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There are, today, a greater number of Islamic countries progressing towards democracy or practicing a degree of, some degrees of democracy than a decade or two earlier. I believe that Turkey's example has played an important role in this respect, because the Turkish experiment has proven that Islam can be compatible with modernity, with secularism, and with democracy.

— Bülent Ecevit

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More quotes by Bülent Ecevit

Turkey, is the leader country in democracy and secularism among the countries having a majority of Muslim population.

Yet, whatever the negative effects of such external factors may be, surmounting our deficiencies is primarily our own task and responsibility.

However, democracy has survived and will survive in Turkey because the Turkish society is already well beyond the point of return and because the people would not put up with any alternative regime.

Happy Greece has returned to democracy. Only wish is that the new government should realise the value of close cooperation between Turkey and Greece.

The Turks have been Europeans for 600 years. But the Turks are not only Europeans. They are also Asian, Caucasian and Middle Eastern at once.

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