Posted on 06/14/2004 7:29:38 PM PDT by freedom44
14 June 2004 -- Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer told Muslim countries that democracy is inevitable in the Middle East and that each nation must determine the pace of its own democratic reforms.
Sezer's remarks were addressed to the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting today in Istanbul. He said the group's members need to consider the future of the Islamic world.
"We have observed that recently the attention of the international community has been directed towards the Islamic world. Discussions that have intensified over the question 'What went wrong?' should not only be limited to scholars. We have to bear in mind the answer to this question concerns the past as well as the future of the Islamic world. Therefore, it has become imperative that the leaders in this area -- in other words, we -- make a sincere and frank appraisal without delay."
OIC Secretary-General Abdelouahed Belkeziz drew delegates' attention to what he described as the poor record of Mideast governments on a wide range of policies, including education and economic issues.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to OIC countries to support Iraq's new interim government.
ping
Here's a scenario--10 yrs from now--the new battle-ground will be ISLAM vs CHINA, with the US sitting on the sidelines.
I wonder how this was received
Except, China already has a sizable Muslim population. It seems like a win-win situation. China can claim to rule Muslims and the Muslims empire can claim to extend to China.
Do you know how large the Muslim population is in China? I hear it's near 15% in France.
I'm rather pessimistic about the prospect of Middle Eastern democracy, myself. Granted, the Turks have managed it. But the Turks are not Arabs.
Turkey is a starting point. Dare we believe W's vision of democracy in Arabia ?
"Granted, the Turks have managed it. But the Turks are not Arabs."
Even the Turks did not manage it too well. But you are right: Turks did not have pronounced tribal structure, like the Arabs do; and it helped.
>> with the US sitting on the sidelines
That seems to be what the budget forecasts are telling us..
Thanks :)
Low estimate of 5% and high estimate of 10%. So it's probably 7-8%. The best sources I'm aware of are InfoPlease.com and the CIA World Factbook. You can get there by Refdesk.com. Au revoir.
Horsepucky.
It took Reagan to bring Communism to it knees, and it's taken GWB to start down the road to democracy in the ME.
Could it be the fact that they had someone like Ataturk, who westernized the country???
And that they have a military that zealously guard the secular, democratic state???
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