Turkey's deputy premier defines democratic renascence in Africa & Mideast as unreturnable

BALI (A.A) - December 8, 2011 - Turkey's deputy prime minister said on Thursday that a democratic renascence of no return had begun in North Africa and Middle East. Bulent Arinc said being indifferent to legitimate demands of those regional people and intimidating them with pressure were no more a political option. "What we should do now is to support this transformation so that it is achieved in a robust and peaceful way," Arinc said during Bali Democracy Forum in Indonesia. Arinc said it would be too optimistic to think that this democratic process would develop and improve without any problems, and ups and downs in this process was inevitable. "Those who will carry out the process and reach success are regional people and their political representatives," Arinc said. Arinc said Turkey was supporting legitimate democratic demands of regional people, and trying to assist leaders of those countries in taking necessary steps. The deputy premier defined Turkey as a source of inspiration instead of a model, and said what was important for Turkey was to make changes in a way that would meet peaceful and rightful demands of people, and to prevent the process from being sabotaged by extreme radicals and fundamentalist movements. Arinc said politicians should work to democratize decision-making organs in not only countries but also global organizations particularly the United Nations (UN). The deputy premier defined Indonesia, which had adopted tolerance, moderation and dialogue as an administration style and defended compromise and peaceful settlement of international problems, as a model and a source of inspiration for many countries.  Arinc said right to a democratic life was not the monopoly of a certain person or group, and every one should take into consideration and support democratic voices, calls and demands coming from all around the world, particularly North Africa and Middle East.  Turkey had made great progress in catching up with high democratic standards in the last decade, Arinc said. Arinc said as Turkey's democracy developed and its level of welfare and peace increased in line with democratic developments, and Turkey was actively supporting peace and stability efforts in its region.  Deputy Prime Minister Arinc once more called on participants of the meeting to take into consideration democratic voices, and said that the principles in establishing a new democratic global order should be pluralism, equality and comprehensiveness, which were the sine qua non conditions of every democracy. Heads of state and government of 70 countries as well as ministers and deputy prime ministers are attending the from in Bali, Indonesia.