Erdogan: "there's no retreating from Turkey's democratic gains"

Turkey has taken historic democratization steps over the last seven years under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. Speaking at a ceremony marking the inauguration of 127 school buildings constructed by the Education Ministry with private philanthropic support in Ankara, Erdogan said, "In its seven years in office, the AK Party government has exerted great efforts to make Turkey a more democratic, modern country which respects human rights and freedom of expression. We've been working to transform Turkey in line with the requirements of our time. We have struggled to strengthen Turkey as a democratic, secular social state under the rule of law as specified in our Constitution." Expressing firm commitment to further democratization of Turkey, Erdogan said there will be no retreat from these democratic gains. "Turkey cannot turn away from the progress it has made," he said. "Turkey cannot relinquish its gains. Turkey cannot travel back down the road it has taken towards democracy and the law." Addressing students of the new schools who were at the ceremony, Erdogan said, "We are making efforts to maintain and consolidate a democratic, secular, social state ruled by the law. You are the ones who will achieve this. You will protect these principles, and you will protect democracy just as you will protect the Turkish Republic." Touting rising education spending under his government, Erdogan said, "Education now gets the lion's share of the budget." The government has built nearly 8,000 new schools since coming to power seven years ago, Erdogan also said, adding that they have taken important steps to ensure equal opportunities for all students in the country.