Inspirational Turkey (2011-02-12)

Turkey continues to inspire Arab and Muslim countries as the opposition leader of Tunisia Rashid Ghannouchi returned this week after 20 years in exile and told reporters that he could think of no better role model than Turkey. It has spent the last decade modernising domestic politics and becoming increasingly democratic while still managing a growing economy, and has not lost sight of the fact that it is an Islamic country.

Some people believe that this inspirational model prompted action in Tunisia and Egypt as the people there could see the possibility of a different way of life. Turkey has shown that it is possible to have free elections and to be a peaceful democracy. It hasn't been achieved easily as Ankara had difficult decisions to make in the past, one of which was to reject the US Army's request to use Turkish territory to invade Iraq in 2003.

By saying no to the United States Turkey sent a strong message to the rest of the Middle East which helped to shape its relationship with these countries today. Had Turkey agreed to the United States request it is doubtful that it would have remained on such terms with its Middle Eastern neighbours and being able to strengthen its ties both economically and culturally with such countries.

Turkey has also been openly critical of Israel. The Turkish prime minister criticised Israel during the World Economic Forum in 2009 for their invasion of Gaza. The Prime Minister has never retracted this view in spite of criticism from the West, however this view of Israel did help to strengthen Ankara's influence in the Middle East.

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Inspirational Turkey (2011-02-12)

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