Even as we ought to accept that each country would progress with a different method and speed toward that goal, the standard for the expected end-state should not be lowered.
What should be targeted is a concept of organic, and not just mechanic, democracy that preserves the rule of law, separation of powers, and that is participatory and pluralistic.
Everyone should unconditionally accept that Israel is an indispensable element of the Middle Eastern mosaic.
Islam is a religion. It is not an ideology. For a Muslim, there is no such thing as to be against modernity. Why should a Muslim not be a modern person? I, as a Muslim, fulfill all the requirements of my religion, and I live in a democratic, social state.
Being in the European Union, we would be building bridges between the 1.5 bn people of Muslim world to the non-Muslim world. They have to see this. If they ignore it, it brings weakness to the E.U.
Invariably, also a Palestinian state should live side by side with Israel within recognized and secure borders and the security and prosperity of the Palestinian people must be guaranteed.
In other words, the bar should be maintained at the level of a pluralistic and participatory democracy.
The fact that a woman is attached to her professional life should not prevent her from being a mother.
During the Gezi protests and PKK terror campaigns, the unity and solidarity of the Turkish nation were attacked.
But foremost, I do not subscribe to the view that Islamic culture and democracy cannot be reconciled.
Time to time I get together with the rabbis, with religious leaders, leaders of congregations, and I talk to them, and wherever a need arises, we do everything we can to meet those needs.
Why shouldn't Turkey be in the Shanghai Five?
We have a very significant number of Jewish citizens, and they have always been safe and secure where they are in Turkey.
According to this view, democracy is a product of western culture, and it cannot be applied to the Middle East which has a different cultural, religious, sociological and historical background.
Democracy is like a streetcar. When you come to your stop, you get off.
I consider personally the election of Barack Hussein Obama to have very great symbolic meaning. A Muslim and a Christian name - so in his name there is a synthesis, although people from time to time want to overlook that, and they do it intentionally.
The members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria are also part of the Syrian people, and they have the right to exercise their democratic rights.
Russia is not engaged in a fight against Daesh in Syria. On the contrary, they are actually targeting moderate opposition.
I am aware of the thesis that the United States has long since invested exclusively in stability and this has obviated democratic transformation in the Middle East.
In this country, there is a segregation of Black Turks and White Turks. Your brother Tayyip belongs to the Black Turks.
