[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       An active civil society, then, provides a check on a 
     powerful state. For in a genuine democracy, non-governmental 
     associations have the responsibility of keeping a close eye 
     on the operations of government. So you and I know that if 
     governments, in order to discourage or eliminate criticism, 
     seek to crush free and independent newspapers, radio and 
     television, or to control NGOs, democracy will be gravely 
     weakened.


                 education crucial to future of turkey

       It will not surprise you, given my history in Congress and 
     as a university president, that I believe a key ingredient of 
     civil society, fundamental to the success of democracy and a 
     modern economy, is education.
       Certainly, education is crucial to the future of Turkey, 
     where 30% of the population is below the age of 15! (``EU-
     Turkey Relationship: Less Rhetoric, More Challenges,'' by 
     Bahadir Kaleagasi, Private View, No. 9, Autumn 2000, p. 22.)
       Although I am a strong champion of both state and private 
     support of education, I must note the growth in recent years 
     of private universities in Turkey. As one who helped raise 
     nearly $1 billion in private funds for New York University, I 
     am impressed that several of your private universities have 
     been founded with the generous support of Turkish business 
     leaders. I think here particularly of Bilkent University, 
     Sabanci University and Koc University.
       I add that I have myself accepted the invitation of one of 
     Turkey's outstanding business leaders, Mr. Rahmi Koc, to 
     serve on the Board of Friends of Koc University, an American 
     foundation chaired by the respected Turkish-American founder 
     of Atlantic Records, and a good friend, Mr. Ahmet Ertegun, 
     even as I have agreed to serve on the Board of Anatolia 
     College in Thessaloniki. And I am pleased that these two 
     institutions are cooperating in a joint training program.
       These universities also make an important contribution to 
     emerging civil society in Turkey. Founded through acts of 
     philanthropy and charging tuition fees, they teach students 
     that there can be institutions, independent of the state, 
     serving social needs.
       And as I speak of universities, let me say that while it is 
     imperative that the United States and Turkey maintain their 
     strategic alliance, I would very much like to see our 
     relationships broadened to include expanded educational and 
     cultural links. For most Americans, even educated ones, don't 
     know very much about Turkish history or culture.
       I shall add that in respect of another important question 
     affecting U.S. policy toward Turkey, Turkish relations with 
     Greece, I have for several years now proposed that Turkish 
     universities establish departments of Greek studies and Greek 
     universities create department of Turkish studies, the better 
     for each society to understand the other.
       As I conclude his talk, I realize that I have certainly not 
     covered every subject relevant to my central thesis. I have 
     not attempted to be exhaustive; I hope I have been 
     instructive.


              historic opportunity for democracy in turkey

       My thesis is straightforward. It is that there are three 
     powerful developments that, it seems to me, provide an 
     historic opportunity for genuine democratic advance in 
     Turkey.
       The first is the economic and financial crisis that your 
     country is now facing.
       The second is Turkey's application for membership in the 
     European Union.
       And the third is rising importance of the institutions of 
     civil society in Turkish life.
       I have drawn particular attention to the movement for 
     democratic change-for freedom of expression, a free market 
     economy and reform of the political system-pressed by the 
     business leaders of Turkey, like those at TESEV and TUSIAD.
       Although the friends of Turkey in my own country and 
     elsewhere will do what we can to encourage reform, for your 
     great country to become a vigorous and vibrant democracy is, 
     in the final analysis, up to the people of Turkey.

                          ____________________