Excerpts from PM Erdogan’s speech in Istanbul on July 5th 2013.
“The common history of Turkey and Egypt dates back to ancient times.
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Egypt, the people of Egypt, the governors, politicians, and both the military and the civil bureaucracy of Egypt should read about the recent history of Turkey, and must certainly take into consideration the experiences Turkey has had during its recent history.
We have suffered great hardships on the way to democracy.
We have experienced heavy losses, and paid heavy prices on the way to democracy.
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Without exception, each military coup has caused Turkey to lose decades.
Each military coup has paralyzed the economy of Turkey, and wasted Turkey’s assets.
Each military coup has caused the country, the nation, and especially the youth, to pay heavy prices.
The dates May 27, March 12, September 12th, and February 28, have thus been recorded in the memory of the Turkish people as the darkest, the most sinister, and the most unfortunate dates in the history of Turkey.
The leading actors of these coups have been convicted in the consciences of the people.
With the constitutional amendment we passed in 2010, we have enabled those who interfere in democracy to be tried.
Thus, the leaders of these coups have appeared in court, and have been asked for explanation of their deeds.
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Egypt, the Egyptian people, especially those who have launched and supported the coup in Egypt, should learn about these experiences and facts related, and take lessons from them.
See, I underline this:
No matter in which corner of the world, and no matter against which government that has come to power through elections they are launched, coups are evil. The target of coups is the people. The target of coups is the future, and the democracy.
We expect everyone to express this with candor, courage, and sincerity.
No coup can be democratic.
Some people appear and utter statements which begin with the expression "Coups are evil, but…."
No but, no however, no nevertheless. Coups are evil.
We would still think that coups are evil, even if it had not happened in Egypt, and it had happened in another country.
We would still think that coups are evil, even if it had not been launched against Mursi, but against those in the opposition.
I especially would like to address the Western countries, those who use statements which begin with "however", or "but" in their speeches related to the incidents that have been happening in Egypt, those who wish to find excuses to legitimize the coup, or those who watch the coup silently can never answer to either their consciences, or to their people, or history.
Especially the European Union, by not reacting appropriately against the coup, and by not even acknowledging that what is happening in Egypt is a coup, has once again disregarded their own principles.
Democracy does not accept double standard.
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The political parties appear before the nation with their planned agenda and if they can win the majority of the votes, then they implement their agenda.
But if they fail, then there is a term for a government to remain in power and there is a fixed time for elections, thus the ballot is put in front of the nation and the nation does what is required.
Those who fail and lose in the elections review themselves, review their agendas, their discourse and try to win the approval of the nation in the next elections.
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Of course democracy is a regime which guarantees the rights of the minority but the name of an order in which the minority grabs the right to rule is not democracy.
We do not want that Egypt experience such a situation lack of principle at all just at the bottom of the ladder.
Egypt is Turkey's brother and the people of Egypt is our brothers and sisters.
We treat the whole Egyptian people equally and we care the well-being of the whole Egypt as much as our well-being.
We supported the January 25 Revolution most sincerely on behalf of the Egyptian people. We rejoiced just like all Egyptians when Egypt got rid of dictatorship.
However, we do not want to see that Egypt goes back to the times before the January 25Revolution at all.
We seriously feel bad if the accomplishments of January 25 Revolution are lost.
We hope that violence, conflicts and chaos never reign in Egypt.
And again, looking at the bitter memories of Turkey, it should be realized that arresting the leaders through a coup who came to power by elections in Egypt will cause serious traumas in the future.
I want to stress that arbitrary arrests and prosecution of the elected are very concerning.
We hope that the democratic rules in Egypt will immediately step in and all sides take part in the election and that the will of nation will be restored by elections.
As the Egyptians know very well, any will which is not based on people is a dictatorship.
We hope that a healthy atmosphere will prevail in which the elected will leave throughelections in Egypt.
I want to reiterate: no matter where or against whom, coups are damaging and inhuman, also an enemy of the people, national will and democracy.
I invite the whole world to have a moral and sincere standing against the coups and I would like to deliver our sincere regards for the Egyptian people who are Turkey's brothers wishing that they find peace soon.
