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Quotes by Turkish Authors
"The Muslim world and its subset the countries of the Middle East have been left behind in the marathon of political, economic and human development. For that, there is a tendency to blame others as the primary cause."
"I feel very, very proud that so many people have copied me."
"Similarly, it is argued that the culture of Islam is incompatible with democracy. Basically, this conventional perspective of the Middle East thus contends that democracy in that region is neither possible nor even desirable."
"A fitting external security environment could also play an important role in promoting social consensus and institutionalization towards democratization."
"The foundations of democratic transition should be laid in accordance with a sincere and committed strategy that is supported by various policy tools, and implemented wisely."
"I regard the endorsement of both the objective and a method - which can differ from one country to another- of democratization by the parties in the region as a basic requisite of democratization in the Middle East."
"Living is no laughing matter: you must live with great seriousness like a squirrel for example - I mean without looking for something beyond and above living, I mean living must be your whole occupation."
"The hero of the book does long to experience God. But his conception of God is very western."
"My visit to the United States has also given me the opportunity to emphasize the objective of establishing close and intensive links between the Turkish and American peoples, scholars and businessmen."
"However and wherever we are, we must live as if we will never die."
"As a politician who cherishes religious conviction in his personal sphere, but regards politics as a domain belonging outside religion, I believe that this view is seriously flawed."
"But thanks to the efforts, the initiative of the United States and of the several countries from the world, from Europe, including Turkey, it ended within a few weeks."
"A heart makes a good home for the friend."
"So we are fulfilling our task in preventing serious armament stocks in Iraq within our possibilities."
"Several experts on the Middle East concur that the Middle East cannot be democratized."
"The US and the European Union needs to help in the translation of the demand for democracy into a political will."
"But if too many countries, as has been the case, interfere too much in the internal affairs, the political situation of Afghanistan, then of course we can't hope satisfactory results."
"But apart from the military measures, security measures, of course, Afghanistan needs great help for building up its social life, its economic life. It has become a very poor country, neglected for many years."
"Therefore, the question is not whether such democratization is possible, but instead how to meet the yearning of the masses in the Middle East for democracy; in other words, how to achieve democratization in the Middle East."
"No, I believe in the good will of the United States' administration."
"Everyone should unconditionally accept that Israel is an indispensable element of the Middle Eastern mosaic."
"The advanced levels which the democratic world has attained at the end of lengthy processes may have created the perception in the region that democracy is a distant concept; this perception can be addressed."
"Ataturk sent several Turkish staff officers to Afghanistan, helped them build their own army."
"Invariably, also a Palestinian state should live side by side with Israel within recognized and secure borders and the security and prosperity of the Palestinian people must be guaranteed."
"Similarly, gender-equality, supremacy of law, political participation, civil society, and transparency are among the indispensable elements that are the imperatives of democratization."
"We have been helping, trying to help Afghanistan in many ways, even from the beginning of... the beginnings of the '20s, 1920s, when he we were fighting our own national struggle."
"But if we leave them alone, just satisfying ourselves with social work, economic work and the building up of a national army, it can make progress, hopefully within a short time."
"A confidence problem exists on the part of the people of the region who desire democratic rule in principle, but remain suspicious of both the fashion with which democratization is presented and the purposes of the democratic world."
"I am aware of the thesis that the United States has long since invested exclusively in stability and this has obviated democratic transformation in the Middle East."
"We have in the last two years, we have passed 350 legislation in the parliament, most of which deal with democratization, human rights, and of course, economy."
"According to this view, democracy is a product of western culture, and it cannot be applied to the Middle East which has a different cultural, religious, sociological and historical background."
"There exists an unmistakable demand in the Middle East and in the wider Muslim world for democratization."
"At first my publisher had reservations about publishing it in the form you are familiar with."
"Even in the Western world, one cannot argue that the ideal has been achieved given the existence of issues like the integration, participation and representation of Muslim citizens, and occasional but lingering anti-Semitism."
"In other words, the bar should be maintained at the level of a pluralistic and participatory democracy."
"By being rigid, you become temporary; by being flexible, you become permanent!"
"It is essential that policy instruments be developed that would firmly establish democratization on the basis of social consensus and enable transformation on stable grounds."
"If I told you about a land of love, friend, would you follow me and come?"
"What should be targeted is a concept of organic, and not just mechanic, democracy that preserves the rule of law, separation of powers, and that is participatory and pluralistic."
"Sometimes it is not right to wait for the right train. Take any train instead of rotting at the station! In other words, be realistic!"
"An honourable man is fair even to his enemies, a dishonourable man is unfair even to his friends!"
"Therefore, the observation must be explicitly made: In the Middle East and in the Muslim world, suspicions linger concerning the objectives of the West and notably the US."
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