European Reaction to Military Interference

Among the writers are MEPs Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Joost Lagendijk, Cem Özdemir, and Andrew Duff, academic Timothy Garten Ash, Joschka Fischer, Hans Vandenbrock and Ana Palacio. The letter was published in the International Herald Tribune today.

The undersigned expressed their disappointment in the involvement of the army and said that the threat to laicism was exaggerated.

Saddened by Intervention

After expressing their views on democracy and laicism in Turkey, the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the role of the armed forces, the writers suggested that the army's intervention could damage the process made in Turkey and relations with the EU. They said they were "greatly saddened by this intervention".

As far as the EU accession process is concerned, they made following comments:

"When it was announced in 2004 that a series of reforms had led to the fulfillment of the Copenhagen Criteria, it was decided to start negotiations. On of these criteria is respect for human rights and fundamental freedom. Another criterion is a functioning democracy, which includes civil control of the army. The intervention of the armed forces on 27 April has led to doubts on whether Turkey is taking these criteria seriously.

The undersigned also said that they found the General Staff's justification of "a threat to laicism" exaggerated, adding that a series of reforms, from women's rights to education, offer a legal base for protecting laicism.

The politicians added that "the preferences of the Turkish people" would emerge in civil society and political processes. In a democracy, demonstrations, application to the legal system and political campaigns were acceptable means.

The writers ended the letter by sympathizing with the worry that government was in the hands of one party. "This however should not be used as an excuse for the army to limit democracy. (NZ/TK/AG)