was done. But I believe that all now understand the value of the reform process in light of what has transpired. Furthermore, I believe that the reform process makes Turkey stronger in a number of aspects. It makes Turkey stronger in the context of democracy and democratic rights, in the context of legal changes, as well as in the context of its economy. I believe its outcome will make artificial issues less significant.

FT: Have you been able to forge or encourage a consensus across the political parties as president?

AG: I summoned all the party leaders here and I discussed with them openly Turkey’s stability, issues relating to Turkey’s future, and I told them of the need to do what has to be done on all these issues.

FT: And do you see yourself as an active agent in this consensus-forming process that Turkey seems to need very badly now?

AG: I must pay attention to the fact that my actions should not be made the subject of polemics. But while I pay attention to this, I do, of course, what needs to be done for Turkey. The fact is that I do not always do it in front of the public eye.

FT: Some people expect you to play a more active role in solving Turkey’s political problems. People on the street, in the newspapers, think you must get more involved. Do you agree with that?

AG: I called a summit of all the party leaders to this office and also the leaders of parties not in parliament. I talked to them very clearly but didn’t go out of my way to do it in public. I also summoned the leaders of important NGOs and discussed it with them and I spoke to the leading organs and institutions of state. Everything will be handled within the context of democracy and within the idea that common sense will prevail. These are tough issues, of course. But I do believe that common sense and goodwill will prevail at the end.

FT: In terms of the relations between this office and the military, are they the same now as they have been all along or are they different?

AG: The armed forces are an institution of Turkey and I am the commander-in-chief. Our relations are at the level at which the relevant laws prescribe them to be. You will see, especially in recent times, that there has been very close interaction between us, be it in the context of our ongoing fight against terror or other issues on which we hold regular consultations. All these issues are dealt with in the context of all the regulations that prescribe them. I conduct visits when these are called for and on issues of security and other relevant issues we hold consultations and we talk regularly. But we should see that our interaction is not only limited to issues related to internal developments but also to the fact that external developments, issues surrounding Turkey, require that we are in constant and close contact.

Something I take up with other politicians frequently is that issues within Turkey that we might be discussing should in no way influence the contributions that Turkey can bring to its region. The year 2008 is most important for Iraq, which is a very important issue [for Turkey]. The issues within Turkey should in no way impact what Turkey can do on this issue of Iraq, for example, or within the context of the entire region. These are very significant issues. All these political discussions on internal issues have not impacted what Turkey does on a host of regional issues, be it the problems between Syria and Israel, be it our contribution to bringing peace to the region, our efforts directed at Pakistan, in Afghanistan, and in a broader sense in the Middle East, as well as issues related to Nato. We have continued to contribute strongly and one will see that all these discussions have not impacted any of the work that we do. If anything, one can see that in recent times our efforts directed at these issues have been even stronger. Our fight against terrorism is also a very important part of the work that we do.

FT: Do you as commander-in-chief see that the activities in northern Iraq in the past few months have actually achieved concrete goals that are of benefit to Turkey?

AG: Yes, and I believe that this has not only contributed towards Turkey’s goals but has also contributed to Iraq and the entire region. Turkey has shown the region, and the whole world, that when it comes to the fight against terror, this fight has been conducted successfully with great steadfastness. Beyond that, Turkey has shown the world and the region that it has no difficulty in separating terrorists from civilians, because no civilians were harmed. I was also very pleased, and I’m quite thankful, to see that all nations have been supporting Turkey in this recent operation. It must be said that this support is garnered only through conducting the necessary work beforehand to set out what the intentions are. I’m pleased to see we have been successful in this and we have garnered the support of the world public opinion. What is important is that one comes up with the credibility that is required for such things to take place.

FT: And then you have to follow through.

AG: Yes, of course. Our struggle against terrorism will continue. We will be steadfast in this. I’m pleased to say that, in Iraq, all Iraqis have seen that Turkey has the best of intentions. This will reflect most positively on our future relations with Iraq. There are no misperceptions now, and the current situation will enable us to contribute more directly to the security and stability of the country [Iraq].

FT: On the Syria-Israel issue, is that at the level of you or is it at the level of the government? [Turkey is mediating on the Golan Heights.]

AG: It’s Turkey.

FT: Are you involved yourself?

AG: This is an effort that involves all of Turkey. But this is an effort that isn’t new, it’s been around for some time and has been known for some time. The prime minister, even if he is very busy, attaches great importance to this and gives up much of his time to the resolution of this issue. He has conducted visits, and he corresponds with the relevant parties quite frequently.

FT: Can I go back to the beginning of our conversation? You were talking about the nature of the job. I’m looking at that beautiful portrait behind your desk [of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey]. You are the latest in a line of successors to Ataturk. Does that responsibility weigh on you?

AG: This office is one of great responsibility, and I’m fully aware of the responsibility that lies upon me. My responsibility is one of representing the unity and the honour of the Turkish people and the unity and the honour of Turkey. This office has been held by very few and it is known who they are. The first person to hold this office, Ataturk, the first president and founder of our republic, the person who set the goals for the future of this country – yes, of course I feel the responsibility. The goals that he set, the ideals, the Turkey that he envisioned, all of these are very clear and I’m convinced that we will realise all of these. If one were to summarise in a sentence what the goals set forth by Ataturk were, one would say that he has laid out modern civilisation, the level of modern civilisation, and above the level of modern civilisation, to be the goal that Turkey aspires to.

FT: And it keeps on getting there?

AG: Naturally. That is why I said in my remarks previously, if one were to look at the long term trend within which Turkey is moving one would see that Turkey has always moved in the right direction. Joining the European Union is most certainly a very important point within this whole context of where Turkey is moving to, and there is no doubt that the steadfastness towards achieving this goal exists today at the highest level. I can also tell you that many countries in the region regard with awe the direction in which Turkey is moving and they are very impressed by it. The values of democracy, human rights, transparency, and equality of gender – it’s quite fair to say that Turkey is the number one country in enabling the spreading of these values within the entire region. If one were to follow the discussions of intellectuals of the region, of the youth, of the politicians, one could see that they are quite in awe of what Turkey is achieving and they are quite in awe of Turkey’s democracy and its modernity. It’s fair to say that Turkey is an example and contributes to the modernisation of this whole region.

FT: Where are your next trips?

AG: Indeed, you know that before [the next trip abroad] we must prepare for visitors. There are very important visitors coming from your country. [Queen Elizabeth II is due next week for a royal visit.] I attach very great importance to this visit. It truly is a very significant event for us. We are very honoured that she would accept my invitation and come to visit us a second time [she first visited Turkey in 1971]. It’s a source of great honour and happiness for us.

FT: Is there any significance to it beyond the symbolism of a royal visit? The UK and Turkey have been very close on EU accession [for Turkey].

AG: Regardless of the symbolism, it is true that the strategic vision of countries play a great role in such visits. They show how many points of mutual interest we share. But on the question of the countries I will visit, I will go to Japan. That will be the first time that a Turkish president visits Japan. We have received an invitation from China, and the dates are being discussed. Then there will be a visit to Croatia, and in the fall visits to three different European states. These are the ones for this year.

FT: OK. Thanks very much, Mr President

The Financial Times