Erdogan: ”Our foreign policy is based on justice”

Justice and humanitarian values are the guiding principles of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government's foreign policy, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking on Turkey's growing international political role at the International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO/USAK) an Ankara-based think-tank, Erdogan stressed that the sense of justice is extremely important around the world, and as long as there are groups, societies and individuals who feel their rights are being violated, global stability will always remain elusive. "As a conservative democratic party, we're trying to simultaneously manage pragmatism and idealism," he added. "If our focus is just on realpolitik, this will lead us to a point where we're not ourselves anymore." In his speech, whose audience included scores of diplomats, scholars, and journalists, Erdogan praised the efforts of think-tanks and stressed their importance. Erdogan stressed that in the globalized world, countries like Turkey, with its unique history and geography, have the potential to play active and constructive roles, but first it must tackle its own problems and development. "We're trying to implement and improve our foreign policy, domestic political environment, democratization and economic development in parallel and simultaneously," he said. "We believe that no country unable to ensure its own stability and security can be effective in regional and world affairs." On the difference between his government and its predecessors, he decried an imagined "foreign threat" guiding past policies. "We used to say that Turkey is surrounded by the seas on three sides and by enemies on four sides. We're trying to dispel this false assumption," he explained. Touching on relations with the European Union, Erdogan expressed hope that there will be improvements during the current presidency of Spain, which supports Turkey's EU bid. However, warning that the accession negotiations can't continue forever, Erdogan said, "Arbitrary obstacles have been put in front of Turkey, but it can't go on like this. If it does, we will replace the Copenhagen criteria with the 'Ankara criteria.' Turkey is now ahead of half of the 27 EU member states." Erdogan also expressed determination that his government would continue its efforts for further democratization and international integration.