CONFLICTS BETWEEN ISLAMISM, SECULARISM AND OTHER DOMESTIC "ISMS" FAR FROM OVER IN TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2007 18:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I am not on the EU admission committee, but it
seems to me that Turkey is going through another fundamental identity
crisis," Van Krikorian, Co-chair of the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC) said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.
"I know I would be pleased if it emerges as an EU country one in which
principles of tolerance are observed. But, we should be aware of the
risks if it does not. For example, after the initial outpouring of
sympathy following Hrant Dink’s assassination, we have seen some ugly
developments. The conflicts between Islamism, secularism, and other
domestic "isms" are far from over. Turkey’s policies with respect
to the fluid future of Iraq and other regional developments all
have to be taken into account. For those in Turkey and outside, the
closer Turkey gets to respecting human rights, religious tolerance,
reconciling with its past, and good government, whether that be as
an Islamic government or as a member of the EU, the better," he said.