[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TURKEY CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ITS DEMOCRATIC VALUES

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                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, we have been debating in this body for 
some time now how to achieve the appropriate balance, in war and in 
peace, between protection of the state and protection of the individual 
liberties that are so important to a healthy democracy. As we wrestle 
with the aftermath of September 11th, we begin to see the same debate 
and the same concerns echoed in other democracies around the world.
  One debate, not much focused on, has occurred in our ally and good 
friend, Turkey. That nation, which has lost over 30,000 of its citizens 
due to terrorist attacks, and which has suffered great hardship as a 
result of their support for our policy of economic sanctions against 
Iraq and others in the Middle East, has nonetheless conducted a 
vigorous public debate about what kind of democracy should flourish in 
Turkey. That debate has ended with a series of constitutional reforms, 
reforms that the State Department says ``embodies the values that the 
international coalition is defending.''
  These reforms are broad ranging. In some cases, they expressly limit 
the power of the state to stifle freedom of expression, or to pry into 
the private lives of citizens, even those who might be suspected of 
criminal behavior. Others enshrine individual rights to gather, to 
protest or to form political parties. Still others aim for a more 
inclusive society by allowing use of languages other than Turkish. A 
group of the reforms seek to place an economic floor of support below 
the citizens in order to help assure opportunities for economic 
betterment. Finally, a group of reforms seek to streamline government 
and make it more responsive to the citizenry.
  More than 30 constitutional reforms were adopted. Once implemented, 
they should go a long way toward erasing any opposition to Turkey's 
entry into the European Union.
  It is also important to note that these reforms have been made in a 
Moslem nation. Turkey has always believed it important to protect the 
secular nature of its society, often at the risk of being criticized 
from within and without. Turkey's reforms, indeed its impetus to 
reform, is living proof that democracy and Islam are compatible.
  Mr. Speaker, there are two other things about these reforms that are 
remarkable. First, Turkey moved boldly on many fronts to examine past 
practices and seems willing to make large changes to enshrine 
democracy. Second, despite economic pressures, political pressures, and 
the exigencies of the current war against terrorists, it never wavered 
in its pursuit of a democratic ideal. Turkey, and the entire community 
of democracies, should feel justly proud of what has been accomplished 
to date.

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