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Basic Principles (Alparslan Turkes - Berserker Books)

The document discusses the evolution and significance of political parties in Turkey, contrasting them with their Western counterparts and highlighting the unique challenges faced in Turkish political life. It provides a biographical overview of Alparslan Türkeş, detailing his military career, political involvement, and contributions to Turkish nationalism. The text emphasizes the importance of unity, national identity, and the need for a strong government to address societal issues and promote development.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views405 pages

Basic Principles (Alparslan Turkes - Berserker Books)

The document discusses the evolution and significance of political parties in Turkey, contrasting them with their Western counterparts and highlighting the unique challenges faced in Turkish political life. It provides a biographical overview of Alparslan Türkeş, detailing his military career, political involvement, and contributions to Turkish nationalism. The text emphasizes the importance of unity, national identity, and the need for a strong government to address societal issues and promote development.

Uploaded by

Anonymous
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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BASIC PRINCIPLES

Alparslan Türke
Alparslan Türke

BASIC VIEWS

U/Before

DERGÂH PUBLICATIONS
P.O. Box 1240-ISTANBUL
INTRODUCTION

Although the history of political relations and political thought


can be traced back to the dawn of human history, political parties are a
product of the last century. The emergence of political parties is
regarded as an important stage in the democratisation process within
the Western system. Political parties, which are linked to the interests
of various social groups, have emerged as the most important
institutionalisation for ensuring the balance of class power in the
structure of society. Political parties, striving to gain power on behalf
of the social classes they represent, have positively influenced the
development of democratic pluralism, while also contributing to a less
unequal distribution of economic resources.
Political parties that reduce conflicts within the Western system
by developing and spreading democratic and economic rights have
become indispensable elements of the order. In this respect, political
parties, as instruments of the struggle for political power, have become
the subject of all kinds of material and moral protection. Today,
regardless of their form, the protection of parties outside of power,
taking into account their role in the social order, is one of the
fundamental characteristics of Western democracies.
Even today in Turkey, it is difficult to speak of the existence of
political parties in the Western sense. Starting with the Committee of
Union and Progress, which was initially established as a secret
revolutionary society, a very different tradition has prevailed in Turkey,
where organisations bearing the name "party" have emerged.
Generally, unlike in the West, these are not based on class foundations.
Political, administrative and social structures based on party politics are
characterised by the emergence of different ideas within parties. In this
regard, the claims of certain political organisations to represent the
interests of emerging social groups are entirely new and of a different
nature. In Turkey, with the Westernising approach that continues the
tradition of the Committee of Union and Progress, partners representing
this mentality with varying degrees of intensity have been established
from time to time, some of which have survived to this day. This
negativity in the political party tradition has been reflected in the
public, and prejudices against organisations engaged in democratic
power struggles and opposing parties have taken root. The tradition
reflected from above to below has led various party members and
sympathisers to engage in a form of party politics that could be
described as "four-way fighting", without ever learning about the ideas,
programmes and statutes of opposing parties.
in a manner that could be described as "partisanship for the sake of
partisanship". It could even be said that these individuals do not properly
understand their own party's programme, constitution and the principles
they espouse.
Dergah Publications aims to shed light on the ongoing turmoil of
this era by presenting the truths about Turkish political life without
bias. First, books reflecting the ideas of today's political party leaders
will be published, and over time, books and studies that shed light on
the development of political thought in Turkey will be presented to our
readers. The series "Turkish Political Thought," prepared by an
authoritative committee, is based on the need to shed light on trends in
Turkish political life.
DERGÂH PUBLICATIONS
The life story of Alparslan Türke

Türke was born in Kayseri. His great-grandfather Arif A;a and his family
migrated from Yukar=köherl in the P=narba= district of Kayseri and settled in
Cyprus.
Türke completed his primary and secondary education in Letköe. In 1932, he
married Ahmet Han=m Efendi, the daughter of Zehra Han=m.
Türke completed his primary and secondary education in LetItoe. In 1932,
driven by a longing for homeland and freedom under British occupation, he and his
family emigrated to Turkey and settled in Istanbul. From an early age, Türke was
drawn to a military career. He entered the Iût=leli Military High School in 1933,
graduated in 1936, and went on to the Military Academy. In 1938, he successfully
completed the Military Academy and went to the Infantry Shooting School with the
rank of second lieutenant.
In 1939, he joined the army with the rank of lieutenant. During these years, his
poems and writings appeared in nationalist literary magazines.
The case known as the "T==ranc=l=k df=vas=" (T==ranç=l=k Trial) led to his arrest in
May 1944. Following the trial, he was acquitted in April 1945 and released.
In 1945, while holding the rank of captain, he published a book entitled Tank
Hunting due to the importance of tanks in World War II. He passed the exams held by
the Military Academy and entered the Military Academy, becoming an officer.
On the radio, from 1950 to 1955, he gave talks on "Total Defence" and
•Leadership" on the radio.
In 1955, Major TürRe was appointed to the Turkish General Staff delegation to
the Permanent Group in Washington, D.C., and remained in this position until 1958.
During this period, Türke attended the evening programme at George
Washington University, studying international economics and English composition.
In 1959, he was sent to Germany to attend the Atomic and Nuclear School,
which he also completed successfully.
He represented the General Staff at various NATO meetings and military
manoeuvres in Europe.
On 27 May 1960, Türke, one of the leading figures of the National Unity
Movement, regarded this movement as a non-partisan and national unity-promoting
movement. After the coup, he became a member of the National Unity Committee and
was appointed as Prime Minister. He served as Prime Minister from 27 May 1960 to 25
September 1960. Draft laws that did not become law, such as the Ideology and Culture
Union Bill, and those that did become law, such as the State Planning Organisation Bill,
were prepared under Türke's directives for the benefit of the state and the nation.
During this period, Türke, who was working to achieve the true goals of the National
Unity Movement, was removed from the committee along with some of his colleagues
on 13 November 1960, as a result of the persuasion of some party politicians on certain
members of the M.B.K., in violation of the Constitution. He was detained at the Mürted
Air Base and on 19 November 1960, he was forced to reside in India with the title of
Government Advisor. While in India, Türke constantly warned state officials.
On 22 February 19GS, Ttirke returned to the country and attempted to establish an
association
was arrested on 21 May in connection with the events of that date.
and was released on 5 September 1963 following the trial.
Türke joined the [Link].M.P. on 31 March 19G4, was appointed as the party's
general secretary, and was elected as the party's chairman by the General Congress on
31 July 19fi5. He was also elected as General Chairman at the general congresses held
in November 1967, February 1968, May 1971 and June 1973.
The name of the C.K.M.P. was changed to the Nationalist Movement Party at the
General Congress held in February 1969, at the suggestion of Türke.
Türke was elected as a Member of Parliament from Ankara in the 1955
elections, and from Adana in the 1969 and 1973 elections.
Türke, whose wife passed away in 1974, is the father of five children. Türke,
who speaks English, has published the following major works: Dokuz I=k
(Nine Lights), 1944 Milliyetçilik Olay= (The 1944 Nationalism Incident),
Türkiye'nin Meseleleri (Turkey's Issues), Yeni Ufuklara Do;ru (Towards New
Horizons), D= Politikam=z (Our Foreign Policy) and K=br=s (Cyprus).
çilik Olay=, Tiirkiye'nin Mes•.le1eri, Yeni Uf uklara Do;ru, D= Politikam=z ve I€=br=s.
FOREWORD

People find unity, health, and happiness in communities. A person who


is self-sufficient and capable of self-reliance is the main condition for
forming a community and constitutes the main condition for human dignity.
For this reason, individuals strive to work for the good of society. For this
reason, people have always sought their place in the society they live in.
The goal is to unite eight people under one roof. The principle of asceticism is
based on the belief that human love and compassion for others, showing
respect for human dignity, and demonstrating humility are paramount. For
o t h e r s , the interpretation of events and phenomena is the most important
thing, and it is a very important thing to be able to understand them. Thinking
big, aspiring to greatness, and striving for excellence are t h e honourable
path that will lead to true fulfilment. The greatness of the noble is the
greatness of the spirit, the greatness of love and respect for the truth.
Knowledge is the light that illuminates humanity. The wealth of material
possessions does not lead to the nobility of societies, but rather to the nobility
of the soul.

9
mnyt, biiyiia düüam i, trfiyIik üILü sa/ttbi olt=tnyt the maneti yiiceîi!i ötede}
otarak, fare olarak ve meloö OfOTOk ÇÖSI 0TTTt8ktedir.
The successive waves of oppression, hardship and suffering have
caused us to lose our way in this chaotic world. This has led to cultural and
ideological attacks and spiritual invasions by those who are not our own,
causing us to see ourselves as "real" or "authentic" behind a veil of
"nLtlcdtL", to think small, to think small.

The ideology of the North Turk doctrine is the highest form of this. With its

own will, it is impossible to achieve anything by waiting for others and

seeking refuge in them. Only the great Turkish doctrine Dokuz Eylül will
make this possible.
Our goal is to be strong, powerful, and victorious.

has been achieved at the end of the struggle, victory is assured,


reJ ne biiyiikîüL cord*r. You are the ones who have made it possible
<lo!aealc I am looking forward to the days of victory.
ALPARSLAN TÜRAE
Contents

Nationalism/13
Why Nationalism/15 The
Nationalist Struggle/25 The
Third Way/3â
The Principles of "Nine Lights"/43
Nationalism in the Face of Foreign Ideologies/52

The Nine Lights 's doctrine '68


Nationalism and communitarianism/G9 The social
organisation of the nation/75 National labour and
capital policy, '88

National education - National culture/110


National education
/113 National culture/
122 Youth/135

National unity - strong government/147

Strong power/ 1G4

National development and national economic policy/178


National development/179
Fundamental issues of development/185
Economic policy and industrialisation/204
National foreign trade policy/224 Other issues
in development/231 National credit policy/240

11
Rural Development, Rural Reform and Agricultural Colours/243
Ruralism/245
Rural reform/252
Agricultural towns/261

Foreign policy/2G5
The age of nationalism and foreign policy/267
What is foreign policy/269
The foreign policy environment after World War II/27G
Turkey and the NATO alliance/883 The
national struggle and foreign policy/257 The
Middle East and Turkey/307
The issue of Turks abroad/317 The
Cyprus issue/320

National defence/345
National defence policy/347 National
defence industry/349

Documents/359
NATIONALIST
WHY 6IYLL1YETÇYLYK?

General overview

I want to talk about today and tomorrow without dwelling on the past
years and months. Because the past is the seed of the future.
Today, the general outlook for Turkey can be summarised as
follows:
Lips are cracked, stomachs are empty, villages are dark,
are bare, poverty is rampant, the people are stuck in the past, and the
future is hopeless.
The tricks, slander, lies and conspiracies of the politics we have
witnessed so far are simple and vulgar, weakening the political
movements of the Turkish people
and shake their faith.
On one side, the well-fed people watching the land; on the other, the
starving people tilling the land...
On one side, the ploughmen who till the soil of our beautiful
homeland and sow seeds, the cowherds in our villages; on the other, the
children of the country who follow the fashions of the day and fill the
clubs to capacity.
On one side, those who, from the age of six, bear the burden of
responsibility and share the noise of the engine in factories and the
heat of the sun in the fields, practising social justice.
NATIONALISM

on the one hand; on the other, a community that is unjust, unconscious,


and soulless, preparing speeches on social justice in the shadows of tall
apartment buildings and warm rooms...
On one side, the laughter rising from the annual billion-lira
profits of the wealthy; on the other, villages parched from thirst, where
people wait in shifts from morning to night for a single drop of water...
...
All these lines are not the work of three or five years, or three or
five people. They are the burden carried by centuries upon centuries.
We see the main reason for this as Turkey's geopolitical power,
its production value, and the Turkish people's moral and physical
strength not being fully understood or recognised.

Working for the people

Serving the people and loving, respecting and trusting them are the
greatest virtues. For those in power to be from the people, to live like the
people, to be among the people and to work for the people is the main
way to solve the country's problems.
Since my childhood and youth, I have wondered why the Turkish
nation, once powerful and prosperous, has fallen into such a state of
backwardness, poverty and weakness. I would research how it might be
possible for it to rise from this weak state, stand on its own two feet again,
and become a prosperous, peaceful state without having to beg anyone for
help. I would study other nations, especially advanced, modern countries,
and
16
BASIC VIEWS

I would struggle to find ways to enable us to catch up with them.


There is a folk song that goes like this:
"A wolf has fallen upon me,
A wolf has fallen upon me
Day and night it devours me If I
do not deserve this fate It will
not accept me"

For years now, a wolf has been lurking within us... A wolf has
been lurking within us, eager to make every effort to rapidly develop our
nation and homeland by the most direct route. Now I am travelling
around the country step by step. I am meeting and talking with all
citizens. But why am I doing this? I am doing this to instil a burning
desire in my nation and thus mobilise the entire nation to make great
strides together.
Money is not everything. Some people stand in our way and put
money first for everything. That is wrong. The nation is what matters,
people are what matter. And it is people who must have faith, ideals,
willpower and enthusiasm. A cause cannot be sustained and cannot
succeed unless it is embraced by the people. The solution to our problems
is to mobilise as a nation, united in the same understanding, and to
activate our energy. This is achieved by explaining our cause and
issues to the people, making them their own, and gaining their
.

External enemies and Turkey

Today, your beloved homeland and great nation are under


17
F.: 2
All eyes are on this beautiful country. Every nation from east to west
harbours ambitions for this beautiful country. If there is a nation that does
not have its eye on Turkey, it is not yet a nation.
In the outside world, in foreign countries, youngpeople are raised with
the saying,"Those who have not seen Istanbul cannot go to heaven." In
contrast, my young people wander aimlessly in the streets and cafes.
There are reasons why I am laying these things before your eyes. In
an era when other nations are being raised as wolves, raising generations
as lambs is a crime, a folly, a betrayal. A statesman must recognise and
understand his country's geopolitics, the productive power of its soil, and
above all, the capabilities of the Turkish people, their true essence, the
calloused hands that till the soil, the machines they operate, and their
honourable foreheads raised to God.
I would like to state what needs to be done as a Turkish national for
Turkey's development, advancement, and leap forward through the ages
to attain atomic and missile capabilities.
The Turkish nation is a long-standing and honourable nation.
It
has faced difficult situations from time to time, but it has known how
to overcome them. The reason for the current adverse situation we
find ourselves in is the misguided actions of incompetent and
cowardly leaders over many years. The
rise of the Turkish nation must be seen in two elements. These are
material and spiritual elements. Turkish pride and honour, Islamic
morality and justice are the foundation of the nation's establishment
and rise. This has been the case in the past, and it will be the case in the
future.
.
J8
BASIC PRINCIPLES

LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF TYPES OF THOUGHT

Dominant Intellectual Currents

When we look at the history of Turkish intellectual movements,


we see Islamism, the idea of the ummah, and, especially after the
Tanzimat, the view of Ottomanism as a political ideology. After that,
we see the ideas of Turkism, Pan-Turkism, and Turanism. Later, two
main intellectual movements emerge in the field of the National
Liberation War and its aftermath. One is Anatolianism, the other is
Turkish nationalism.

Islamism

Islamism is a view that aims for the unity of all Muslim


countries. One of the important reasons why this view was accepted in
the Ottoman Empire was the significant role played by the Ottoman
sultans, who were also Islamic Caliphs and held the title and duties of the
Islamic Caliphate. However, over time, especially with the imperialist
activities of the great empires of Western countries exerting their
influence, this idea, this view, was undermined and weakened
Despite being Muslim, the peoples of various Muslim countries were
driven to wage wars and struggles against each other. The Ottoman
Empire, despite being initially underestimated and despite the caliph
having declared jihad, allied with Christian Western countries against
other Muslim nations
and united against the Muslim Ottoman Empire;
Turkish Nation.
and d e s t r o y it.

Ottomanism

The idea of Ottomanism, however, became a more prominent


intellectual movement after the proclamation of the Tanzimat, The view
that the various nations within the borders of the Empire at that time
should be united under the name "Ottoman," regardless of religion or
ethnicity, and transformed into a single entity; - which, due to various
events and the many conditions created by the times, - ultimately
demonstrated that this idea was impossible and created the belief that it
was not a viable concept.

Nationalism

Turkish nationalism is a consciousness and sentiment born of the


Turkish nation's own existence, its legitimate desire for defence, its
legitimate sense of defence. The Turkish people, who bore the entire
burden of the empire for centuries, were the most oppressed element
within the empire. But they were also the most neglected element. And, as
I mentioned a moment ago, Islamic unity, within the framework of
Ottomanism, has done everything in its power to realise all these ideas.
However, over time, I saw that Serbia was gaining independence on one
side, Bulgaria on another, and Romania on yet another, even though they
were Muslim.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Arabs and other Muslim elements also say, "We are not Turks," and
pursue independence. These steps have deeply instilled in the Turkish
nation a sense of its own national identity, a desire to achieve national
honour, and the idea and feeling of relying only on its own rights, its own
kind, its own nation, of being together, of uniting; this is a legitimate
sense of defence. Turkish nationalism has never been chauvinistic. It has
never had anything to do with the idea or feeling of despising, destroying
or oppressing another nation. If that were the case, the nations that
remained under our rule and control for 500, 800, or 900 years would
have been able to demonstrate a separate national identity and existence
500 or 900 years later, rather than having dissolved into our own.
Turkish nationalism, our understanding of nationalism, is based on
spiritual awareness. On this foundation, anyone who has attained Turkish
honour and sincerely says, "I am Turkish," is Turkish. Turkish nationalism
and the definition of a Turk do not believe in deviant measures, especially
sectarianism, regionalism, or laboratory racism. It is outside the ideal of
Turkish nationalism to look down on other nations,
endanger world peace. Anthropological racism is outside the ideal of
Turkish nationalism. Our understanding of nationalism is spiritual, rational,
democratic, and contemporary. We oppose Nazi Hitler racism, communist
racism, and all forms of anti-democratic, anti-humanitarian
Imperialist racism does not recognise the idea of the nation state. The
Nationalist Movement believes in the idea of the nation state, defends the
equality and independence of all states, and the right of every nation state
to its own territory.
respects the unity of the nation and the people.
Turkish nationalism is an expression of legitimate defence, high
humanistic sentiments, and the Turkish nation's sense and will to defend
and protect its natural rights.
The idea of Turkism also arose from this consciousness and this
feeling. I can summarise and define Turkism as follows: "The
organisation and implementation of the Turkish nation in accordance
with the principles of the Turkish nation, the Turkish people, and the
Turkish state, in line with the principles of the Turkish nation, the Turkish
people, and the Turkish state.
l‹:ilde düzenlennnmas, yüriitiiî=nmesi qöriiiidür."

Pan-Turkism and Turanism ideas

Before the First World War in Turkey The desire


for separation among other Turkic peoples who had been subjected to
oppression gave rise to the idea of uniting with other Turks who
remained outside the Ottoman borders in Turkey and creating a unified
entity with them. These ideas did not originate solely among Turks
within the borders of Turkey but also
among Turks living outside Turkey's borders, and they found each
other. Ismail Gasp=ral= in Crimea, in Kasan, in the homeland of
BaRurt, in Azerbaijan, in Turkistan, and others... Here and there,
Turkish communities also established cultural ties with each other,
which were the same but scattered in different parts, in order to free
themselves from foreign domination. As a
result, a Pan-Turkic political movement spread throughout our country
at that time, reaching even the statesmen.
BASIC ooRüg

The idea of 'Z'uranc=l=k has found a wider field. The Hungarians, the
religions, the Mier'1er living in Poland, that is, many Turanian-origin
peoples, were the first to put forward this idea. The goal pursued by the
Hungarians in putting forward such an idea was, in particular, o g
›s›n they found themselves squeezed between Slavic and Germanic
pressure. Believing that their origins were Turanian, that they were from
the Turanian tribe, they put forward such an idea. The idea that all
Turanian peoples, the Ravims, should unite—an idea that has not found
much support in Turkey—is ultimately an idea that has found its place in
scholarly books.

The idea of Turkish unity

The idea that emerged from the main camp in Turkey and became
established as a political view among statesmen was the idea of Turkish
Unity. The exemplary figure who sought to put this into action was Enver
Pasha. Of course, due to the circumstances and conditions at the time, this
idea could not be realised. It did not come to fruition. At the end of the
First World War, Turkey suffered great losses and devastation, causing
the Ottoman Empire to emerge from the war exhausted and weakened.
The reason I mention these is that those who shaped Turkey's foreign
policy, the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey, drew lessons from all
these past Turkish intellectual movements and sought to guide Turkey's
foreign policy accordingly.
NATIONALISM

Turkishness and Anatolianism

After the War of Independence, the two views known as Turkism


and Anatolianism
have occasionally been the subject of debate among intellectuals. Those
who advocate Anatolianism argue that the people who came to Turkey
after the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071
and that after settling there, they assimilated and integrated with the
people living in Anatolia by converting them to Islam, thereby creating a
new entity, a new [Link] assimilating with the people living in
Anatolia, thereby creating a new entity, a new body here; therefore, they
held the view that there were differences between Turkish history before
this and Turkish history after this.
Turkish nationalism, on the other hand, is concerned with the existence, future,
the borders of Turkey as established by the Treaty
and destiny of the people within
of Lausanne,and to be concerned with the existence, future, and
destiny of the people within those borders, to ensure their protection
and advancement, and to not concern oneself with Turks outside those
borders, to wish that they resolve their own destinies, and to merely
harbour good wishes for them.
NATIONALIST STRUGGLE

We nationalists are perhaps engaged in an unprecedented struggle


for the first time in history. Our struggle is to achieve the best, the truest
and the most beautiful for the Great Turkish Nation, whatever the cost.
At first, we may find few comrades-in-arms well equipped with
ideals, convictions, and courage for our struggle. But what matters is not
quantity, i.e. numbers, but quality, i.e. action, movement. Our supporters
are the young at heart and mind, the mature and intelligent young men and
women, the life force of the invincible Turkish state, and the guarantee
and future o f the Turkish nation.
I do not believe that those whose sole purpose in life is to maintain
the status quo will join us. Rather than traitors and those with evil
hearts, it is the mentally lazy and those who benefit from the preservation
of the current order who will oppose us most. They are mistaken. The fact
that the struggle appears hopeless only increases the magnitude and
nobility of the task we have undertaken.
We pledge to our beloved nation a prosperous, strong and great

25
and we dedicate ourselves to the nation. We are setting our sights on the
path of Turkishness.

National goals

Since the earliest days of history, there has been constant struggle
and competition between nations. Every nation strives relentlessly to
elevate its own existence and dominate other societies. To be unaware of
this struggle between nations is to ignore the harsh realities of life. Even
in our era, where civilisation and technology are claimed to have
advanced greatly, the struggle for supremacy, power and prosperity
among nations continues with all its intensity. "Justice is the right of t h e
strong..." has been the only principle governing international relations
since the dawn of the world. Despite the Declaration of Human Rights and
the United Nations Charter, the heavy attacks and atrocities suffered by
Palestine in December 1971 have painfully demonstrated this once again.
The events that befell Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Hungary in 1956 are
vivid evidence of the harsh realities we face. Societies deprived of the
consciousness of struggle between nations fall under the yoke of others.
Bearing these realities in mind,
I must know how to protect the rights of the Turkish nation and always be strong
and to find the way to be strong and powerful.
People on earth, in the form of national communities

r6
FUNDAMENTAL VIEWS

Each nation has its own characteristics and way of life. As a result of the
activities of these diverse communities, various cultures and civilisations
that enrich the world have emerged. It is very dangerous for one society to
blindly imitate other societies. It is essential for every nation to have its
own spiritual beliefs, customs, national culture, and national worldview. If
these are absent, and-
If they are destroyed on the grounds that they are outdated and not
replaced with new ones, that society will fall into a dangerous void of
faith and ideas. Before nations are destroyed by foreign armies and other
material forces, they are first subjugated by spiritual and intellectual
forces. The enslavement and destruction of a society that falls into
such a situation becomes inevitable. The fundamental principles that
constitute the source of strength for nations and societies can be
summarised as follows:
1 — Possession of a strong spiritual faith and high moral character

2 — A strong national consciousness and spirit of nationalism

3 — Achieving the highest level in science and technology.


4 — To be able to produce modern, mass-produced goods in
industry and agriculture.
At first glance, these principles may seem simple, but they point to
the only viable path for nations to become powerful and achieve
prosperity and happiness. For over two hundred years, instead of focusing
on these fundamental issues, the Turkish nation has been preoccupied
with
has been caught up in trivial disputes over imitation and formalism, which
have no real connection to genuine progress. For Turkish intellectuals and
Turkish leaders, the idea of seeking refuge in Western countries

27
has been adopted as an ideal. For the Turkish Nation, nothing more
disastrous than this can be imagined. To adopt the developments seen in
the West, but to abandon the national culture
and the idea of creating our civilisation and not being a refuge for others
should have been the path we embraced. Although efforts to modernise
have been made since the time of Selim III, to this day no result has
been achieved
. On the contrary, due to sterile disputes that do not address the
fundamental social and economic issues of the Turkish nation, we
continue to suffer disasters and destruction. Our nation needs an
unshakeable order based on a solid foundation of justice and diligent
work.
Turkey's rise cannot be achieved with ideas imported from
abroad. No foreigner can think about the interests of the Turkish
nation as much as the Turkish nation itself. Today, the Turkish nation
is being targeted for destruction with the ideas of communism, fascism
or capitalism imported from abroad. Turkish youth must rise up
against the foreign ideas that have been introduced into our homeland,
not for the benefit of the Turkish nation, but for the benefit of others.
The solution to our problems lies in turning inward, joining hands in
unwavering unity, and embarking on relentless work day and night.
We, as the Turkish nation, must stand up against the treacherous
activities that target the integrity of our land and the indivisibility of our
state and nation. For the youth of our nation, nationalism and Turkishness
are prerequisites for national duty. A new great war awaits our homeland.
We must not succumb to defeatism, laziness,

28
BASIC PRINCIPLES

immorality, ignorance, and deceit... A relentless war against communism,


regionalism, sectarianism, and all other forms of separatism that deny
Turkishness and oppose the unity and integrity of the Turkish nation...
That is why we launched the nationalist movement.
The Nationalist Movement, by blending nationalism and progress,
envisions the Turkish Nation's rebirth towards new horizons. Gsyemis
aims to transform the Turkish Nation, through humane and scientific
methods, into a strong, prosperous, and happy society that can stand on its
own feet, possessing its rights and honour, and to bring it to the forefront
of modern nations.
The ways to achieve this goal are to awaken the Turkish Nation, to
give it new vitality and momentum, and to inspire it to work and take
action by instilling in it a new philosophy of life based on national history
and Turkish honour, guided by modern science and high moral standards.
Our citizens• It is to achieve the magical transformation by explaining the
dangers we face both internally and externally and by instilling in the
people the cause of our country's liberation and rise. The other path to
achieving this goal
is to train enlightened individuals who will lead the nation, filling them
with love for the people, distancing them from selfishness, enabling them
to live alongside the people and work for the people, and thus uniting the
people with the enlightened.
For the Turkish Nation, one of the most honourable and greatest
members of the family of nations living on Earth, to survive, rise, become
strong and happy, it is necessary to embark on a new struggle.

29
NATIONALISM

This struggle will be a struggle to establish complete justice and rights


among our citizens, free from blemish and shadow. This war will be a war
to eliminate backwardness, ignorance, and poverty. This war will be a war
to free ourselves from being the playthings of others, from being
exploited by others, from
beggin
g for help from others. This war will be a war to break the chains of
economic, social, political, and spiritual bondage that surround us. It will
be a war to free ourselves from all kinds of prejudice and preconceived
notions , to embrace human love and
humani
ty.
It will be a noble act of defiance, based on deep respect for dignity,
refusing to bow to injustice under any circumstances.
We will develop a movement to become the bearer of an
honourable flag that accepts neither servitude nor the use of others as
servants within the human family. We will propel the Turkish nation
forward through the ages, enabling it to attain excellence in science,
technology, and high moral values.
We will fight the battle of karma to the highest degree. There are those
who do not understand us, who do not wish to understand us, and there
always will be. Souls who are slaves to their selfishness and interests
within their narrow worlds will continue to be hostile towards us. It is
normal for those who are jealous, deceitful, dishonest, and lowly, who are
nourished by the filth of , to carry out all kinds of activities against us,
and they will continue to do so. Nationalist Movement (s)Dokuz I=kç='lar,
Ü1kücü'1er We will work to liberate, improve, and awaken those who are
on such a wrong path, without disgust, revulsion, fear, or hesitation,
keeping our dignity and faith fresh. As Turkish Nationalists and Idealists,
we believe that the Turkish nation is the most beautiful,
BASIC VIEWS

To achieve the best and the highest, we must overcome every obstacle
and move forward without hesitation, as demonstrated by . We have
no extra resources to spare in reaching our goal, as highlighted by and
. We cannot forget that a nation that has stood on the richest lands in the
world, in the most important region, and has led the most glorious armies
in history cannot be left to its own devices in a state of poverty,
backwardness, disorganisation, neglect, misery and disarray.
We must act, join hands, and stand shoulder to shoulder. We must
not believe those who speak of obstacles. Impossibility and obstacles are
enemies that people have always been able to overcome.
A new Turkish miracle must be born... It will be born.
Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps even sooner.

The sacred sources of strength of the Turkish nation

The idea of preserving, exalting, and immortalising the existence of


the Turkish nation must take precedence over every other cause and stand
before every other action.
Every event occurring both within and outside Turkey should be
examined and evaluated in light of the aforementioned concept. The most
sacred source of power that will ensure the advancement of the Turkish
nation is nationalism and Turkishness.

Nationalism
Nationalism is loving one's nation, the Turkish homeland, and the
Turkish state, and striving for their well-being. •
•xml-ph-0000@[Link]

Turkishness, on the other hand, means desiring and ensuring that


everything in culture, science and technology, politics, economics and
trade is specific to and appropriate for Turks.
It is a view expressed by the principle "Turkish for everything, Turkish
for everyone".
It is a sacred duty of Turkish nationalism to care for other Turks
living outside Turkey's current borders and to strive to do everything
possible for their welfare, salvation and safety. However, no Turk should
ever forget that there is a prerequisite for fulfilling this duty. This is the
condition that any aid and services provided to Turks outside Turkey must
be done without causing any harm to the Republic of Turkey. Protecting
the Republic of Turkey, the sole independent state of the Turks and the
foundation of the Turkish ideal, from all kinds of harm and danger is a
fundamental principle of Turkish Nationalism. At the same time, we must
always keep the Turks of Eastern and Western Turkistan, Azerbaijan,
Crimea, Kirkuk, Cyprus, Western Thrace and other places in our hearts
and maintain close ties with them in every way, keeping our arms open to
those who come to Turkey from those places.

Islam

Another blessed source of strength for the Turkish nation is that


almost all Turks have accepted for a thousand years
32
BASIC PRINCIPLES

It is the Islamic religion they have embraced. Addressing Islam with its
true face and high principles, which guide the philosophy of life and
moral views of the individuals who constitute our nation, will give
Turkishness new vigour and momentum. Viewing Turkishness and Islam
as separate entities, let alone as two opposing or hostile entities, is
detrimental to Turkish nationalism and Islam. Today, some people in our
country who oppose Turkishness or attempt to deny it claim that
everything is about religion. Such people are either prisoners of ignorance
and negligence or servants of evil intentions seeking to destroy the
Turkish nation.

Unity and solidarity

, another of the Turkish nation's noble ideals, is unity, solidarity


and the ideal of internal peace.
It is an indisputable fact that a nation unable to preserve its unity
and solidarity will inevitably collapse. Today, the fathers of division and
destruction are shown to be collaborating to undermine and destroy our
nation.
Regionalism, sectarianism
, sectarianism, and communism are very dangerous movements that
hinder national unity. Within the borders of Turkey,
There are very few non-Turkish people. Despite this fact, divisions and
insidious minority racism are being perpetrated under the pretext of
language and dialect differences. Just as Turkish nationalism is the enemy
of any movement that disrupts unity, it is also opposed to all forms of
minority racism. Opposing harmful minority racism is one of the most
important duties.
is one of the most important duties.
The Turkish Nation has always had a superior place and duty in
human history and civilised life.
The Turkish Nation has never been interested in a life of isolation,
cut off from the unity of the world and humanity, but has continued for
centuries to build a universal life across continents
for centuries, establishing "World Empires".
A dense civilisation has been established and carried forward, and
the concepts of rights, justice and order, together with organisational
supremacy, have always given a positive direction to the lives of nations
and humanity, ensuring happiness.
Today, the Turks are located in the region that formed the backbone
of the ancient world, in the most dynamic era of international life and
politics.
The setbacks and serious struggles e x p e r i e n c e d in the
last century have not broken the great vitality and sovereignty of our
nation.

34
THIRD 'S PATH

The Turkish Nation must embark upon a new path and embrace
a new destiny. This path will be the path of those who wish to make
Turkey the most advanced country on earth in science, morality,
technology and industry. For at least two hundred years, actions such
as degeneration, abandoning national identity to seek refuge in others,
imitating foreigners, aspiring to the superficial and crude appearance
of the West, and attempting to copy systems born from the realities of
other lands will be crushed and eradicated, never to be revived.
We, the junk dealers, are the arch-enemies of the Turkish
nation, who dare to dress in the rags discarded by others, the
shameless intellectuals who try to pass themselves off as gentlemen.
By working day and night, sweating and toiling, we will produce our
own intellectual works and, without uprooting the Turkish Nation, we
will find enlightened individuals who will give wings to science and
art and carry them through the ages. Throughout history, the Turkish
nation has had a powerful and magnificent life. It is necessary to lift it
out of its current state of decline and rapidly steer it towards the good.
To achieve this, we must not copy sadistic Slavic Marxism.

35
NATIONALISM

There is no need to cling to Anglo-Saxon capitalism, whether hot or cold. We


need another path, a third way. This third way must kick the utopia of
establishing a dictatorship of the world proletariat into touch and instead
focus on strengthening the entire Turkish nation. •s
national ideal. It must be a 100% local, 100% national doctrine that, by
rejecting materialist, exploitative capitalism,
must be replaced by a wholly indigenous, wholly national doctrine that
will ensure social justice and the rapid development of the Turkish nation
as a society. The spirit of this doctrine must be the principles of "for the
Turkish nation, towards Turkey, not towards any other nation".
Today, the great difficulty encountered in moving the nation
forward is the opportunism and corruption seen in the majority of the
so-called enlightened class. However, the fact that courageous, faithful
people who can tear through the shackles of the past can be found
everywhere gives us hope for the future.

The new path


I am hanging on to the path of truth. I am pointing to the new path
that will save Turkey. I am unfurling the Nine Lights flag against all
kinds of oppression, waving it proudly. Now, under this flag, I am calling
upon the Turkish Nation isnto work tirelessly, to sweat, without any
personal gain,
I call upon warriors of virtue who, for the sake of the nation, the state,
and the ideal, will never think of taking, but will dare to give constantly
and give everything. I call upon warriors who will fight with dedication,
free from the desire for fame and glory, and without fear of anything. I
call upon the Turkish Nation t o rise up and lead the way to new horizons
under the guidance of science.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Our identity, our history and our path

Türlc - In the days when the Islamic Seljuk civilisation was born,
European universities were striving to parcel out and sell the paradise *s
The valuable winds that blew across the Anatolian plateau and carried
them westward These rain-laden clouds cooled the arid lands of
Europe, which had a low atmospheric pressure at the time, and gave life to
the seeds in the soil. This is the Renaissance, the foundation of European
civilisation. The contribution of the Turkish nation to this is an undeniable
historical fact.
As in Seljuk civilisation, the philosophy of the Ottoman Empire's
foundation and expansion was based on the virtues of the Turkish nation
and the principles of Islam.
Alongside examples from past centuries, the spirit and movement of
the National Forces, which began with the Rurtuiu War, has once again
demonstrated that the movement born of the Turkish Nation affects the
entire world and humanity. Today, Turkey possesses the same potential
power and character in its land and people.
This is not something that was born, it is not something that was
created, it is not something that was invented, it is not something that was
made up. Our meeting place is Great Turkey. Our meeting point is the
mind of the Turk, the heart of the Turk, the essence of the Turk. At this
place and point, we will unite, and we will definitely unite, not on
minimal commonalities, but on essential commonalities. Because this is
the general character of this meeting place and point. Those who do not
know the Turkish Nation and do not understand this character are in a
state of weakness, insecurity, and ignorance, accepting to unite on
minimal common ground.
MYLL12E'I'QH tK

Turkey's plan for liberation must be drawn up taking into


account its material and spiritual strength, and its own realities must
be considered. It must be
drawn up. Wherever it is taken from, we do not find it
appropriate or suitable for our nation to order a model from other
countries. It must be understood that every nation creates itself. Today,
the Turkish nation, which is compelled to overcome mountains , the
Turkish nation possesses this strength and determination. We have no
doubt about this. The Turkish nation is not suffering from
impossibilities, but rather from the pain of not being able to utilise its
existing strength and S
Today, while a new continent is emerging on one side of my
world, characterised by internal, economic and political turmoil, on the
other side, people steeped in the same culture are killing each other,
and countries are burning and engulfed in flames. Those who incite
and encourage such actions should not be spared from the fate that
awaits them one day.
In our view, international relations should be governed by a sense
and spirit of mutual benefit rather than exploitation and the desire to
dominate. For mankind, the distance between where the sun rises and
where it sets is no longer as great as it once was.
The Turkish nation, regardless of circumstances, has always been
the true representative of its honourable history and noble deeds in every
field. It cannot be praised enough for this character. The Turkish people
are individuals raised within a philosophy of tolerance. They are
generous-hearted, yet they do not harbour feelings of inferiority. Those
who misunderstand or misjudge them on this point should take note.

38
BASIC VIEWS

The battle of ideas

An ideological battle is being waged throughout the world. A


multitude of doctrines are clashing. In Turkey, capitalists and communists
have recently entered into a conflict.
We saw this. The first was imported philosophy, both materialistic, both
alien to the Turkish nation. In response to this, we emerged with a
doctrine that was 100% local, 100% national, and 100% spiritual. We
called this the "Nine Lights". As you know, the number "nine" has always
been a sacred number for Turks. We also referred to this when putting
forward our principles and presented a 100% national view. In this war of
ideas and tactics being waged all over the world, we could only prevail
with an idea that was suitable for our own national structure, higher and
more advanced than the others. Dokuz I=k is beyond these materialistic
ideas. The world's greatest weapon is thought. No action without thought
can succeed. I give you this weapon. Understand the Dokuz I=k
perspective. s =n=s. Gather around it like an iron ring and march
towards the goal.
I am not promising you easy success.
power with empty promises. Our path is long and arduous. Along this
path, you will encounter tempting offers, threats, and a host of other
obstacles. Those who can endure this journey, come with us. The brave,
the determined, those who truly believe, join our caravan.
We are facing certain accusations. We are not racists. But wherever
there is a Turk in this world, in this universe,
Turkish person, to care for them and to love them.

39
I consider it my duty. I do not believe that the world, with millions of
Turkish prisoners, will find peace in its current state. We are concerned
with all Turks in this matter. However, I am establishing a principle here.
While we are concerned with Turks outside Turkey, there must not be the
slightest danger to Turkey. We say that everything must be conducted
according to the United Nations Charter.
We have taken up this cause and are marching towards our goal.
We are marching without wavering from our thoughts, without straying. I
am running towards the goal with even greater determination than before.
We have not been swayed by temporary fortunes or temptations. Those
who believe do not lose. We are moving forward with this spirit and
awareness. We look to the future with faith and confidence. We never
doubted that we would reach our goal.

The great goal is the

Turkish Nation.
To democracy sold on the streets for the price of spinach, To a corrupt
system of bribery, deceit, trampled and trampling rights
to a freedom devoid of morality,
To a freedom devoid of morality,
usury, and black market.
I call for Turkish honour and pride, Islamic morality and modesty,
the fight against poverty, the pursuit of justice, unity, brotherhood, in
short, the path of righteousness, the path of truth, the path of ALLAH. I
call for the modern civilisation that is about to take the lead across the
ages. I openly declare the name of the movement to those who ask:
BASIC PRINCIPLES

A return to traditional values... Our goal is to make Turkey a


country of free people and strong leadership. Those who accuse us of
being compromising on this path are those who fail to understand the
noble nature of the Turkish people. It should not be forgotten that when a
farmer sows seeds in the soil, it does not mean he is compromising his
land. It means he is valuing the soil and keeping it fertile. This is the spirit
and essence of our movement. It should also not be forgotten that
civilisations,
and states are not built with money, but with faith; they do not collapse
from lack of money, but from lack of faith.
Turkish intellectuals, Türk gens ';i, meeting our place
Biiyiilc TÜTlciye'öit. The meeting point is the Turkish fer-
head, heart, and essential essence. As has been the case until now, do not
limit yourselves to reading only the book he wrote, or listening only to
what he said. You too should listen to what he said, read the book he read,
and strive to know and understand him.
Then we will unite not on the basis of minimum common
denominators, but on the basis of maximum common
denominators.
but in the common ground.
The view that considers the Turkish nation to be a step towards
union and democracy to be merely a system of government is not our
view.
Your ranks are the ranks formed by nationalists and patriots who
think about the eternal life of the Turkish Nation and the Republic.
In the mountains and plains of Anatolia, the farmer and labourer,
who roams and works with the patience of a prophet, enduring hardship
and toil, is offering up all the children of the homeland to our spiritual
atmosphere.
Our duty is: "Allah, I will carry it with ease."
45
NATIONALISM

is not to mock or ridicule the beliefs of these people who work and walk
with the conviction that "Allah will not burden me beyond what I can
bear." It is to shoulder their burden, to fight those who steal their rights,
those who lay hands on their livelihood and their labour.
This struggle will continue relentlessly both internally and
externally, and we will surely succeed on this path with Allah's help. For
our path is the path of truth and justice. In this country, the laboratories of
technical universities and science faculties, as well as the corridors of
higher theological academies, must be filled with life. Today, the
dichotomy of "matter" and "spirit" is dragging humanity towards a dead
end. Yet matter and spirit are neither separate from each other nor
independent of each other. The path to true happiness for humanity and
nations
must inevitably pass through the steps of science and spirituality.
The Turkish Nation has set many examples on this path and has led
humanity.
Today, the seeds of happiness for our nation and for humanity are once
again hidden in these lands.
Turkey and its people should be highly valued both internally and
externally. A storm raging in the highlands subsides on its own shores. A
storm that breaks out in Vietnam only lashes its own shores; even a storm
in the Ilimoalars is confined to the Indian Ocean. However, a storm that
breaks out on the Anatolian plateau can affect the whole world. This must
be understood and appreciated.
THE PRINCIPLES OF "NINE LIGHTS"

In order to protect the last independent Turkish state, we must unite


around a NATIONAL VISION. This vision is the NINE LIGHTS
doctrine. The NINE LIGHTS doctrine is a doctrine based on the Turkish
nation, its history and culture, and belief in it. It has no connection
whatsoever with national socialism.
The rapid industrialisation of Turkey is possible by leaping over the
ages and bringing the Turkish nation into the atomic and space age. This
depends, above all, on creating a cadre of world-class scientists and highly
skilled technicians.
According to our belief, the development of Turkey cannot be
achieved by imitating foreign doctrines and administrative systems
created under the conditions of foreign countries. Neither capitalism
and liberalism nor communism can be beneficial for Turkey. The only
system and view that can develop Turkey is a national view that is
appropriate to the characteristics of the Turkish Nation, takes into
account the reality of the Muslim Turkish Nation, and accepts modern
science and technology as a guiding principle.

43
NATIONALISM

In short, the formula for this is the rational linking of Turkey's


labour potential to its production factors, the state taking all measures to
open up production channels for its citizens and providing them with
facilities, and playing its essential role in increasing national income.
Here we are, a team claiming to be the owners of such a national
doctrine. The name of our national view is the "Dokus I=l= Doctrine".
This view is based on nine main principles. These principles are as
follows

Nationalism

which can be summarised as "everything is for the Turkish nation, with


the Turkish nation, and according to the Turkish nation"; it is loyalty to the
Turkish nation, love for it, and loyalty and service to the Turkish state.

Idealism

It is the ideal of bringing the Turkish nation to the highest level of


advancement, civilisation, and strength.

It is based on principles that aim to preserve and develop the


Turkish nation's spirit, traditions, and high status.
’FEMEL VIEWS

Scientism

The principle is to examine events and existence with a scientific


mindset, free from prejudice and ulterior motives, and to make science the
guiding force in every possible activity.

Socialism

It is the view that all kinds of activities should be carried out in a


way that benefits society. It comprises two separate sections: social and
economic . As an economic view, it accepts ownership as a
fundamental principle but opposes the misuse of ownership for the benefit
of the nation. It envisages a mixed economy and the state control of key
strategic economic activities. As a social perspective, it accepts the
principles of social justice, equality, social security and the establishment
of social welfare organisations.

Ruralism

It envisages developing villages by combining them into


agricultural cooperatives. It aims to liberate villagers from the clutches of
moneylenders and to provide them with the credit and other assistance
they need through cooperatives. It particularly aims to rapidly and
effectively integrate villagers living in forest areas.

4S
NATIONALISM

Liberalism and individualism

The United Nations Charter aims to secure fundamental freedoms.


It recognises the development of the individual as a useful path to the
advancement of society.

Progressivism and populism

People and civilisations always strive for and seek what is better,
more advanced, and more perfect. It is the consciousness of not being
satisfied with what has been achieved and always striving for more, and
making an effort to attain it. However, this endeavour and these
aspirations are rooted in the history, national identity and origins of the
Turkish nation, and the goal is to rise and progress from there. We accept
that in everything we do, being true to the people and working together
with them is an indispensable principle of progress and advancement.

Industrialism and Technicalism

's rapid industrialisation is essential for the development of the


Turkish Nation. These are the basic principles of our Nine Lights
ideology, summarised very briefly.
Doinz Iti rejects capitalism and Marxist socialism, just as it
rejects national socialism and fascism. National socialism and fascism
are degenerate forms of capitalism and are reactionary dictatorships that
do not believe in human rights and freedoms. DObUM I IK, however,
believes in human

46
BASIC PRINCIPLES

I hold a democratic view based on love and respect, seeking to realise


economic freedom as a whole. I do not believe in deified fascist statism or
idolised Nazi racism. Like those who have become famous, being fascist
during a certain period of one's political career, capitalist during another,
and socialist during yet another, has no place in our political ethics. We
are Dokuz Ii s «is, in love with the Turks, in love with the Turkish
nation, in love with Turkishness. Our aim is to defend the National Vision
that will ensure the eternal independence of the Great Turkish Nation on
this sacred homeland.

Nationalism, which stands at the forefront of the nine principles, is a


broader concept than the principle of collectivism found among the other
principles. Socialism is also included within the concept of nationalism.
However, in order to clearly express our views on economic and social
development, it has been deemed useful to express our thoughts under a
separate principle of Socialism. By Socialism, we mean the existence of
the nation, the interests of society, the individual...
We wish to point out that this is the case. Meanwhile, let us reiterate that
Dolcuz has absolutely nothing in common with national socialism.
National Socialism is based on capitalism, laboratory ( anthropological)
iris 8a and an anti-democratic political spirit, while Dolma JtLçtltfG
believes in Turkish communitarianism, socio-psychological (spiritual)
solidarity and true democracy. I do not believe in paths to power that
bypass the will a n d preferences of the Turkish nation. Even after
gaining power, I believe in the genuine functioning of democratic
processes, this-

47
We defend it. Those who constantly fear Turkish nationalism,
internationalists who have never embraced the Turk, are always
opposed to any nationalist view, . We must never forget this, not even
for a moment.

Today, on the Anatolian plateau, the destiny of the entire Turkish


nation is being shaped. In this regard, it is necessary to support deep-
rooted moral values and Turkish nationalism both internally and
externally. The Turkish nation, which established sixteen great empires
and offers humanity an exemplary morality, possessing superior spiritual
values and a rich country with few equals in the world, cannot remain
economically backward. T o d a y 's
• There is a major accounting error in the current situation. No
government in recent years has identified and addressed this error. The
spirit of the revolutions enshrined in the constitution has always been
confined to rhetoric, never reaching substance. Democracy has remained
an abstract concept. Dem-
a-asi human existence is an expression of love and respect for human
will. Imitation and plagiarism, however, have damaged our national
character. Instead of bringing science and technology from the world to
our society, Turkish intellectuals have brought outdated and obsolete
beliefs and habits.
Because the spirit of the National Forces, which saved the country,
the state, and the life of the nation from great dangers, could not be
transferred from the battlefield to the fields, from the fields to the
laboratories, and to the areas of balanced economic development, the
nation missed a great opportunity and lost a great deal of time.
Turkey's potential, primarily its human resources and human
power, must be directed towards science, morality, and justice.

48
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Consciousness must be mobilised. This movement must not be based on


the fear and anxiety of becoming or ceasing to exist, but rather on the
determination and resolve to become a great
should
not be based on anxiety and fear of becoming or ceasing to be, but should
arise from the determination and resolve to become a great state. The
Turkish nation will undoubtedly achieve this goal and will once again
fulfil its historical and spiritual duty to call humanity to righteousness, to
prevent evil and to command goodness. History is full of evidence of this.
We must make these great strides for the rise of the Turkish Nation. We
know that we face great difficulties and dangers on the path of serving the
nation, great
difficulties and dangers we face in serving the nation; but these
difficulties increase our determination and fighting spirit tenfold. Mu-
We are confident that we will succeed.
"The runner will surely arrive, the fallen will
rise, water will drip drop by drop from the black
stone. It is one, then it becomes a silver lake. The
seeker will find what they are looking for in the
end."

The alternative to the ruling party : Nationalism

The only alternative to the ruling powers in Turkey is the


Nationalist Movement and the ideology of Turkish Nationalism. Other
alternatives have been tried to date, but none of them have been able to
develop our country. I will build a Turkey that is strong and developed
internally and whose voice will be heard by the family of nations
externally. It is impossible to achieve this with outdated, foreign systems.
I would like to touch upon a point that you have repeatedly
emphasised on every occasion. Today, the essence of the international
struggle is constituted by national cultures and ideologies.

49
NATIONALISM

History, which we perceive as a struggle between nations, has shown that


every powerful and great nation seeks to establish supremacy over others.
Every movement that crosses national borders seeks an international
ideology for itself. For this reason, international ideologies today serve as
tools of imperialism. Since we accept the world order in the form of a
family of nations as a natural composition that will make humanity
happy, we advocate the establishment of relations based on the principle
of always respecting national differences

The ideologies seen in Turkey can be grouped into two main


categories. These are ideologies of foreign origin and indigenous, national
ideologies.
Foreign-sourced ideologies have never received any
praise from us, nor will they ever. Because the essence of the ideologies in this
group is internationalism character, making
them tools of imperialism. As for ideologies that
are foreign in origin but do not possess an international character,
these too are dangerous because they make Turkish intellectual life
dependent on and guided by external forces and prevent it from being
connected to the historical realities and claims of the Turkish Nation.
Their presence in the life of our nation and state is highly
dangerous.
In light of this brief explanation, all these ideologies, whether
capitalist, Marxist, or Nazi-fascist, are harmful to the Turkish nation
because they are foreign in origin. The former serve as tools for
imperialism, the latter prevent the Turkish people from thinking for
themselves, sever them from their national history and society, and
push them towards division, fragmentation, and an adventurous
direction.
SO
BASIC VIEWS

Principles. The Nationalist Movement Party draws its strength from the
values it has carried forward from the history of the Turkish nation and its
thousands of years of heritage; this sacred source is the foundation of its
ideology. For this reason, the Nationalist Movement Party is the party of
the indigenous and wholly national viewpoint.
FOREIGN IDEOLOGIES NATIONALISM

The only powerful ideology capable of fighting foreign ideologies is


the ideology of Turkish Nationalism. Unless the ideology of Turkish
Nationalism is in power, it is impossible to see and solve problems. The
antidote to all kinds of foreign ideological poisons that seek to divide and
destroy our nation and our country is the ideology of Turkish
Nationalism.
The Nationalist Movement believes in love for humanity and full
democracy. We oppose any system or ideology that is hostile to humanity
and divisive. Our aim is to embrace and love all our citizens living within
our national borders, without discrimination, regardless of religion, sect or
race, and to provide them with humane living conditions. We are the
staunch enemy of all
We are the implacable enemy of all divisive, sectarian, and racist systems.
We oppose class-based socialism, capitalism, and their deviations such as
communism, fascism, and national socialism. These foreign ideologies,
which are the product of the culture and history of other nations, have no
place in the philosophy of the Turkish State.

52
BASIC VIEWS

Fascism, Nazism, and our nationalism

Turkish Nationalism is a sentiment and a movement that draws its


strength from a deep love and faith in the Turkish Nation. It is a
movement that aims for the Turkish Nation to live freely and
independently and to rise to greatness. Turkish Nationalism is the name
given to the Turkish Nation's ideal of liberation from all forms of
bondage, a nation with thousands of years of glorious and honourable
history. As Turkish Nationalists, we are endeavouring to transform our
national goals into a political movement. Those who benefit from the
Turkish Nation's current state of decline and those who wish to remove
Turkey, the last bastion of Turkishness, from the stage of history are the
mortal enemies of Turkish Nationalism. These are the Turks.
They attack it with various slanders in order to discredit nationalism and
undermine the Nationalist Movement, which emerged as the political
action of Turkish Nationalism. Every kind of slander and lie has been
uttered against Turkish nationalism to date. Although many of these
claims and accusations contradict each other, they have all been
persistently used to deceive both the Turkish public and the world public.
The communists, who are working to make Turkey a slave to red
imperialism, are at the forefront of the enemies of Turkish nationalism.

They constantly repeat two slogans in Turkey. One is 'Nazism', the


other is 'fascism'. They rise up at every opportunity. They raise a clamour,
shouting 'Hand in hand against fascism' or 'Racists and skull-measurers
are dividing the country'.

53
M IYLTÇLK

Thus, they appear to be individuals who strive to protect concepts such as


humanism, democracy, and equality. The left-wing press, radio stations
controlled by the left, and simple-minded intellectuals join the chorus,
declaring themselves against fascism and Nazism. In this way,
communism is sought to be legitimised and made acceptable.
Fascism is a system specific to Italy, a reaction against Marxists,
established and led by a former Marxist. Nazism, on the other hand, is a
political practice rooted in the European nations, based on the principles
of the "superiority of the Aryan race" and "anti-Semitism," which have
deep historical roots.
The principles of "Aryan racial superiority" and "anti-Semitism" were
turned into a political practice, a doctrine in line with Hitler's German
spirit.
From a spiritual perspective, fascism is Catholic, Nazism is anti-
clerical. They are based on religion. These are the order of other nations
with their own importance and power. Fascism, up until the 9th century,
changed hands through inheritance between Austria, France, and Spain,
never entering into a state structure, and was conceived as principles
aimed at uniting a nation and giving it an expansionist character.
Since the Germans became Europeans, they have established
dominance over other nations and kept them under their rule ( ), yet
they themselves only achieved the status of a single state and centralised
authority at the end of the 19th century thanks to Bismarck. The view that
the Germans should be accustomed to living in a state and that national
unity should be achieved by propagating the idea that they have enemies
both inside and outside the country was put forward by .

54
BASIC VIEWS

The Nazis claim that all good things are done by the Germanic race,
and that races other than the Germanic or mixed races are evil. They
believe that Jews scattered throughout the world have ruined it, and to fix
the world, they plan to exterminate the Jews, whom they consider the
source of corruption, and enslave other inferior peoples to the Germans.
Anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) is widespread throughout Europe
and the Christian world. In the spirit of Christianity, which believes that
Jesus is "the son of God and God" and considers Jesus' crucifixion by the
Jews to be the greatest sin, the belief in punishing the perpetrators of this
sin and taking revenge for Jesus has roots stretching back 2000 years. For
this reason, all European states have at times carried out massacres of
Jews and organised mass deportations. Hitler and the Nazi leadership,
despite being anti-clerical themselves, exploited this sentiment as a
rallying cry in their political movements.
It is evident that Nazism has historical roots in German society, just
as fascism has in Italian society, and that these ideologies are consistent
with the social psychology of these peoples. The Turks are the Middle
Eastern people who achieved a single state and its implementation earliest.
The nation has always been above issues such as nationalism,
regionalism, tribalism, and sectarianism. Even when the Turks established
empires in Asia, Europe, and Africa, the state was still considered a single
entity, and the "Kaiakurum ban" in the east was considered the great khan
of the entire Turkish world. Following Fatih's conquest of Istanbul, the
great khanate moved westward.
The campaigns of the 16th century, Fizbek Hani Muham-

55
NATIONALISM

The conflict between Shah Ismail and Sultan Selim I was essentially a
struggle for supremacy between the Safavid throne and the Ottoman
Empire. Contrary to what the press claimed, these wars were not based on
Shiite-Sunni conflict, nor were they a matter of religious persecution.
Shah Ismail's most powerful commander, Ustai= Og1u Mehmet Han
Be;dili, was a Sunni Turkmen. The new soldiers in Yavuz's army were
also Bek-
taî. In fact, it has been suggested that Yavuz Selim was a Bektaî
based on the single Rüpe in his ear. aybak Han - Sultan Ahmet Tembel,
who fought alongside Shah Ismail in the battle against Shah Ismail, was
also a Sunni emir. Moreover, there were no (Persian) elements in Shah's
army. In these battles, the term "Iran" only refers to a territory and a
geography.
The concept of the state and national consciousness of such a strong
and deeply rooted nation has never needed to invent external threats to
inspire a sense of unity. For this reason, Turkish nationalism is neither
aggressive nor defensive.
The principle of the Turkish State and the ideal of the Turkish
Nation have manifested themselves in the establishment of universal peace
and order.
A nation that strives for the ideals of order, justice and peace
cannot, of course, behave hostile towards other peoples, religions and
races, and it has not done so.
Genocide does not exist in Turkish history. Jews expelled from
Spain, Poles fleeing persecution, and Russians (Malkans) persecuted for
their religion sought refuge in the Ottoman Turkish state and were
granted protection and justice. In a Turkish society shaped by such a
history, it is unthinkable to exterminate people of other religions or
ethnicities.

56
TEMBL VIEWS

Therefore, a "Nazi" movement cannot arise from the Turkish nation. Even
if five people who have copied the idea emerge, they will achieve nothing
but ridicule. s
Turkish nationalism is a movement that has been taken from all
kinds of imitation, is bound to the values of its own society, and develops
those values. It has no need for imitation.
An Englishman who travelled among the Turks in the 18th century
wrote:
"We actually share a common roof with the Turks, and what's more,
our origins are intertwined, but they treated me so well that I was
genuinely embarrassed. Everyone was smiling. Everyone wanted to show
their friendship through their actions, but also by looking down on me a
little."
This is the nature of the Turkish people: dignified, not selfish, not
opportunistic, and not cowardly, therefore not cruel, aggressive, or
violent. We do not see any possibility for fascism and Nazism to take root
in our society.
Despite this, communists, centrists, and admirers of left-wing
dictatorship continue to proclaim things that are not fascism, Nazism, or
reactionaryism.
A number of narrow-minded administrators are showing their
eagerness to create a climate of fear by embracing this clamour. Turkish
Nationalists must not shy away from playing these games.
This accusation reached such a degree that the Communists accused
the commanders of the State of Emergency, the former Prime Minister,
the Chief of General Staff, and even the President of the Republic of the
same crimes. Even a leading member of the centre-left party called
another leading member reactionary. What is surprising is not these
accusations, but the fact that those accused were
5'7
NATIONALISM

and continue to level the same accusations at each other.


Thus, the centre of gravity of the forces engaged in the struggle against
the left is shifting, the left is gaining a relative advantage , and this is the
main goal pursued for the time being.
As Turkish nationalists, we will expose those who maliciously
spread these lies and slanders, removing their masks to reveal their true
faces to the Turkish nation. We will support the movement to free
Turkishness from every kind of bondage and enable its rise. As in the past,
we will bring about a Magical Turkey that ranks among the world's
foremost nations in science, technology, civilisation, and prosperity in the
shortest possible time.

Nationalism against communism

Today, Turkey is under the influence of communist imperialism


from the east and capitalist imperialism from the west. Of these two
materialistic systems, communism holds a large part of the Turkish
nation captive and has seized its lands. While the aims of this system,
which has always been contrary to the Turkish people, and its main
proponent in the world, Soviet Russia, in Turkey are well known, there
are those in our country today who wish to show sympathy towards this
northern enemy and defend its system. The T u r k i s h nation has
never been fixated on any particular ideology. Since embracing Islam, it
has always fought against such systems and ideologies.
Today, communists are pitting our nation against each other.

S8
BASIC VIEW

sabas= islerinde. We will not allow the divisive and Jesntç=lnr=n to


turn our people against each other, to pit them against each other.
For a long time now, the broad atmosphere of freedom brought
about by the constitution has been exploited for evil purposes. In
particular, certain individuals belonging to the extreme wing have
adopted an erroneous and unrealistic stance. Their divisive rhetoric
and destructive propaganda are primarily aimed at the Turkish nation,
the Turkish peasantry, and the Turkish worker. The favourable
conditions of the country's current state of poverty and neglect
embolden them. We know that Turkey is in a difficult economic
situation. The people are poor, capital is ruthless and ignorant, and
labour is suffering. Social justice has not been achieved. Poverty and
ignorance go hand in hand. There is a deep chasm of mistrust between
those who govern and those who are governed. As if this were not
enough, opportunistic and ambitious politicians are forcibly driving
the masses towards two opposing camps.
To escape this situation, even if we are in different parties and
different camps, we must be united and take new measures to ensure that
we live side by side and intertwined as citizens who love and respect each
other. yer
Extremists say: "The system is broken; this system cannot
achieve a modern level of civilisation; the only way forward is to
establish a government dominated by the ruling elite..." But they do not
say what this means or how it can be achieved.
They do not say. None of those who put forward this claim are Jio1
, nor are they people who have grown up in the poor and destitute living
conditions of our workers and peasants or who are willing to share the
suffering of the people living in these areas. Most of them are from
Istanbul and Ankara

59
NATIONALISM

Those who never visit the poor neighbourhoods from their


comfortable surroundings and whose monthly income is over ten
thousand. exceeding ten thousand.
Every evening meeting places are the famous
luxury hotels of Ankara and Istanbul. These people are always striving
to be at the forefront of every fashionable and influential thought
and even strive to be at the forefront of them. They always advocate
extremism. Their aim is to undermine
normality and disrupt the order of things. They are fanatical to the
extreme and have no tolerance for criticism. When faced with even the
slightest criticism, instead of responding with ideas, they resort to
slander and defamation in an effort to intimidate and silence thinking
minds. They must be silenced, the educated, cultured and
knowledgeable, thinking intellectuals should be silenced. For them,
thinking minds are not important; manual labour is above everything else.
However, we claim that the stratification and class divisions that are
necessary for civilised and professional division of labour and social
life are an exploitation and domination. We maintain that
all working people, whether manual labourers or intellectual labourers,
have sacred rights that must be protected. We maintain that in the
administration of the life of a nation and a state, and in the organisation
of social activities and the regulation of social activities.
and
We maintain that the true voice and leadership should belong to the
enlightened individuals of the nation. We assert that the claims of those
who boast that 291 out of the 450 parliamentary seats are held by
labourers are contrary to the interests of the country. Today, the number
of labourers in the country
is around two million. This is 1/15 of the total population.

60
TBFIAL VIEWS

If it is desired that every class of people be represented in parliament, then


ultimately there should be around 30 representatives of the working class.
However, the claims and actions of the revolutionaries show that they
want to place the country under the dictatorship of a single class, the
uneducated labourers, who are not qualified to govern the state in terms of
education and culture. I am opposed to this. The progress of our country
depends, first and foremost, on the educated classes having a say.
In this regard, it is your foremost duty to fight against communism
in our homeland. We will stand up to those who would drag the country
down this path and their attitudes. Their lies and slander cannot intimidate
us. We will resolutely overcome every obstacle on the path to raising the
Turkish nation to a position of power, prosperity and civilisation.

International communism and anarchist activities

International communism, in collusion with traitors within, seeks to


destroy our independent Turkish State. These treacherous hands, which
threaten our national and territorial integrity, must be crushed. To this end, it
is imperative that all nationalist forces unite around a national cause. It is time
to abandon inconsistent party interests, renounce Byzantine intrigues, and
cling tightly to the ideal of Turkish Nationalism. The Turkish ideal, the
consciousness of nationalism, must be an ideology that every institution
applies and defends uncompromisingly.
The servants of the international communist movement, traitors,
sold-out anarchists, the eternal homeland of the Turks this
country divide-

61
NATIONALIST

It seeks to divide, fragment, and turn the land into a communist territory.
The country is not a simple piece of land, a soulless geographical entity.
The country is the Sacred Homeland, created and entrusted by our
ancestors to their children and grandchildren with their blood and souls,
through the course of thousands of years of history. Our duty is to protect
this heavenly homeland, to defend it, and when necessary, to sacrifice our
lives for it. For, as the poet says, "Land is homeland if there are those who
die for it" ( ). It must never be forgotten that
the Turkish homeland is of geopolitical and geostrategic importance,
coveted and sought to be divided by all kinds of external and internal
imperialist forces. Considering the importance gained by the Middle East
in international politics in recent years, the importance of the Turkish
homeland in the National Pact becomes easier to understand.
Under the slogan "Fully Independent Turkey" the true
intention of the anarchist communists is to separate Turkey from NATO
and bind it to the Warsaw Pact . We respect the national and
territorial integrity of every country .
Despite our desire to establish good neighbourly relations with the Pact in
every era, Russia has consistently set its sights on Anatolia, both during
the Tsarist era and today under the communist ideology. History
"The Testament of Peter the Great" will
, clearly reveal Russia's ambition.

The relevant sections of the aforementioned articles are as


follows: Article 9 — "We must expand and advance as far as possible
towards Istanbul and India. Whoever seizes these points will become the
true ruler of the world. To this end, we must continuously

62
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

with Turkey and subsequently with Iran. ... Article: 11 — "We must draw
Austria's attention to the expulsion of Turkey from Europe and eliminate
its jealousy regarding the capture of Istanbul." Article: 13 — "When Is-
ves falls into our hands and comes under Polish rule; when Iran disappears
and Turkey is occupied, we must separately and secretly make offers to
the Versailles Palace and then to the Vienna Palace to divide world
domination..."
During the Tsarist era, Russia declared war on us thirteen times with
the aim of establishing world domination, gaining access to warm seas
and climates, and eliminating the Turks, who stood as a major obstacle to
its ambitions with their country and nation. The goal of establishing world
domination and eliminating Turkey was pursued by the Soviet
governments after the 1917 communist revolution. In 1945, t h e y
demanded territory from our country (Mars, Ardahan, bases in the
Marmara Strait) and also wanted a friendly and reliable government in
Ankara. In order for the government in Ankara to be "friendly and
reliable," it was said that it should be like the governments in Sofia,
Prague, and Bucharest. This statement clearly reveals the ambitions of
Soviet imperialism towards Turkey.
The last six months in our country very serious
and shocking events have occurred. On 12
March 1971 issued by the
Turkish Armed Forces opened a new chapter in the life of the nation.
Meanwhile, many young
people and educated individuals who had drifted towards communism,
regionalism, and separatism were arrested. Armed groups such as the " "
were formed,

63
and partisan warfare commenced. Foreigners residing in our country
were attacked in Kas=rgaand massacred. Some of those responsible for
these acts, dev-
While resisting the forces with weapons,
were shot and killed in the ensuing clash.
Many of the young people were arrested. It is clear that the path
they had chosen was wrong and that it was harmful and destructive to
the country •s›Il. However, even if they were young ( ),
they showed behaviour that showed they would not hesitate to sacrifice
everything, including their lives, for the ideal they believed in.
. What a great sorrow this is for our country and what a great loss for
the Turkish nation.
Why have hundreds of young people and some of the educated elite of
the Turkish nation been swept up in these destructive currents and
movements that are harmful to the homeland... Why have these
unfortunate children of our country fallen into the betrayal of dividing
Turkey into separate small states according to regions? Why have
these people, who studied for years at our universities, made
statements such as "I am not Turkish, I am not Muslim, I do not
recognise the existence of Turkey"?
These young people, who are the children of our country, had
not fallen into these bad and wrong ideas while they were still in their
family homes before coming to university. In fact, many of them
were genuinely patriotic and nationalistic. The reason for their loss to
the nation is the void of ideas and beliefs into which our country has
fallen in recent years. People live with faith and ideals, they are happy
and they rise. A person without faith and ideals finds themselves in a
void and only...

64
BASIC VIEWS

the influence of their instincts, and their actions and lives remain subject
to chance.
The age we live in is, above all, an age of ideological and cultural
warfare. Nations that do not pursue the path of developing their own
national culture, and societies that do not define their own national ideals
and raise their people with these ideals, become prisoners of foreign
cultures and foreign ideologies.
For many years, our Turkey has been exposed to the assault and
invasion of foreign ideologies and foreign cultures. In the age we live
in, before the enemy comes with guns and cannons, they come with
culture and ideology, with thought.
and is attempting to destroy our faith*and our artistic world. Once it has
succeeded in this, seizing control of the state and the nation by the
enemy's armed forces
will be a simple matter.
Since 1917, Russian imperialism has taken on a new guise and
acquired a new, powerful, even formidable weapon. powerful,
even formidable weapon. This weapon is the ideology of communism.
Russian imperialism has skilfully used and continues to use this ideology
to devour the nations and territories it wishes to exploit. with great
skill.
Turkey is at the centre of the secret and open struggle between
states. For this reason, it is the target of the most relentless attacks by
foreign cultures and foreign ideologies. The aim is to destroy the
Turkish nation.
Attacks f r o m foreign cultures and ideologies will not cease.
They will mould me into shapes, apply new methods, bring forth
entirely new people, and continue the war. To counter these and
rapidly strengthen the Turkish nation and the Turkish state
6îi
NATIONALISM

a national ideology and a national culture must be established. Ideas,


ideals and beliefs cannot be suppressed, prevented or defeated by force of
arms, police power or brute force. Ideas, ideals and beliefs can only be
defeated by superior ideas, ideals and beliefs that are more correct, more
powerful
superior ideas, ideals, and beliefs.
For the Turkish nation, the strength to withstand all kinds of foreign
ideological and cultural attacks is the ideology of Turkish nationalism.
When discussing attacks by foreign cultures and ideologies, it
would be wrong to think only of communism. The rise of Turkishness in
all areas and the Turkish nation as a united society with an independent
personality
*It is necessary to take into account any foreign cultural and ideological
influences that hinder its development. It would be very wrong to adopt a
reactionary stance aimed at protecting against destructive currents and
divisive and divisive propaganda. It is the duty of the good. Based on
TürLtüL üt/ iü and Türü mtftt¿/etçtfi!ie
initt Ltittiir pettmetertn*, pnbanct Ltiltür ze tdeoHji saldtnlort==o itort is not
a reactionary stance, but rather a strong, principled s t a n c e that does not
compromise on the fundamental principles of democracy.

66
THE NINE- E DOCTRINE
NATIONALISM AND COMMUNALISM

The fundamental ideology of our age is the ideal of nationalism.


The ideology that today encompasses Africa, South America, Asia, and
even Europe is nationalism. The beginning of the Turkish Constitution
In the preamble and several articles of the Constitution, Turkish
Nationalism is emphasised.
Nationalism is considered the fundamental philosophy of the State. The
ideal of nationalism is to unite with the Turkish nation and establish the
great, powerful authority of the Turkish nation.
The Nationalist Ideal is the foundation of the State's fundamental
philosophy. The Nationalism we advocate is Democratic Nationalism
based on love for humanity. We are opposed to any system that rejects
Democratic Nationalism. We vehemently reject foreign ideologies that
divide the Turkish Nation into classes, sects, peoples or regions, or that
seek to fragment the Turkish Nation under the slogan "Turkish People".
We are the relentless enemies of totalitarian socialism, communism,
exploitative capitalism, and all kinds of authoritarian systems. Our
understanding of nationalism is based on spiritual awareness; everyone
who has attained Turkish honour within our national borders and sincerely
says, "I am Turkish," is Turkish... I do not believe in divisive elements in
nationalism and Turkishness, anthropological racism, sectarianism, and
imperialism.
I am opposed to Nazism, Roman Catholic populism, sectarianism,
imperialism geography Rar=s=ndad. Mil-

69
DOIIUZ LIGHT DOK‘l’RîNY

Our party believes in the idea of the National State, respects the equality and
independence of every national state, the unity of the country and the nation,
and opposes all aggressive ideologies, socialist and capitalist imperialism.

Democratic nationalism

Democratic nationalism is the ideal of national unity. This ideal


embraces the nation as a whole. In this ideal, society is not divided
into two classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, based on
individuals' relationship to the means of production, as Marxist-
socialists do. In Democratic Nationalism, there is no socialist class
theory that is contrary to modern social sciences. We will destroy the
mentality that seeks to establish a dictatorship over the Turkish
working class, hiding behind slogans such as "The State of the
Working Class", "The Rule of the Working Class" and "The Party of
the Working Class", and that seeks to turn the Turkish working class
into a means of exploitation for party members. Never forget the
existence of states that, while proclaiming "working-class
democracy," establish "dictatorship over the working class" and
exploit the blood of the workers.
Like the socialist and communist systems, the fascist and capitalist
systems are also systems that exploit workers' rights and suppress their
political and democratic freedoms. In fascist and capitalist systems, the
interests of a handful of bosses are protected. A large section of the nation
is oppressed and humiliated for the sake of a handful of bosses. We will
defend the sweat, rights and interests of Turkish workers to the end. We
will not allow Turkish workers to be robbed by a handful of socialist-
communist party members, a handful o f bosses. The sacred rights of
Turkish workers
BASIC PRINCIPLES

labour and sweat shall not be enslaved by socialist or capitalist property.


It defends the idea of national democracy and national property
instead of a class-based society, and national property instead of class
property. The day class property is abolished, class
The nation replaces societies. Therefore, the task at hand is to replace
class with nation. The nation, as the owner of property, has the opportunity
to participate equally in economic decision-making.

Property - Democracy

When I say property, I am primarily referring to the ownership of


the means of production. In the simplest sense, the means of production
means factories, machinery, land , and
It means workplace. When you look at societies around the world today,
you see that the means of production are owned by certain classes, thus
encountering a new type of ownership called class ownership. In capitalist
class society, a handful of bosses own the factories. Individuals and social
groups outside the bosses have no connection with the ownership of the
means of production. The communist class society stands in opposition to
the capitalist class society. In socialist society, the owner of property is,
theoretically, the working class. However, this is only in name. According
to the constitutions of socialist countries themselves, the owner of
property is the state. The worker has no connection whatsoever with the
ownership of the means of production. The worker labours, produces, and
the socialist state exploits him. The situation is illustrated by a simple
example.
THE NINETEEN-TWO DOCTRINE

If we take it into consideration, today the average wage in Soviet Russia


is 1,000 lira per month. The average monthly contribution of each worker
to the economy is 7,000 lira. The Communist Party gives only 1,000 lira
of the 7,000 lira to the worker and seizes the remaining 6,000 lira. This
example gives us the most typical example of socialist exploitation.
Your democratic nationalism is based on the principle of national
democracy. Democracy, in its narrowest sense, means the sovereignty of
the nation. Democracy is the participation of the nation in political and
economic administration, the political and economic sovereignty
belonging to the nation. In its broadest sense, democracy is the nation's
self-governance in political and economic terms.
It can be defined as the ability to participate equally in the making of
political and economic decisions. My understanding of National
Democracy is divided into two parts: Political Democracy and Economic
Democracy.

Political democracy

Political democracy is a regime of political freedoms. Political


democracy is the equal participation of all members of the nation in
political administration and political decision-making. Citizens
participate in political decision-making by electing and being elected to
political bodies.
Democratic Nationalism believes in political democracy. To this
end, in order for the nation to be fully represented politically, it is
essential that the Parliament include representatives of the peasantry,
i.çi milletvekillerinin, esnaf milletvekillerin, memur milletvekillerin,
iveren milletvekillerin, serbest meslek mensuplar= milletvekillerinin
CLEAR. DISCUSSIONS

Thus, political democracy is separated from class democracies and


removed from the rule and exploitation of the ruling class.

Economic democracy

The existence of political democracy alone is not sufficient for


economic democracy to exist. In order to speak of true democracy in a
country, economic democracy, which complements political democracy,
must also be established in that country. Economic democracy is the right
of a nation to be free in economic matters, to participate equally in the
economic decisions of the country.
. If, in a country, social groups are not equally and freely represented in
economic decision-making and cannot vote, then there is no economic
democracy in that country. The existence of economic democracy depends
on the social groups that make up the nation owning the means of
production and participating in profit, loss and management.

The struggle of nations and national doctrine

History is a history of the struggle of nations. To achieve victory in


this struggle, it is necessary to be a nation that is, in every respect, strong
and well-equipped. Nations that fail to adapt their social, political, and
economic structure to their national conditions are doomed to defeat in this
struggle. Our great nation, which has been in existence for centuries, has
always been a nation that has adapted its social, political, and economic
structure to its national conditions.
nations that fail to adapt their social, political and economic structures
to their national conditions are doomed to defeat in this struggle. For
centuries, our great nation has been subjected to foreign regimes and
ideologies. All national
DOKUZI IK DOCTRINE

values are being targeted for destruction. The aim is to erase this nation,
which is organisational and state-building, from the pages of history.
Our Turkey, our Great Nation, has become a breeding ground for jet
ideologies. On one side, the imperialist aircraft of Western capitalism, on
the other, those of Eastern communism, have entered a race to destroy this
great nation. We will not give them the opportunity. We will not turn a
blind eye to these nests of corruption and treason. The foundations of a
nationalist Turkey have been laid; minds that are 100% Turkish in
thought and ideology have joined the front. Turkey's most powerful minds
are on our side. The most ambitious goals, the most dynamic ideology,
and the most nationalist vision have been outlined.
The fundamental goals that will lead Nationalist Turkey to victory
have been outlined in the Dokus I=k vision. The system that will realise
these goals is Nationalist Socialism. Its ideology is the most dynamic
ideology, Turkish nationalism.
The Turkish nation can only be victorious in the struggle of nations
through the reorganisation of our State and Nation. In this reorganisation,
the state will have a new structure. This structure has three main
elements: social, political and economic.

74
THE ORGANISATION OF THE NATION SOCIAL

The social organisation of the Turkish Nation will be achieved by


uniting the Six Social Classes in the S o c i a l Life [Link], some
of our farmers and craftsmen are partially insured against certain
social risks. However, this organisation is incomplete and inadequate.
For this reason, in the National Plan, the insurance and security of the
Six Social Groups will be guaranteed
, thus establishing Peasant Insurance, similar to Workers' Insurance.
Tradesmen's Insurance, Civil Servants' Insurance, Employers' Insurance
and Self-Employed Persons' Insurance are
established. These insurances will cover social risks and occupational
hazards, and every citizen health insurance, sickness insurance, old-
age insurance, maternity insurance, unemployment insurance, and
disability insurance. This system will ensure that every Turkish
citizen is secure in the knowledge that they will be supported and
integrated in times of need. With the establishment of social insurance
and security institutions based on the six social sciences, new social
savings institutions will also emerge in our country. The premiums
that insured persons will pay to these institutions will amount to
billions each year. These savings will also make new investments
possible. However, will be paid

78
NINE FOR THE DOCTRINE

Premiums will be based on a different understanding than today. The


financial resources of the organisations will require, in addition to the
premiums paid by insurance members, a large financial contribution from
the state. Since social security is the most important social policy
measure, the state's failure to assist in this area is contrary to the nature of
a national social state. These organisations, which will have strong
financial resources, will establish large hospitals and health facilities in
every corner of the country, where all citizens will receive treatment free
of charge. This will result in the nationalisation of health services, and
every Turkish citizen, from seven to seventy, male, female, or child, will
be insured.

The Nine Lights social structure

The systems existing in the world are based on one of the following
three fundamental social values: the individual, the class, and the nation.
The foundation of states with a capitalist liberal structure is the individual.
However, this does not apply to all individuals, but only to a few
employers and capital-owning individuals. Since these are employers and
capital-owning individuals, and since this system is based on them, a false
individualism has been put forward solely for the purpose of protecting
them.
The communist system is based on class. This class is supposedly a
working class. However, in practice, it is not the working class that is
dominant, but rather a member of the communist party. The proletariat is
oppressed and despised at least as much as in the capitalist system. The
system of the Nine Lights Doctrine In the Nationalist-Collectivist system,
the fundamental value is the Nation. Here

76
BASIC PRINCIPLES

neither a class of employers nor a so-called working class is mentioned.


Because the nation is a unity of history, culture and lineage. Its division
into classes, the abandonment of certain individuals to domination
.
We take all members of the Turkish nation as our basis. However,
these members are divided into six social strata in socio-economic terms.
This is a feature of the Turkish nation. It is not the product or utopia of
ideologies originating from outside .
The six social strata in question are workers, peasants, tradesmen, civil
servants, freelancers and employers. The social structure of the Turkish
nation is made up of these strata. For this reason, we must adapt our
moral, political and economic development to these national realities.
Otherwise, we will remain stagnant, as we have been for two hundred
years.

National Integration

In all its actions, movements, and thoughts, the Nationalist


Movement takes a single principle, a single social value, as its basis.
This value is the Turkish Nation. In this sense, our party is always
opposed to individualistic and class systems.
The realisation of our fundamental philosophy o f national
sovereignty depends on the integration of the individuals and social strata
that make up the nation and their participation in decisions that concern
them. In a nutshell, our ideal is the ideal of national integration. National
integration is the political, economic and cultural unity of the people
living in a country, within the consciousness of belonging to the same
nation.

77
DOKUZI IK DOCTRINE

and their unification and integration from a cultural perspective. In the


national integration movement, the idea of unification rather than
fragmentation, and integration rather than differentiation, prevails.
Atatürk sought to describe national integration with the phrase, "a
classless, privilege-free, integrated nation." National integration occurs
with the emergence of national consciousness, the belief of belonging to a
particular nation. In societies where the individuals and social strata that
make up the nation are largely differentiated politically, economically,
and culturally, national integration cannot be discussed.

The reality of social strata

The nation is not an abstract concept, but a sociological


whole. When viewed from this perspective, the nation is a
, there are various social segments that constitute the nation
is composed of various social strata. These strata can be divided
socio-economically into the bourgeoisie, peasants, artisans, civil servants,
employers, and the self-employed. The realisation of national unity and
national sovereignty requires that all these social
segments to participate in political, economic and cultural decisions
that affect their own destinies and having a say
in these matters. In a system where each social stratum does not have the
opportunity to participate in decisions that concern it, national
integration and national sovereignty cannot exist. In such a system, only a
certain class or stratum dominates. Capitalist and Marxist systems are
class-based systems. In these systems, only a handful of employers or
Communist Party dictators participate in political, economic and
cultural decision-making. a handful
of employers or Communist Party dictators. Integration can only be
achieved through participation in decision-making. Participation
means that social segments can independently

78
BASIC PRINCIPLES

This necessitates the establishment of organisations. Each social stratum


finds the opportunity to participate effectively in the decisions taken
within its own organisation and through it. Unorganised social strata
cannot express their grievances. This, in turn, prevents them from
participating in matters that concern them
and consequently being subject to the dictates of another class or stratum.
Here, it is no longer possible to speak of unity, but only of division.

The Dokuz I=kç= political structure

Milliyet's political structure is based on the spirit of the national


state. In the national state, every Turk participates directly in the
executive, legislative, and judicial organs that constitute the state.
Throughout Turkish history, the state has been a symbol of power and
authority. The state is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Every Turk should
have confidence in and love for their state. A strong, powerful state is
sustained by a dignified, resolute Head of State. For this reason, we will
introduce a presidential system, because a courageous, fair and
knowledgeable president is the first requirement for a strong state
structure.
The Assembly shall be the assembly of national democracy. A
national parliament can only be national when it represents the entire
Turkish nation across all social strata. To this end, we will establish a
parliament composed of members of parliament from all social strata,
in accordance with the social structure of our nation. This means
that in the Assembly, there will be a similar number of representatives
from the working class, peasants, craftsmen,
civil servants, members of the liberal professions, and employers.

'79
The representatives will be found. Thus, as in Marxist democracies, it will
not be a parliament composed solely of bureaucratic Communist Party
members who are merely the representatives of the working class in
name, nor will it be a parliament composed of representatives of the
wealthy classes who are dominant in the liberal capitalist system. A fully-
fledged and robust People's Assembly will be established. This Assembly
will be single-chambered. The Senate, a remnant of Europe's monarchical
regimes, will be abolished. The single-chambered national assembly will
not only be national, but will also be an assembly of experts. An assembly
will emerge that can resolve the issues of every social stratum, without
one social stratum dominating another.

The political organisation of the nation

According to capitalism, the nation consists solely of the


bourgeoisie. However, as explained above, the nation encompasses five
social strata beyond the bourgeoisie (capitalist) class. Therefore,
according to capitalist political theory, political democracy is not national
democracy, but merely class democracy. Marxist political theory is also
based on a false working class, so in this system too, the parliament
consists only of members of the Communist Party. Consequently, here
too, instead of national democracy, we have the dictatorship of the
Communist Party.
Democratic Nationalism views the nation as a whole composed of
six social strata. Accordingly, it envisages the representation of these six
social strata in the National Assembly. Here, the parliament is neither
solely the organ of the capitalist class nor solely the organ of the so-called
'working class'.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Parliament is the organ of the entire nation. Therefore, in order to achieve


political democracy and integration, democratic n a t i o n a l i s m
requires the participation of a certain number of workers' representatives,
peasant representatives, flexible national representatives, civil servant
representatives, and free trade union representatives in our parliament.
The assembly of six social classes, with two representatives from each
class, will be formed, and the political system will be realised.
¢/emoLrosi will be realised.

Nine Lights economic structure

The economic structure will be nationalised. In a capitalist


economy, economic balances serve and belong to the capitalist. The other
major component of the national community is propertyless and
ownerless. In the communist system, the entire nation is enslaved and
exploited, and the economy is left to the whims and interests of the
communist party . In the economic system of the Nine Lights ideology,
however, the economy will be nationalised. Our national capital and
wealth will belong to all members of the Turkish nation.
In the struggle of nations, in order to avoid being erased from the
stage of history, it is necessary to develop rapidly and become a society
with heavy industry. Development consists of two movements. The first is
saving, the second is investment. Therefore, we will first save, then invest
these savings in factories that build heavy industry. To achieve this
movement, our model is the Dokuz
. In this model, we will organise our nation into six social segments.
into six social segments. The first organisation is legal organisation.

81
DOKUZ '5'*DOK N

The economic organisation of the nation

The economic organisation of the Turkish nation shall be carried


out in accordance with the principles of economic solidarity and
economic integration. Capitalist and Marxist economic systems divide
society into two classes: the capitalist and the working class, based on
economic income sources. into two classes: the
capitalist and the working class. These systems are outdated, harmful, and
divisive, just as they are scientifically flawed today. and divisive
systems. Modern sociology, law and economics analyse societies
according to the social status of individuals. According to this analysis,
the society known as the nation, in its broadest sense, consists of peasants,
workers, tradesmen, civil servants, employers and
members of the liberal professions. . In modern sociology, the
two-class system has been replaced by six social strata.
Economic democracy is the participation of the social strata that
make up the nation in economic decisions. If the six social strata in a
country cannot participate in the process of production and income
distribution, then there is no economic democracy in that country. The
ability of the six social strata to participate in production and income
distribution depends on their joint ownership of the means of production.
Today, in our country, these six social strata that make up the Turkish
nation do not have ownership of the means of production.
there is no economic democracy in Turkey.
. In order to establish national and economic unity, we must make our six
social strata—our peasants, workers, tradesmen, civil servants,
employers, and members of the liberal professions—co-owners of the
means of production. To this end, the principles of the economic policy
we will pursue are as follows:

82
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Economic development - Economic democracy

There is a direct relationship between economic development


and social justice. Thousands of production facilities and factories
will be built in Turkey as it develops. The products manufactured by
these factories will be sold, and the resulting income will be distributed
fairly among the people.
Development consists of two elements, which I call "savings and
investment". Savings are the increase in income that is not consumed.
If this increased income is invested in factories, capital accumulation
and development will be achieved. The Nationalist Movement's
savings and investment policy will be achieved with the participation
of six social sciences. A portion of the income of the legally organised
peasants, workers, tradesmen, civil servants, employers and members
of the liberal professions will be set aside for savings. Let us illustrate
this with an example nt=latal==n:
For example, the Trade Unions will save 50 lira per month from each
of our one million workers, and each worker's annual savings will
amount to 600 lira. The savings from two million workers will
amount to one billion, one hundred million lira per year. This is the
savings side of the equation. The basis of our investment policy is to
build factories that build factories. A factory that builds factories
produces more factories. This is what our country needs today.
However, there are no factories that build factories in our country yet.
With the economic policies implemented by various governments, it
will not be possible for this to happen for many more years.
The cost of a factory-building factory is at least six billion lira,
and building it again is at least five times that amount.

83
NINE IgIK DOKTRDf Î

It takes a year. Now, if we save one billion two hundred million lira a
year from our workers, that makes six billion lira in five years. This
means that with our savings, we can build a factory in five years. If we
apply the same savings and investment practices to our peasants, artisans,
civil servants, employers, and self-employed workers, our country will
acquire major industrial establishments and will be economically
developed.
Who will own these factories? In capitalist and Marxist economies,
the same savings are made by the workers, but the owner of the factories
is either a capitalist boss or a communist state. This is the most typical
example of social injustice, the exploitation of man by man or by the
state. In Turkish National Democracy, since the exploitation of
individuals and classes by the state will be eliminated, the owners of these
factories will be all members of society: peasants, workers, tradesmen,
civil servants, and the self-employed. For example, in the above example,
since each of our workers will save an average of three thousand liras in
five years, each worker will become a partner in the factory's ownership
in proportion to this amount, thus nationalising the Turkish economy. In
the national system, everyone will be given their rights under the rule of
law.

The realisation of social justice

When the six social strata become owners of the factories, they will
also participate in the ownership of the means of production, the profits,
and the management of the workplace, thus becoming partners.
Ultimately, this will ensure and realise a fully-fledged social economy.
Returning to the example above

84
BASIC PRINCIPLES

each worker will receive income proportional to their share of the


factory's profits at the end of each year. Thus, each worker will be
both the owner and the employee of the workplace; in addition to their
monthly salary, they will receive a share of the factory's profits as
additional income. In such an economic system, the distribution of
income will also be fair. The lower social strata that make up the
nation will participate equally in the management, as well as in the
ownership and capital of the factories.

This system will ensure the economic integration of the Turkish


nation. Our farmers and villagers in Edirne will be partners in
factories in Hakkari or Kars, and a villager or tradesman in Hakkari
will be a partner in a factory in Edirne. Thus, all our citizens will look
upon every corner of our beloved homeland with economic interest,
and the national wealth will be shared by all our citizens. Any traitor
who attempts to destroy the national wealth will find the entire
Turkish nation against them.

The new sector - the People's sector

The ownership of the means of production by the six social strata will
give rise to a new sector in our economy. This is the national sector. The
Turkish economy will be based on a new economic order centred on the
domestic sector. These sectors are the state sector, the private sector, and
the cooperative sector. On this occasion, let us emphasise that the nationalist
order is not hostile to the private sector. However, the private sector, in its
current unregulated state
DOKUZI IK DOCTRINE

and become more efficient in terms of national interests and goals.


The state sector will also be restructured. Instead of the outdated,
obsolete state sector that burdens the economy and national development,
a contemporary, modern state sector oriented towards national strategic
objectives will be established. Under this system, the state will provide
economic services such as heavy defence industry, infrastructure services,
and mining industry.
Banking, insurance, domestic and foreign trade services, i.e. the
primary sector, will be re-examined and reorganised in a coordinated
manner by the state sector, the national sector and the private sector.
Factories and machinery are referred to as means of production
in economics. In the capitalist system, the means of production are in
the hands of a single capitalist. The majority of the people are deprived
of these.
In the communist system, these values are in the hands of the state,
and it is impossible for either the worker or the people to possess them
. In our doctrine, however, these production is
carried out by the savings of the worker, the merchant, and the civil
servant. Therefore, these factories and machines belong , the
peasant, the tradesman, and the civil servant, so the peasant, the
tradesman, and the civil servant will own these factories and these
machines in proportion to their savings. In this way, Turkish wealth and
economy will belong to all members of the Turkish nation. Everyone will
live happily and freely. The peasant, the tradesman, will own the factories
and gain their property. In such a system, there will be no exploitation, no
intermediation, no profiteering, no usury. We will place the control of
banks, foreign trade, and national production will be placed under
the control of the unions. We will place our underground wealth, our
mines
We will nationalise it.
BASIC VIEW

Nationalism is based on a strong and developed economy. For


two hundred years, capitalism has failed to develop Turkey. It cannot
develop it in the future either. Communism, on the other hand, is our
main enemy, our national enemy. It cannot develop our country
either. Therefore, let us all embrace the Nine Principles. Otherwise,
we face the danger of losing our way and our very existence. The
basis of nationalism is the independence of our nation and state.
Nationalist principles are based on the spirit of an independent and
sovereign state. This can only be achieved through a national ideal.

87
NATIONAL LABOUR AND CAPITAL POLICY

Labour is sacred.

The six principles are the foundation of human understanding. The


main source of a nation's progress, survival and preservation is the
example set by its children. However, freedom is the primary condition
for human happiness. It is not beneficial to try to overcome the difficulties
our nation faces by imitating foreign doctrines. For two hundred years,
those who have governed Turkey have been prisoners of an imitation that
destroys creative thinking. Just as every nation has its own characteristics,
it also has its own specific conditions. Instead of imitating others, it is
necessary to create a national system, a national method of administration,
which takes these specific conditions into account and makes modern
science and technology its guide.

Contemporary economies are characterised by a mixed economy. A


mixed economy, in the classical sense, is an economic system in which
the private sector and the public sector coexist. In this economy, the
means of production are owned by individuals and public institutions (the
state). Therefore, the private sector engages in economic activity, while
the state operates within the public sector.
A mixed economy is temporary in nature. Ykt-
BASIC PRINCIPLES

According to Dardski's political and economic theory, economic activities


are ultimately left entirely to either the private sector or the public sector.
If the political power's preference is towards a capitalist system, the public
sector is transformed into the private sector; if it is towards a socialist
system, the private sector is transformed into the public sector. Thus,
ownership of production means is concentrated in a single entity, either as
private or public ownership.

Capitalist and Marxist systems and their flaws

The private sector is the form of application of the capitalist


economic system, while the public sector is that of the socialist
system. Like any system, both capitalist and socialist systems are
fundamentally based on human freedom. However, it is impossible to
claim that capitalist and socialist systems have achieved this goal.
Today, despite the implementation of capitalist and Marxist systems in
various countries around the world, humanity has not attained
freedom. The reason for this is that in both systems, the ownership of
the means of production is not distributed among the entire nation,
that is, among all the individuals who make up society. In the
capitalist system, the ownership of the means of production belongs to
a very small part of the national community, namely the capitalists,
while in the socialist system it belongs only to public institutions, to
the state.
There is a very close connection between the concepts of property
and freedom. Social and economic justice, freedom and equality,
liberation from exploitation, overcoming alienation, and the development
of people's material and spiritual personalities are all linked to property
relations. People are divided into classes.

DOKUfi I,IK DOETRttfÎ

and societies, exploitation and alienation, is fundamentally due to some


people owning property and others not.
The socialist (Marxist) system argued that capitalism could not
regulate the distribution of property and advocated the abolition of private
property and its replacement with public or state ownership. According
to socialism, the capitalist social structure has granted ownership of the
means of production only to the capitalist, leaving the working class
deprived of this ownership. In society, some classes own the means of
production while others do not, leading to differentiation and,
consequently, the issue of exploitation. The minority who own the means
of production began to exploit the majority who do not. Therefore, to
eliminate exploitation, it is necessary to abolish private ownership of the
means of production. If private ownership is abolished and the means of
production are nationalised or state-owned, no one will be a property
owner, and thus differentiation and exploitation will also be eliminated.
The mistake socialism made, as mentioned above, was failing to see
the relationship between property and freedom . Since property is
the guarantee of freedom and, if you will, the freedom of humanity, the
path to follow is not the abolition of private property, but rather to make it
national, to make it belong to the nation, to make everyone a property
owner.
A society deprived of property, and especially of the property of
production, cannot be free. This is the main reason why socialist societies
cannot be free. Moreover,
socialism is in great contradiction. Property relations have not been
eliminated in socialist countries. De-

90
BASIC VIEWS

only the subjects (owners) have changed.


Production, which used to belong to individuals, now belongs
to the state and public institutions. According to socialism, the
source of exploitation and differentiation
, this exploitation and differentiation continue today. For yesterday's
exploiters were the bourgeoisie, while today they are the state and
public institutions. However, in Marxist-Leninist countries, the state
and the Communist Party are one and the same. The Communist Party
is the state, and the state is the Communist Party. Thus, the communist
party that has taken over the state constitutes the ruling class.
ruling class. In fact, the nationalisation of the means of production means
that they are placed at the disposal of the Communist Party. To put it
another way, property has not been nationalised, but rather ' ' has been
'particised'.
The Communist Party, on the other hand, is run by its Communist
members. In this case, ownership is ultimately vested in the monopoly
and control of the members of the Communist Party. Today, there is talk
of a new class in Marxist-socialist countries. This class is a class formed
by members of the Communist Party. This class is another form of the
class found in capitalist countries. In communist countries, this class,
which occupies the state or the bureaucracy, is a more exploitative,
oppressive and crushing class than the capitalist bourgeoisie. While
socialists wanted a classless society, class divisions have grown even
larger, resulting in a dictatorial and exploitative class society. The Marxist
state, which claims to be a workers' state, has become a despotic state that
oppresses and exploits the workers. Communism is a system of that
thrives on the backs of the workers and peasants, but sucks their blood.
Today

91
DOMLÎZ I ITE DOTETBÎN}

The Marxist-socialist system implemented in various countries is


nothing more than a cruel form of state capitalism that has reverted to the
wild, inhumane and completely unjust liberal-capitalist system of the
18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
In Soviet Russia, the difference between the wealth of individuals is
more than 30 times greater. This privileged bureaucratic new class,
members of the Communist Party, consists of only two million
people. The other 240 million Soviet citizens are forced to live in
poverty. History has never witnessed such a cruel era of class
exploitation and oppression.

The national sector

Our Constitution is closed to socialist and capitalist dictatorships.


The system accepted by our Constitution is a national economic system
based on our country's cards. The national economic system is actually
based on a mixed economy. However, this is not a classical mixed
economy, but a modern mixed economy. The characteristic of the modern
mixed economy is the dual sector, namely the private sector, the national
sector and the public sector. Here, a new sector, the national sector, is
located between the two classical sectors.
The strategy in vital areas, the execution of key economic activities
by the state, should be seen as essential for the rapid development of our
nation and in light of Turkey's realities. Economic activities such as heavy
industry, blast furnaces, refineries, oil operations, and transportation must
be carried out by the state or under state control. In addition to these,
material production and related industries

22
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Private enterprise s^*§>e87t Sanalar may be possible. Private


enterprise s• In such endeavours, the state should ensure that
developments always serve the public interest and
ensured.
Economic life should be directed not according to blind profit, but
according to the view of making profits that will benefit society. The
principle of benefiting the nation should prevail over speculative profits
star and usury.

Production should be continuous • ak and the aim should


be to improve quality. In industry and trade, imitation should not be the
main principle, but rather innovation and creativity.
The right to property is an inalienable requirement of human
nature. Respecting property and enabling every citizen to own property
is a matter of great importance on the path to prosperity. However, the
misuse of property and its use as a means to subjugate other citizens
must be prevented.
Property owners are responsible for managing their property well
and operating it in a way that benefits society. For those who fail to do
so, it should be necessary for the state to take over the operation of their
property and pay them a fair rent.

The state and private enterprise

Within the framework of the concept of the 'social state', we are


also in favour of private enterprise, legitimate competition and free
enterprise in the economic sense.

93
DOgUZI IKDOKTRA

In economic areas where private enterprise meets the needs of the


people and the country, it is fundamental that the public sector does not
engage in capital investment.
We cannot remain indifferent to fraudulent trade, capital flight
and profiteering through ignorance. We must take preventive
measures against these. We believe in the necessity of protecting,
developing and supporting the spirit of enterprise and creative ideas.
It is the duty of the state to eliminate the individual's lack of
initiative and insufficient knowledge through education, removing
traditional and legal barriers.
It is among the duties of the state to make wealth that does not
serve production productive, to encourage and motivate the people, to
pool the small savings of individuals, to make the masses capitalists,
and to make national production beneficial to the nation.
The national sector. It is a sector that will ensure the freedom of our
people by nationalising the economic structure, strengthening our
economic foundation, and distributing the ownership of the means of
production fairly and equitably among the national base (the nation). The
national sector is the fundamental condition for national integration and
economic democracy. Modern democracy is essentially a regime of
integration. Here, class conflict and social struggle, which threaten the
state order, have given way to interclass harmony and social peace. The
success of modern democracy depends on the ability to combine political
democracy with economic democracy. Political democracy, in short, is
the participation of the people in the administration of the country through
free elections every four years, expressing their will and electing their
leaders, while economic democracy is
P4
BASIC PRINCIPLES

It is the ability to participate in economic decisions that concern one's


own future. However, the ability to participate in economic decisions is
only possible if one owns or shares the means of production. On the other
hand, the ability to truly make political and economic choices and
decisions depends on being free from external influences, being strong and
organised.
Modern democracy is a democracy of organisations. Here,
organisations are structured according to the socio-economic ties between
them. The individual is stronger within his own organisation. The social
group to which he belongs protects him against other social groups and
the state. The legal aspect of the organisation of the Turkish nation, which
I propose should be organised into six social strata, will be as follows:

The legal organisation of the nation

Marxist and capitalist legal theory divides society into two classes.
These are the capitalist class and the proletariat (workers). Capitalist legal
theory, based on capital, envisages compulsory organisation for members
of the capitalist class and voluntary (pluralist) organisation for the
working class. Thus, in this system, employers are obliged to be members
of the trade association established in their locality. This membership is
based on the principle of obligation and compulsion. Consequently, it is
not possible for capitalists to establish a second trade association in the
same place, and those who are not members of the existing association
cannot practise their trade or craft. The single and compulsory
organisation is based on the principle that
strength i n unity. Capitalism's desire-
9"
NINE IQIK DOCTRINE

This is essentially the point. In contrast, the capitalist system does not
accept the principle established by " " (The labouring masses are
united in a single organisation). Because if the labouring masses unite
in a single organisation, the possibility of exploitation may diminish or
disappear. This is not in line with the philosophy of capitalism.
Marxist legal theory, however, does not recognise classes
outside the working class, and therefore only the working class is
organised in this system. However, the organisation of the working
class
is not based on the principle of freedom. It is organised under the orders
and pressure of the Communist Party, and therefore under its
exploitation.
Both of these theories are contrary to Turkish national interests;
they are foreign theories that divide the nation into classes and set them
against each other. Moreover, these theories are incompatible with
modern science and social realities.
The legal organisation of the six social strata is as follows: 7/7 for the
working class, 2/7 for the Turkish working class, 2/7 for the civil servants'
organisation, and 2/7 for the employers' organisation. (5enJtkost9, Tiirk £snaf
7'eUtött, 7’ü='L Memur TeLi-l¿itt, f’ürL Yueren TeJkilkln re 7’ürk Serbest
Meslek Men-subu f'ekittitt will be established. Thus, each social stratum will
be organised within its legal organisation.
There shall be six national social groups: the workers' union, the
peasants' union, the tradesmen's union, the civil servants' union, the free
professionals' union and the employers' union... These unions shall be
established and operate entirely in accordance with democratic principles.
Each union shall be independent of political power and shall have its own
legal personality under private law. The management and supervisory
boards of the union shall be elected by the general assembly of the union.
These associations, which are democratic and autonomous from a
legal standpoint, will be dynamic in terms of economic development.
98
TERMS OF REFERENCE

A royal decree will be issued. An economic savings and investment fund


will be established for each unit, and the compulsory savings made by
members will be invested in heavy industry and factory-based
manufacturing. As a result of these investments, our economy will gain
new production capacity, and the established factories and workplaces
will give rise to a new sector. We will call this emerging sector in our
economy the national sector. In this new order, the ownership of
production will belong to the members of the union. Every means of
production, i.e. factories and workplaces, will be given to the members of
the union in the form of various shares. Thus, alongside the private sector
and the public sector, a new sector will emerge, the " " ( ) production
•«s › owned by .

Our labour issue

In labour and capital relations, it is essential to maintain a sensible


approach that takes into account human rights and justice principles.
Acting in the best interests of the Turkish nation above all else is the
primary duty of every Turkish citizen. Establishing a social security
system that covers all Turkish citizens from Edirne to Cars is a
fundamental need of our society. Urgent needs such as protection against
unemployment, occupational safety, and equal opportunities must be met
as soon as possible.
Transferring our farming population to other jobs is one of the most
urgent tasks. For this purpose, broad employment fields
PIG IGIK DOCTRINE

It must be done. In Turkey, there are many untapped riches to be


evaluated, as well as many tasks that cannot be accomplished in a single
lifetime. There is no "too late" for our nation. The whole issue is to join
hands, with science and knowledge as our guide, and take on the traitors.
We can send our people to foreign countries as leaders.
and working together to tackle these challenges. The way to prevent our
people from migrating to foreign countries is to secure our own jobs.
This requires ›s appointing competent and capable managers to
positions of authority.
Workers' rights should be considered the foundation of social order.

Ensuring and protecting the full rights of our workers is our primary
goal for the development and peace of society. It is absolutely necessary
to adjust the daily wages of our workers in a manner commensurate with
the earnings of citizens employed in other professions and the economic
conditions of the country.

We reject class struggle and the idea of a single class, and we


embrace the concept of nationhood, science, and humanity. Our s
primary goal is to ensure, protect, and harmonise the rights of all working
people .
completions. Our starting point for looking at national and
global realities is the high status and interests of Turkey and the
Turkish nation. By looking at issues in terms of class struggle, my
claim that a single class should be the owner and ruler of everything
(!) is, in our view, the shortest route to
communism. Given that today's world is one of science, technology
and culture, we believe that society must be governed by .
We believe that society life
98
BASIC PRINCIPLES

The stratification and class division resulting from the necessary division
of labour in civil and economic affairs should never and cannot lead to
the establishment of a hierarchy of domination in favour of any class. We
are opposed to such a view. We will always fight against such behaviour,
which leads society to unhappiness, disorder and a thousand troubles.
We must take measuresto establish an adequate organisation
forour workers who go abroad to work and to protectand support
themin foreign countries. Today, thousands of our working citizens
are destitute and scattered in foreign countries. We
must take measures to establish an adequate organisation and to
protect and support them in foreign countries. Today, thousands of
our fellow workers are in a miserable, scattered and helpless state in
foreign countries. These citizens are constantly under the influence of
various negative propaganda. We must take urgent measures for them.
is
.

Social security

In the current environment in which our country finds itself, the


citizens who are most burdened by heavy loads are the unemployed
and the peasants. It is clear that our citizens living in villages sell the
produce they have obtained with great difficulty for next to nothing
and that the profits from their labour are not being realised.
It is clear that our peasants have long been at the mercy of moneylenders,
profiteers, and black marketeers. and black
marketeers. The crisis faced by our workers is at least as deep and
significant as that faced by our peasant citizens. They work in factories
that are unhealthy and oppressive, or seven layers underground,
have brought to
light
PIG LIGHT DOK’I'R1NÎ

It is evident that workers are often unable to receive the wages they have
earned through their labour.
It is widely known that the number of workers affiliated with the
Social Security Institution in Turkey exceeds 1.5 million and that these
workers mostly live in large cities and shanty towns. It is clear that
between 57% and 78% of workers in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Adana
are forced to live in single-room dwellings, which is extremely difficult
with eight or nine people. It is clear that 44% of homes with poor housing
conditions are occupied by working citizens, that workers are left waiting
miserably at hospital doors, and that working people are unable to be sure
of their jobs for a long time.
These are undeniable truths. It is absolutely essential to provide all
workers with social security and to make this social security system
available to every member of your nation.
Human labour is the most sacred value in the life of a nation.
Given that the average age in Turkey is 54 for men and 56 for women, it
is never appropriate to demand that workers retire at 60 or older. Efforts
must be made to continuously improve the social security of workers and
all citizens. The opinions of foreign experts who do not know Turkey's
cards cannot always be considered accurate. The establishment of social
peace and the provision of social justice in the country is only possible
with the rule of faithful leaders.
Indeed. Who in our country can deny the existence of profiteers, middlemen,
and usurers? *
in our country? Which of our citizens, apart from a certain segment of society,
can stand up and say that

100
BASIC VIEWS

"I am confident about tomorrow," and who can claim that workers
receive their wages in full in return for their labour? These are the realities
of Turkey in the 1970s. We must see these realities and mobilise
ourselves to solve the country's problems in light of these realities.
. We are obliged to mobilise ourselves on the path to resolving the country's
problems in the light of these realities. Turkey is dreaming of an order in
which poverty has been eliminated, exploitation has been overcome, the fear
of unemployment has been conquered, and human beings have gained
dignity... Here is Mil-
The power of the people is the power of the people, where all forms of
exploitation have been eliminated, and citizens are confident about
their future.
It will also bring about a new order. Under the Nationalist Movement's
rule, there will be no middlemen, usurers, or profiteers. Under the
Nationalist Movement's rule, all citizens will be embraced with equal love,
without discrimination, and the mistreatment and belittling of one person
by another will be strictly prevented. Under the rule of the Nationalist
Movement, the principles of the supremacy of the people over power and
of law over anarchy will prevail, and all citizens, from Edirne to Kars, will
unite around the national ideal and embark on an economic war of
liberation. It is impossible for an economically underdeveloped country to
be independent. The guarantee of our political independence is achieving
economic independence. It is imperative that Turkey break the chains of
backwardness and escape the situation of becoming a market for others as
soon as possible. We are fighting this battle, we are waging this struggle.
In this struggle, we stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, heart to
heart, with our workers, our peasants, our tradesmen, our civil servants,
and our professionals.
It must be so, and national unity and solidarity series Lalat=lan this
sacred economic development struggle must be won

101
DOKITZ LIGHT DOCTRINE

We have sworn an oath. The establishment of a classless, privilege-


free, advanced, civilised and enlightened Turkey is only possible with
the coming to power of idealistic, nationalist cadres. The Nationalist
Movement will definitely achieve its goal through the efforts of the
idealistic cadres who will establish the nationalistorder.

Trade unionism and nationalism

The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions is the largest labour


organisation in Turkey, representing a large, dynamic and nationalist
workforce. Turkish workers have always been seen as the biggest
propaganda target, threatening our nation and state, and great efforts have
been made to prevent this. Indeed, Tür-Y is beyond all praise in its efforts to
combat all these foreign ideologies and to protect the masses it represents
from danger.

Parties that have recently been dominated by reactionary ideas appear


to be attempting to manipulate the Turkish-Y union, which is the sole
representative of nationalist, patriotic Turkish workers. It is essential that
the Turkish trade union movement be conducted above all party interests
and conflicts for the sake of the future of Turkish workers. Türk-Y must
operate above party politics, directing its activities towards the nationalist
worldview that dominates the grassroots, i.e., the Turkish worker. If ideas
cannot be formed in society and a void remains, this void must be filled
with what and how?

102
'EEMI!L; GÖRÜ,I ER

was demonstrated by the events before 12 March.


For this reason, nationalism, which is currently the strongest and
most effective force, should be declared as the official worldview of this
great organisation.

Trade union politics and press unions

In today's world, the power of the press, which constitutes the


fourth estate in the life of societies, is the greatest aid in establishing a
happy and peaceful order. It is evident that our press is facing serious
problems. From the perspective of the Nationalist Movement Party, I
would like to focus on how Turkish press issues can b e resolved within
the framework of the Nine Lights ideology.
We have long advocated for the establishment of trade unionism
based on single and compulsory membership in every sector to ensure
that our labour rights are fully protected. It is in the interests of our nation
as well as our workers to move towards national, uniform and
compulsory trade unionism, especially in the press sector, which is the
fourth estate. Unfortunately, this has not been achieved to date. The
existence of multiple unions in the same sector
unions in the same sector has been detrimental to workers. For this
reason, the issue of unemployment in the Turkish press is currently a
matter of
*•*r ••• s The issue of unemployment is tied up at this point. Therefore,
we believe that the press will address the issue of unemployment through
national, uniform, and compulsory trade unionism s. The government has
a significant responsibility in this regard.
We are closely following various issues in the press. In today's
political climate, they see themselves as the workers'

103
DOKIT£ I IIE DOETRÖTî

their social security and job security, how they summarily dismissed
those working in their own organisations, even those who were
imprisoned for this reason, and how they destroyed the job security of the
workers themselves. Therefore, the Turkish press should not give
credibility to those who hold such contradictory views. How hundreds of
press members were torn from the professions they had devoted years to,
We cannot turn a blind eye or pretend ignorance about how the mass of
unemployed workers came into being. The Nine Lights ideology we
defend will eliminate social exploitation and ensure that the Turkish
working class, which constitutes a segment of our historical development,
enjoys all the conditions necessary for a dignified life. We
As the Nationalist Movement, we are in favour of social justice, which
will ensure the integrity of our nation. However, one of our primary
objectives is to ensure that the segments of our nation that constitute the
weakest sections are confident about their future, and to contribute to the
efforts for the advancement and prosperity of our nation.
prosperity.

The time has come t o establish unemployment insurance in our


country. We want the press sector to be treated as a pilot sector in
unemployment insurance, and then extended to other sectors. There is a
source of funding for unemployment insurance for the press sector. A
sum equivalent to five per cent of official and private advertisements
would be sufficient to cover this. With this, the issue of unemployment in
the press, which has been a major concern for some time, will be resolved.
This

104
BASIC PRINCIPLES

also entrusts the government with significant responsibilities.


As long as the issue of the minimum wage remains unresolved in
the press, the problem of unemployment will persist. Our party's view is
that the Nine Lights system, which squeezes intellectual workers like
lemons and then discards them, cannot be tolerated.
Therefore, I would like to state that we will always stand by our
intellectual workers, who have played an honourable role in the creation
of Milliyet.
As the Nationalist Movement, we also believe that it is essential for
workers, especially intellectual workers, to be present in the workplace in
a certain proportion through the establishment of ballot boxes, and that
they should receive a share of the profits as a requirement of the Nine
Lights principle. In this way, the employer-employee agreement will be
eliminated, and our nation's development efforts will progress at a rapid
pace.
The national press, especially opinion journalism, should be
supported by the government, as is the case in many Western countries.
The press's paper, distribution and other technical issues must be
addressed without fail, and the state should extend a generous hand to the
press. In this way, the influence of reactionary ideologies, which threaten
to undermine the Turkish nation and state, on members of the press will
also be prevented. Furthermore, the authorities should pay close attention
to the issue of establishing press associations as organs of publication in
the public interest. This will also prevent the unemployment problem that
arises from the crises we sometimes see in our country. Another issue
concerning our press is the conversion of the sentences of intellectuals
convicted solely of press offences into fines. Except for those who seek to
destroy our nation and our state, the sentences of intellectuals convicted
solely of press offences should be converted into fines.

105
THE DOKUZI+IK DOCTRINE

We wish to state that we stand with our press organisations regarding the
conversion of the sentences of intellectual workers who have been
convicted for various reasons into monetary fines.

Our workers abroad and their issues (•)

At the request of various foreign states, and in accordance with the


decision taken by the Turkish Republic, workers have been sent abroad
for more than 15 years, with this number reaching approximately
700,000 in 1971. Although the work of our workers abroad is carried out
by the Ministry of Labour and its affiliated institutions, contacts made with
our workers in Germany, the Netherlands and other countries at various
times, and reports prepared on their problems, despite being submitted to
the competent authorities at the time, have not been resolved to date.

. 8 times within the month of October


invitatio
n
I travelled abroad to fulfil these requests. As a result of the contacts I made
contacts I made,
I — workers employed abroad, other than those from Turkey,
who come to work in countries such as Germany, Belgium, etc., do not
have equal rights with Turkish workers.

fx1 Proposals submitted to the Presidency of the National Assembly on 1-12-


1971 for the examination of the situation of workers abroad.

106
TEMIEN GÒRÜÇI ZR

As a result of the investigations into the complaints and documents, it


has been understood that...
2 — In order to identify the problems of our citizens abroad and
address their causes, various visits were made to Ç =< and
other officials have organised trips abroad to supposedly remedy these
shortcomings, to date no tangible results have been achieved from
these fact-finding trips and the situation of our workers abroad has
worsened.
* When your workers abroad return home on leave, those
arriving by road are subjected to unreasonable delays at border posts,
police stations and customs offices, and the goods they bring as gifts
for their families, purchased with the money they have earned through
hard work, are confiscated even though they do not exceed the limit
and are not subject to customs [Link] are confiscated despite not
being subject to customs duties. To recover these gifts, legal offers are
made, and customs officials unjustly profit from this. Indeed, some of
your employeeswhen your workers arrive at the border as #ikàyeti,
they are given a receipt stating that some of these gifts are subject to
customs duty and are told to return in two days. When your workers
return to customs two days later, the officials who issued the receipt
claim that the receipt is not authentic and that they will not accept
itand that no goods were delivered to customs in exchange for this
receipt, thereby committing fraud at customs with a forged receipt and
causing our workers to suffer losses through this method.
4 — Workers in the homeland, in Turkey's labour market

107
DOKUZI IK DOCTRINE

complain that the money they send to their relatives does not reach them
on time. They are complaining . Mese-
]§ , a worker in Jya1;ya, states that money he sent to a relative in Turkey
only reached its destination after 3-4 months and that his bond was not
paid on time due to the delay in the money arriving, and that his house
was sold as a result. Our employee's application to the relevant German
postal administration proved that the money was sent to Turkey on time,
and it was determined that these remittances reached the family of our
workers late due to the negligence of the P.T.T.

5 — Some of our representatives serving abroad are neglecting


their duties and failing to deal with our workers properly. Our workers are
kept waiting for hours at the consulate doors, and as a result
They are receiving less than their daily wages from certain places
and suffering losses. As this sentence indicates, the holidays of the
countries where they work do not concern Turkey,
, our consulates are closed on Turkish national and religious holidays, as
well as on holidays of foreign countries that do not concern us, and they
do not perform their duties, leaving the affairs of our citizens unattended.
Similarly, imams and preachers, who are religious officials, should be
performing their duties in places where our citizens gather, but it is
regrettable that these individuals have been assigned clerical duties at the
consulates and are not performing their duties.
6 — The situation of our female workers abroad is heartbreaking.
There is no mechanism to protect these workers, and women

108
BASIC VIEWS

are left to fend for themselves, and their family relationships in our
homeland are being shaken day by day. Without undergoing a long
preparatory period to develop self-discipline, our female workers who
enter a very different social environment are bound to suffer.
7 — Approximately 700,000 of our workers employed abroad are
working and living together with their families, estimated to be around
100,000, in the places where they work. It is the natural right of our
children to be educated alongside our children in Turkey, who have the
same rights in terms of reading, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
It is the natural right of our children to receive an education alongside
our children in Turkey, who have the same rights in terms of education.
Unfortunately, due to the indifference of governments, teachers are not
sent to these children, who are left to their own devices, and as a result,
these children are deprived of national education.

8 — Workers workers being thousands of


kilometres away from their homeland, the technical inadequacy of
Turkish radio stations being technically inadequate, and the
absence of an organisation responsible for the distribution of Turkish
newspapers compels our workers to follow the propaganda-like
broadcasts of radio stations behind the Iron Curtain ,
and the fact that German radio stations do not broadcast to other foreign
workers creates a sense of inferiority among our workers. .
9 — Our ,
deposit these funds in German banks, with only a small portion coming to
Turkey. The reason is that our workers

J09
DOKUZI+MCDOKTRÎN-

When we ask our workers about this, they often mention the exchange
rate difference between the Turkish lira and the currency they earn, and
therefore the formalities imposed by our banks and the fact that they are
not guided in the plantar se(I) (’) preparedin Turkey to bring their savings
to Turkey as a useful source of foreign exchange and to engage them in
profitable investment projects.
and engage t h e m in profitable investment projects.
10 — As a result of my various contacts with our workers abroad,
our compatriots are complaining that they cannot participate in the
elections held in our homeland, and they are concerned that workers from
other countries in the same place as them workers in their home
countries to and demand that
the right to vote and to be elected, as granted
to citizens by the Constitution, even if they are abroad.
Based on the reasons listed above and other reasons I will present
in my speech before the High Assembly, a parliamentary inquiry into
labour issues at home, abroad and at customs should be opened in
accordance with Article 88 of the Constitution.

110
MYLLÍ MYLLÎ KÜLTÜR
NATIONAL EDUCATION

National cultural struggle

Today, a cultural war, which we might call a war of sound and


silence, continues with full force across the earth and among nations. A
country's castles may be conquered, its armies may lose battles, but that
country can never be considered defeated unless the hearts and minds of
its people are conquered. History is full of examples of this.
It is a great truth that "the one who tries to destroy a nation is the
best among its people." In the cultural war, nations aim to destroy the
language, religion, customs, and future of other nations, their national and
spiritual values, and to establish their own culture. Therefore, the cultural
war is not a matter of memorising and reciting; it is a matter of nurturing
and developing the minds, hearts and bodies of generations.
Today, the plans and programmes of the Ministry of National
Education in our country are far removed from the goal of raising a
nationalist youth. Institutions that serve education and teaching cannot
claim or prove that they have fully and correctly fulfilled their duties in
raising the youth. Schools must be freed from the encyclopaedic character
of knowledge ( ) and the character of rote learning ( ), and must be
transformed into institutions that cultivate critical thinking ( ).
113
P. : 8
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

should be transformed into a place of learning and a source of faith that


elevates the student to the heights of knowledge, faith, and morality.
Instead of admitting students based on national needs, class size,
and queue order, universities should be established based on students'
abilities, and university cities should be built with modern, large
facilities that meet the need for accommodation in large areas.
A nation that builds its own ships, aircraft and atomic power
plants must, in addition to other conditions for social balance and
development, cultivate the brainpower of its people. 1Governments
that squander a n d waste the country's great potential (*)have neglected
to make extensive and serious investments in developing brain power.
As another consequence of the long-standing flawed education
system, the channels between the public and the intellectuals are now
blocked, and the bonds between them have been severed. Intellectuals are
distant from the public, and the public has lost hope in intellectuals. We
must remember that reason, a gift from Allah, is a superior essence above
all else, and national education must be based on the foundations of
science, faith and morality. It should not be forgotten that the
development and happiness of nations depend on efforts to fill the minds,
hearts and souls of individuals with science, faith and morality.

National education

It is more beneficial for Turkey's rapid development to cultivate


talented individuals as a specialised group. However, regarding the views
on national education

114
BASIC PRINCIPLES

I would like to elaborate a little further to avoid any misunderstanding.


Turkey's national education system has been run in a very haphazard
and inconsistent manner since the founding of the Republic. Today, the
same blind and outdated system continues to be perpetuated. Education
must be based on a plan that will lift Turkey out of its current state as
soon as possible, taking into account the social and economic situation
and needs of our nation. Therefore, it is necessary to first determine the
number of personnel required in Turkey, identify their branches, set
targets to be achieved within specific periods, and organise educational
activities accordingly. In other words, it is necessary to determine how
many doctors, health officers, midwives, nurses, and so on are needed for
t h e h e a l t h o f t h e p e o p l e in Turkey, as well as how many
engineers, construction engineers, and other such personnel are needed.
midwives, nurses, and similarly, how many mechanical engineers,
construction engineers, and so on are needed must be determined
scientifically.
From now on, national education must be planned
accordingly. Our economic situation and needs must also be taken into
consideration in the same way. The current practice in Turkey is as
follows: Primary schools are established wherever possible, and pupils
who graduate from these primary schools are sent to secondary
schools.
And students graduating from these primary schools are expected to
attend secondary schools, while efforts are being made to open high
schools for those completing secondary school. Thus, our students
graduating from high school cannot fit into universities.
Even if enough universities could be established to accommodate the
students graduating from high schools, our children graduating from these
universities would then find themselves in a situation where they have to
push against certain doors. And most of all, the doors of the state.

115
MiLrî E¿=1T1M — MILLI KiiL’rÜ

They will want to take them. Since it is not possible to place so many
university graduates in government positions, this will be a cause for
concern in itself. As things stand, I cannot take all of our children who
have finished secondary school to university at once. This situation alone
is causing a number of unfortunate incidents. Moreover, one of Turkey's
most important needs is to train technical personnel. To this end, it is
imperative that education be directed towards technical training in line
with the social and economic goals of the nation. Generally speaking, it is
certainly a desirable goal to ensure that the entire nation receives higher
education. However, this is a matter that requires considerable resources.
Therefore, it is necessary to set priorities and adopt a plan that will
develop the country in the shortest possible time. Given the current state
of the world, the great advances in science and technology...
Breasts have opened up broad horizons for nations. Even poor, g•ri
Even nations that are small in size, with sparse populations and limited
resources, can achieve a high level of scientific and technical
advancement, enabling them to compete with larger, more populous and
powerful nations.
For a nation lagging behind in science and technology to rise rapidly,
the training of a cadre of four thousand scientists and technicians provides it
with great opportunities. This is much easier and cheaper than attempting to
send the entire population of a nation, numbering millions, to university. For
this reason, I can summarise my views on the most beneficial resolution of
our national education cause as follows:
s) Selecting specialists zumre olaral=

110
BASIC PRINCIPLES

and should be trained according to the social and economic needs and
goals of the country.
b) Education should be transformed into technical education in
such a way as to train a sufficient number of technical personnel to meet
the country's needs.
c) In order to ensure the rapid education of the people, the
Dokuz I=k doctrine also advocates the implementation of the village
planning system.
The most pressing problem we face is to rapidly raise Turkey to the
highest level in terms of industry and technology. I believe that the
development of our nation depends primarily on this. Naturally, this
involves modernising our infrastructure and developing Turkey's heavy
industry. The world is on the threshold of a new era. This is the age of the
atom and the space age. We can also call it the age of science and
technology. This new era, which began with the industrial movement in
the eighteenth century and developed,has had a profound impact on the
social life of societies.
, it will also change people's
lives. We must see this now. For this reason, in our country, I am the first
of my nation after 27 May, across the centuries, a
sis*• • •I proposed skipping over and not getting caught up in atoms
and space. I still hold that view today. Instead of wasting our time and
resources on trivialities and displays that will come and go,
we should devote all our energy to harnessing steam and electricity,
entering the realm of atoms and space, and advancing science and
technology.
The greatest shortcomings and flaws I see in university youth today
are also present in Turkish society.
NATIONAL EDUCATION - CULTURAL HERITAGE

. I can list these as follows:


a — Lack of purpose, absence of national ideals,
b — Lack of seriousness,
c — Lack of discipline and, along with these, a lack of respect for
people's rights.
The loss of qualities such as loving people and not being selfish,
and being in a state of crisis. We can also add their laziness and lack
of diligence to the list. Furthermore, passing classes and obtaining a
diploma at any cost is destructive for our country. Unfortunately,
cheating has become a habit among our children and is often
considered heroic.
It is being said. However, plagiarism is not only a bad habit but also a
form of fraud. Neither in our homes nor in the work of our national
education officials is the necessary attention being paid to eliminating
these spiritual deficiencies in our children.
The extreme leftist movements spreading among university youth in
recent years pose a serious threat to our country. Our youth are being
loaded with a set of theoretical knowledge in our schools. However, our
children are not being given a national identity, a national philosophy of
life, or a national worldview. Our children's hearts and minds are largely
left empty in this regard. Whatever happens to fill an empty vessel will
fill it. Therefore, it is not enough to try to explain to the children of our
country that communism is wrong and harmful, that it is evil and
harmful. To explain this to the people of Turkey is not enough. For the
liberation of Turkey, communism is a suitable

118
BASIC PRINCIPLES

It is our duty to clearly demonstrate that no such system exists and then to
propose a national system that will rapidly develop Turkey, a national
vision.

Educational reform

An education system that is not national, that does not foster


national culture, national character and national consciousness, cannot be
anything other than an unhealthy, harmful, bankrupt education system.
Unfortunately, this is the case with the education system currently in force
in our country. However, we are in anguish because we cannot see that
the reforms sought for our education system are based on national
consciousness and national culture. What is expected from education is
this: to unite the minds of the people living in a country
, teaching them their history and national identity, and ensuring that
the human resources necessary for national development are raised in
a useful manner.
It is important to note that education has two main functions. Its first
function is to shape national culture and national consciousness, while its
second function is to contribute to economic development, environmental
development and national development within this culture and
consciousness. Every system has its own unique models. For example,
Marxist or Jashist principles are determined according to the values on
which those systems are based. In a Marxist system, the primary focus is
on economic development and contributing to economic growth. For this
reason, education in Marxist systems emphasises only this aspect. In
addition, individuals are taught to remain loyal to the Marxist regime and
system and not to betray it. The national education system of this type, as
mentioned above,

119
6NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

The primary focus should be directed towards the main objective: First,
the history, culture, and values of the nation to which the members of the
diaspora belong should be explained to them, and they should be
integrated with these and with each other.
. They should also have a mindset that will contribute to the country's
development as productive researchers. Today, we see that only the
second element is being emphasised. However, it is impossible for people
who have not developed a national culture, character, and consciousness
to contribute to economic development.

Paid education

According to our constitution, the state is responsible for providing


education and training to individuals. Equal opportunity in education is a
requirement of democracy. The issue of equal opportunity in education
can be resolved by personnel who are well aware of the economic and
cultural conditions of our country's people.
The Turkish people can reach the level of contemporary life
This is possible through widespread education that encompasses all
segments of society.
The Basic Law of National Education establishes a session that
emphasises the principle of "equality in education" with regard to higher
education.
According to the National Education Basic Law, higher education is
fee-based. Thistype of practice is in force in some Western countries.
However, in our country, the national income per capita is very low
compared to Western countries. Moreover, in our country, the distribution
of national income among individuals is unfavourable to the poor. Higher
education is a commodity that can be purchased with money.

120
’T'EMEI OPINION III

We cannot accept this. Poor young people who wish to pursue higher
education are becoming disheartened by this situation. It is promised
that scholarships will be given to poor and successful students. What
exactly is meant by a repair student here? What is the measure of
poverty? It is not right to seek academic excellence from those who
have no money, but not from those who do. In fact, the situation of
secondary education institutions that prepare candidates for university
is a disaster, both in terms of the preliminary information given to
young people and in terms of the teaching staff and technical aspects.
We cannot expect children from these backgrounds to be successful at
first glance. Therefore, even if young people have the necessary
funds, most of them will still lack the means to pursue higher
education, regardless of what is done.
Such a law, which violates the principle of equal opportunity in
education and training and is contrary to our constitution, will cause
constant anxiety in our country.
MAI EDUCATION — CULTURE

It is a pitiful and instructive situation that those who merely mimic


outward appearances and label those who do not think like themselves as
reactionary and uncivilised are themselves reactionary and uncivilised.

As Nationalist Movement Party members, we are fighting, above all


else, for a new understanding of morality to prevail in our country. In a
society devoid of morality, no matter how much economic problems are
solved, it is impossible to speak of peace. It will only be possible for the
people of our country to love and respect one another, to help one another
in the spirit of national unity and solidarity. Only in this way will it be
possible to serve the country and work for the benefit of society in our
nation's economic development struggle. In materialistic societies, the
realisation of the points we have mentioned above is impossible. Both
capitalist and communist systems
The prevailing thought among the masses is that, because of material
gain, it is impossible for individuals to engage in work for the benefit of
society. We say that for this reason, it is only possible for individuals to
be useful to society through the cultivation of high ideals, the
development of spiritual values, and the establishment of high moral
standards in society.

The struggle for morality

Our struggle is not a struggle for political gain at any cost, but a
struggle for morality and virtue. The character of this struggle is not
destructive, but constructive

124
and will lead the Turkish people to victory. I invite the Great Turkish
Nation to join this honourable struggle.
Your belief is that Turkey's development movement must begin
with the establishment of morality. This is the fundamental philosophy
of our Liberation Movement. The science and technology we place
great importance on are also connected to this. It should not be
forgotten that participation in morality within a society eliminates all
contradictions. As a great thinker said, science and wisdom also arise
from morality.
It is with regret that I must say that today, bribery, favouritism and
profiteering have engulfed the entire country like a plague. Social
discipline is lacking, and state authority is weak. Citizens complain about
the simplest administrative procedures, customs, credit institutions,
hospitals, and the lack of value for their products; they are distressed at
not receiving a return for their sweat and labour. Usurers are on the rise,
benefits are in the hands of the powerful, and services and burdens are on
the backs of the weak.
The noble Turkish nation today feels the necessity and urgency
of returning to itself and awakening anew. As a result, the broad
masses of the people, who believe and understand that the path to
definitively free our homeland from the crisis it finds itself in and
enable our nation to reach the level of the most advanced nations is the
nationalist movement, have begun to show great favour towards our
party.
Thus, the nationalist idea has been liberated from false romanticism and
has become a movement at the service of the nation. This movement
serves our beloved nation within the framework of a democratic system
and constitution.
It is the path of justice. Respect for human rights and dignity, freedom

125
EGi'riM — Mizti iiür'rÜn

who do not compromise on Turkish pride and s** »tt. is ahleli and
faziletiyle yugrulmu§, Dokuz @k gtirii§ii de hareketimizin i§igidir.
Those who believe in the nationalist movement are not among those
who seek the establishment of social justice in the pockets of others. The
justice of the order we will establish will be possible with the sacrifice of
those who bring order first and their compliance with the order. F o r if
those who govern the state are moral, virtuous, and self-sacrificing, and
do not compromise on these values, then morality, virtue, and self-
sacrifice will gradually permeate down to the lowest-ranking official.
One of the tenets of the Nine Lights doctrine is moralism. Our
understanding of moralism is that morality is a value within the
framework of Turkish and Islamic values. We have defined our moral
perception according to our own customs and traditions, separate from the
perceptions of foreigners. Since the values of the Nationalist Movement
are identical to the intrinsic values of our beloved nation, the future power
of the Nationalist Movement will be the power and resurgence of our
nation, and no one will be able to prevent this happy outcome.

The language struggle

In establishing an advanced Turkey, I wish to emphasise the


importance of science and life in general national education. We are
determined to restructure national education institutions and expand
technical education. Our goal is to provide equal opportunities and
possibilities for advancement and growth at every level of education,
based on the abilities of the nation's children. On this occasion, the
language of instruction

J26
BASIC PRINCIPLES

And let me state our position on the language issue. The language issue is
a matter of existence and independence. I see it as the unity and integrity
of the nation, the continuity of national history. We love and cherish
Turkish like our mother and motherland. Our principle and inspiration in
the language case is that the language should develop on the basis of the
spoken language, the language of the people, that it should not deviate
into an artificial language, that it should not fall prey to the harmful and
incompatible influences of foreign languages, that it should not create
confusion in the understanding of issues, and that it should not deviate
from the vital goal of developing as a universal language in the Turkish
world.
The supremacy of the Turkish language in thought, education and
scientific life is fundamental. We see a harmful development in
universities where English is taught as the official language, conforming
to the culture of imperialism. We will put an end to this situation.

Science: Turkish

Today, it is possible for a Turkish youth to be educated entirely in


English from primary school through to the end of university. It is not
only possible, it is now the norm. This is the case not only in all technical
fields, but also in administrative and social fields today. A young person
who has undergone this education does not know the Turkish language of
their profession, nor are they obliged to know the Turkish terms for the
subjects they have studied.
at any stage, and if they do know it, it is merely an added
advantage.
This will not happen. The end result of this will be that English becomes
the official language of Turkey in the very near future. This is a situation
that would be considered strange even in some African countries still
living in a semi-tribal state in this day and age. No nation with any dignity
would accept this, nor could it. The trend is

J27
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

is far more serious, far more dangerous than it seems. Today, in Turkey, a
letter can be sent in English from one Turkish institution to another, from
one Turk to another, and this is not considered strange.
Today, knowing a foreign language, knowing it well, is a
necessity. However, knowing many subjects only in English, not
knowing them in one's own mother tongue, is related to the loss of
dignity and honour.
All your schools should only teach Turkish , but foreign languages
should be taught well as separate subjects.
English language teaching in Turkish schools also creates some
peculiar situations. For example, at Ankara College, one of Turkey's best
chemistry teachers is unable to continue teaching chemistry, while in
contrast, substandard foreign teachers brought in from outside are
teaching science subjects at high salaries. Although Middle East
Technical University needs staff, it cannot hire a Turkish professor who
also knows German or French well. Instead, it hires unqualified
volunteers from abroad, who cannot find other work in their own
countries.
T u r kish is being pushed aside. A ridiculous claim is being spread
that science cannot be done in Turkish. This is unfounded. Turkish is
extremely suitable as a language of science and is much more capable
than English of easily generating new terms. Many of our scientists have
proven this abundantly over the years with their writings in various fields.
But now Turkish is being suppressed and betrayed. The issue of teaching
in Turkish is not just a matter of linguistics, or even nationalism
The dignity of the Turkish people, their

J28
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Trusting in their own language, not succumbing to feelings of inferiority,


honour, and prestige among the nations of the world are matters of
importance.
Today, just as imperialist Russia is forcing Russian language
education in Estonia, Lithuania and Turkestan, striving to destroy the
identity of the Turkic peoples, so too is Turkey losing its language, its
mother tongue, and with it its identity.

How did English teaching spread? It began with foreign schools


such as Robert College, supported by church organisations and foreign
governments. These institutions strove to present their students as a
privileged, enviable class in the eyes of the public. They automatically
sent their graduates to America and accepted wealthy children. Later,
some private schools for the poor were established to compete, imitating
American and British schools. They were also encouraged by some
external aid.
The Turkish Education Association, established to improve Turkish
education, ended up pursuing the exact opposite of its goals, a d o p t i n g
foreign curricula and foreign teachers for its own purposes. Later, the
Ministry of National Education also chose to imitate private colleges. It
established Maarif colleges.

It established "colleges" with English-language instruction, such as


Zonguldak College and Konya Maarif College. These schools have
American supervisors (advisers).
The peak of these foreign language education activities is
represented by a special branch of the Middle East Technical University.
While our other universities are increasingly bogged down in bureaucracy
and difficulties,

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FINANCIAL EDUCATION - CULTURAL EDUCATION

-oogu Technical University graduates are being developed to find


employment. In a system where all key points of the country are managed
by young people who love their profession, they will be administered by
young people who love their profession.
The Middle East Technical University was established by Law No.
7307 and is administered in accordance with this law. We quote the
following articles from this law verbatim:
"Article 1 — A university with legal personality, named Middle
East Technical University, has been established in Ankara for the purpose
of providing education to the youth, conducting research, and being
administered within the provisions of this law.
Article 2 — The objectives of the Middle East Technical University
are as follows:
A) To provide advanced education in scientific, technical and
professional fields, generally in English, to students from all over the world,
thereby offering extensive opportunities.

B) To provide equal opportunities to students from other


countries who are eligible for admission, upon their application and
acceptance as students,
C) and to pay particular attention to the economic problems of
the members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, especially those
who are members of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
/oyda soytayacok tntbikî ehrîtrtnoîar yapmak.'› Pay particular attention
to the following provision in the law:

"Article 5 — The Board of Trustees shall be composed of


individuals recognised for their exceptional experience in science and
technical education and who are of high moral character.
E OPINIONS

and who is a Turkish citizen, shall be appointed as a consultant.


as an advisor.
A) The advisory rector is the rector's principal advisor on
scientific, technical and professional research and teaching matters.
.
B)

D) The Vice-Chancellor ranks second to the University


Chancellor in academic rank.
These articles indicate the hidden goals and methods of the
university's establishment, which resemble the methods used by the
Russians in Czechoslovakia.
In a university run with money from the Turkish people's pockets,
whose main goal is to educate Turkish youth, English is compulsorily
taught, Furthermore, when the environment becomes sufficiently
complacent and self-effacing, this Turkish university is managed by a
foreign rector under the guise of a rector, dictating the goals of foreigners
in all important educational and research matters.
It is a fact that Middle East Technical University is gradually being
steered in the desired direction through a technique of gradual
conditioning and lulling, without arousing suspicion in foreign hands.
For example: Ford initially provided financial assistance to the university,
seemingly unrelated to the government, and with this assistance facilitated
the arrival of foreigners from abroad, but in doing so, it appeared not to
exert pressure on the university. Then suddenly this assistance
was drastically reduced, and just as it was about to be completely cut off, it
was replaced by
directl y from the American government.
, a point worthy of attention, many

131
MELEETEETEM — MELEETEETEM

The conditions have been stipulated. For example, one million dollars is
being provided for three or five years, but this will only go towards the
salaries of American personnel sent by the United States. Additionally, a
two-million-dollar loan is being provided. Turkey will repay this loan, but
the funds can only be used to purchase goods manufactured in America. It
should be noted that, for instance, Turkish-made goods or goods
purchased from America at a lower price cannot be bought with this
money. Turkish personnel were not granted opportunities and equal
rights, and while they were being honoured, low-quality personnel sent
with the aim of destroying Turkish culture would educate our youth.
Furthermore, although the university only wanted to accept assistance in
the technical field, it was forced to accept foreign personnel assistance in
the humanities as well, and this was made a condition.
The public was given false impressions about the establishment of
this university; it was claimed that it was an international university, run
internationally, and therefore its language of instruction was English.
These claims are unfounded. The idea of an international university is a
beautiful and progressive one. However, the Middle East Technical
University is not an international university. It is merely a game.
Furthermore, the idea of an international university is one that cannot
even be implemented in America today. Look how foreigners mock the
Middle East Technical University:
In the January 1918 issue of the American magazine HotariarP, it is
stated as follows: "Imagine that there is a university in Washington that
provides entirely Hussian education. And imagine that the American
government is paying for it.

132
OPINIONS

You might say, "That's impossible." But this unbelievable


thing really exists today. In Mara, all English-taught students receive
funding from the Turkish government. -Eastern
Technical University.
O.D.T.Ü. is educating thousands of Turkish youth. Not
thousands of foreigners. Despite this, tens of thousands of Turkish
youth are still on the streets. Accepting a small number of students
from other countries is beneficial. But if we are to spread Turkish
culture, language and influence, we must make this sacrifice. Every
country does this for foreign students, teaching them its language. No
country sacrifices its national future and honour with its own money
on the pretext of a few foreign students. Many countries around the
world accept foreign students into their universities, but they do so
within a national policy. Only education carried out within such a
mindset and policy can provide benefits for our nation.
.

Desired Amendments:

1 — Article 5 of Law No. 7307 should be repealed by a new law or


amended to stipulate that the advisory rector must be Turkish. This would
prevent the administration of one of our most important universities from
falling entirely into foreign hands. Otherwise, a weak rector will be
appointed, who will then demand a foreign advisory rector.

2 — All teaching should be in Turkish, but a good knowledge of a


foreign language should still be required. Otherwise, the university will
degenerate. To this end, preparatory classes in foreign languages should
still be available, and students who do not know a language should study
English, German or French for one year. In addition, each year, students
should take an exam in the foreign language they have chosen and in their
profession.
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

They should take exams on related subjects and also take professional
foreign language courses every year. In this way, they can follow foreign
language professional and scientific books. Turkish will not die out.
Turkish should be taught to foreign students. Foreign scientific works
should be widely translated into Turkish.

3 — Teaching staff admitted to the university should be selected


based on the same principles as before, and the advantages of the Middle
East Technical University over other universities should be highlighted.
. Mutual cooperation with various countries (especially Japan,
However, in doing so, national dignity, honour, and culture must not be
sacrificed, and we must not become tools for the goals of other countries
(neither Russia's nor America's).
YOUTH

The topic of youth can be approached from several angles. Education


•From that point of view, from the perspective of culture, from the
perspective of physical and spiritual education, and most importantly
from a political perspective. This last point encompasses the others as
well, so it must be emphasised.
Moreover, from a political perspective, it is also an important issue in
today's world.
When we say youth, although we mean all Turkish youth, in reality we
are referring to youth who are effective and able to express themselves.
Especially in backward societies, youth's involvement in politics...
Whether this is necessary or not is a matter for debate. However, we must
immediately point out that youth are the unheard representatives of a
backward people. This means that if the elected representatives, the
members of parliament, become incompetent, corrupt, or even malicious
in their service, the duty of protecting the people's interests falls to the
youth. This is why it is possible to conclude that political parties that do
not have a good relationship with the youth are more interested in their
own interests than in serving the people.
It is doubtful that managers intent on profiteering would welcome the
youth's protests and attempts to alert the people.
Training tomorrow's leaders is the greatest service to the nation and
the people. Meetings, conferences
13S
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

Those who gather crowds around them to applaud themselves at rallies


and meetings, and to boo their opponents, are twisted individuals who
exploit youth as loudmouths or bought-off propagandists. And how sad it is
that this has been the treatment youth have received until now.
How could the blind, who cannot see the path they themselves must
take, show the way to others? If the blind lead the blind
Both fall into the pit. This is truly the state of youth today. Short-sighted
leaders, like themselves, have also led the youth of Turkey into the pit.
The issue now is to save the youth, to show them the right path to follow,
the path of the Turkish ideal. The youth must understand that American
servitude and Russian servitude lead to the same door. Sympathising with
communist Russia is nothing more than a desire to change masters. Serving
anything other than the Turkish ideal is slavery.
Meanwhile, young people are not entirely blameless. They must
find those who show them the true path and follow them. Even if not
everyone is expected to be an idealist, everyone, every Turkish youth,
is responsible for not leaving the idealists alone. I do not merely say
that every soldier must shed his sweat in the construction of the
sacred monument called Powerful and Happy Turkey; I say he is
obliged to do so.
Any Turkish youth who fails to properly fulfil the duty of
creating a new society, a new nation and a new history will have
betrayed their ancestors, their problems and the Turkish ideal.
Turkish youth must lead the Turkish people.

13
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Addressing the Youth

My young friends;
Dear young people; we argue that it is necessary and essential to
base state administration on the historical values of the Turkish nation, on
the collective conscience and on Islamic morality, and we believe that
we will gain strength and power by relying on these elements. Going
even further, we say that if strength is to be gained by denying or
altering our national, moral, and historical characteristics, in short, by
abandoning our Turkishness, we are against it. "For the wolf will not
consent to become a dog to satisfy its hunger."
My dear friends, whenever our nation has, in any era of history,
, if it has ever envied others or tried to resemble others, it has fallen
into ruin and its state has collapsed. But whenever it has turned to itself,
relying on the essence of its own identity, it has become a power that
shook the world.
The eternal counsel inscribed by the Wise Khan on the Orhun
heads
reveals the truth.
"O Turk, tremble at your own greatness."
The return to oneself has begun. Nationalism, which for years was
viewed as a crime, has flared up again. So much so that for 29 years,
nationalism was not to be mentioned, and young people, elderly scholars,
and university intellectuals were accused of nationalism and subjected
to the torture of the coffin,
Even opportunists, socialists, communists, and Freemasons have been
compelled to appear nationalistic. This is a great victory and it has
been achieved.

137
NATIONAL EDUCATION - NATIONAL CULTURE

We emerged victorious from the war. For our weapon was the history of
the Turks, the spirituality of the Turks, the reality of the Turks—in short,
the Turks themselves. Their weapon was corruption, slander, abuse,
mockery, self-interest, greed, lies, and deceit.
In Anatolia, they say, "What can the wind tear from the rock?" The
storm wind struck the rock of Turkishness and shattered it.
The first stage has been completed; nationalism has been accepted
by both friend and foe.
Now the second stage has begun—nationalism must be applied
politically and administratively. We will achieve this too. All Turks feel
the power of 100 million Turks within us.

, my friends;
Let us build a free, prosperous, and powerful Turkey.
And very quickly, very fast, without wasting any time. After 200 years of
waiting, since 19G0, time has been wasted with hesitations and petty games.
This time could have been enough to end a war with love, faith and
knowledge.
to end a war. That is my sorrow. We curse those who squander the paths
of national life for the sake of personal whims. Our cause is not with
individuals but with attitudes.
My dear friends;
The first task on the path to strengthening is industrialisation.
Today, no matter how small a country's population and land area may be,
a country with a strong industry is a powerful country. Technological
advances and the introduction of atomic and physical weapons into the
field of warfare have created huge differences between those who possess
them and those who do not. We must catch up with our contemporaries
who possess advanced technology.

138
BASIC PRINCIPLES

...

This is not a secure guarantee. If tomorrow, encouraged by internal


troublemakers, we leave NATO, or if a Russian-American agreement
leads to NATO's dissolution, will we seek new alliances? No, my friends,
we must be a nation that defends itself, with its own weapons, self-
sufficient. This is possible through industrialisation. All the resources of
the state and the people will be directed towards industry. A quarter of the
population living in villages will be employed in industry. In this way, our
fellow citizens, who are idle and idle because they are idle, will find work,
live comfortably, and reap the rewards of their labour. Turkey's
production will increase, it will be self-sufficient, and it will sell to
foreigners. The population in agriculture will decrease, and today's
smallholder farms ( 8) acres of land
(250) acres or more will become family farms.
.
In industrialising Turkey, scattered villages will be merged to
form new cities. A factory has transformed a village of 12 households,
such as Karabük, into a city with a population of 55,000. This is the
social and economic principle. One workplace gathers and feeds six
people. With its underground mines and surface water energy
resources, Turkey has the potential to industrialise rapidly. This
potential must be utilised.
Customers are ready for our manufactured goods. Our oil-
producing southern neighbours, who have a high consumption rate
(low, strong defamation capacity, historical, religious, strategic unity),
will purchase the cheapest goods for themselves from Turkey.
The direction of education for the establishment and
development of this industry will be changed every year at the gates
of the university.

139
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

The youth, who are watching with anguish, will settle into universities
that teach new technical sciences, and hundreds of thousands of
engineers and technicians will soon realise the new Turkey, the Great
Turkey.
You are the source of our strength, the focus of our hope, the
guarantee of our future, our dear youth.

Our understanding of youth

Youth is the foundation of a new behaviour and a developing


society in the existence of free thought and human intellect. It is a
source of energy and hope. Youth is the realisation, the elevation, the
advancement of political goals.

In Turkey, we want a youth that is mentally, spiritually and


physically healthy, free in thought and conscience, possessing a strong
will that is neither oppressed nor eager to oppress, prepared to shoulder
the responsibility for the future of the state and the nation, and confident
in itself.
With this spirit and awareness, we accept Turkish youth as the
solution to our social, cultural and economic development, as a
powerful foundation that upholds and elevates our national identity
and ensures its indivisibility. We see them as an element constituting
the main structure of a strong and prosperous Turkey in the future and
as its high administrators.
Turkish youth is an indivisible whole; it is not the capital or
plaything of divisive efforts.

140
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Goal and objectives

The goal of Turkish youth is is to ensure the establishment of a state


order and administration, together with all its institutions, that will realise
and guarantee human rights and freedoms, the welfare and peace of the
individual and society, and social security in Turkey, and to act as a
dynamic force in the construction and development of the Republic of
Turkey as a state of freedom, peace, service and prosperity. The objective
is to contribute constructively to the common civilisation of contemporary
humanity. To this end, as Turkish youth, we consider it necessary to
mobilise all the power and resources of the state to establish and create an
advanced way of life, and to equip and organise the nation according to
contemporary science and technology. We want scientific thought and
planning to prevail in the administration of the state, in social life, and in
the education of the nation.
Turkish youth is committed to this goal:
a — The ideal of a nationalist, spiritual, social, and constitutional
state;
b — We believe that this can be achieved by sincerely adhering to the
principles of morality, nationalism, ethics, science, collectivism,
progressivism, hal*‹p*'k, ruralism, technicalism and industrialisation.
Young people constitute over 40% of Turkey's total population.
Compared to the youth of other developed countries, Turkish youth are
more aware of contemporary civilisational issues and are in a more
sensitive position, which makes them a driving, proactive force. The unity
of the Turkish nation, the Turkish homeland and the Turkish state

141
NATIONAL EDUCATION — NATIONAL CULTURE

sovereignty and integrity, and must always maintain the awareness and
enthusiasm to fight against the forces that seek to undermine this
fundamental value. Eastern and Western countries recognise the important
role of their youth.
They have realised and continue to realise their political goals and
objectives for youth. In addition, they have focused on determining,
implementing and analysing the policies to be applied in order to
contribute their own views to the global community and its issues.
It is necessary to expose the foolish reasons that emerged before 12
March and led a section of Turkish youth to rebel against their own state,
and to take the necessary strong and substantive measures accordingly.
Otherwise, this national and vital issue cannot be resolved with superficial
measures that further complicate the matter. While a segment of the youth
betrayed their own state, how and why did the other segment defend the
state with a nobility and heroism worthy of their ancestors? Why have
children of the same nation, living in the same country and receiving the
same education, been driven to the most severe and dangerous conflict
between treason and patriotism?
We are pleased to state that the young people defending their
homeland, being devoted to the ideal of Turkish nationalism, have neither
become tools of imperialism nor raised their heads against the last
independent Turkish state.
The high vigilance and self-sacrificing struggle demonstrated by
the Turkish nationalist youth against foreign ideologies, the precursors of
imperialism, is beyond all praise. It is thanks to their selfless efforts that
Turkey has been saved from the brink of disaster. On the path of serving
the Turkish Nation, the Nationalist Turkish

442
FUNDAMENTAL VIEWS

The youth have been treacherously assassinated by communist gangs, the


aircraft of imperialism, and have been martyred. Remembering with
mercy the sacred memories of these young martyrs who closed their eyes
to the world in the spring of their lives, I offer my gratitude and prayers to
their souls.
The victims of nationalist youth face a great misfortune, which is
that they have also been met with incomprehension by our governments,
which remain under the influence of communist propaganda. For this
reason, young people have been and continue to be subjected to constant
injustice, oppression and persecution. However the merits of
these young people will eventually be fully understood appreciated ,
we will not lose hope.
Having come to know the nationalist youth closely, I can say with
confidence that they are worthy of the trust and affection of our nation.
Seeing their alertness, their high sense of duty, and their high morals, I
look upon our nation with deep conviction.

Neglected youth

Youth, which is a source of hope for the present and future of


countries and nations, is also the guarantee of a state's continuity. Its
importance is great and noble.
It is with regret that we must note that, to date, the issue of youth
in our country has not been addressed as a national priority, and no
method has been established for serving the youth.
NATIONAL EDUCATION-NATIONAL CULTURE

Turkish youth is the sole hope and source of salvation for the
future of the Turkish nation. With this view, it is necessary to motivate
young people, prepare them, and train them to achieve success in the
development of the country.
Until now, the driving force of youth has not been appreciated by
those in power, and youth have been left alone and unassisted in a chaotic
atmosphere, facing social, economic, political, and technical
impossibilities.
The mental and physical health of the youth has been largely
neglected. The results produced by goodness, truth, beauty, true
ideals and science have not been systematically
and the fundamental education of youth has been based on
appearances and chance.
The state has failed to fulfil its obligations towards young
people. Within a narrow-minded and crude partisan approach, the
leadership has been confined to a cell of narrow-minded ideas that are
not in the country's best interests. The parties have not viewed youth
as a whole and have not chosen to resolve this national problem
within their main programmes. They have not considered the harmful
consequences that would arise from the influence of foreign ideas and
political movements, nor have they taken the necessary measures. As
a result, we can say that the education of youth has been inadequate
both in terms of society and in terms of quality.
Youth has been targeted for the oppression and exploitation of tired
and worn-out adults. However, despite all this, although education is
deficient and flawed, the formation of generations is still ahead of that of
older generations .
144
BASIC VIEWS

Our optimism stems from this. We consider this a cause for joy.
Today, one third of the world's population consists of young
people. This figure is even higher in less developed countries, where it
accounts for half of the total population. In these countries, young
people are grappling with social issues and preparing to play a more
active role.

Our Commitments to Youth

For the Turkish nation to achieve a modern civilisation, we are


committed to ensuring that Turkish youth:
a — Possess a rich culture, preserve its unity, and pass it on from
generation to generation,
b — Ensuring their intellectual and physical development to the
extent necessary in accordance with modern science and life.
To this end:
1 — Cultural and educational institutions must be established and
organised in accordance with the principles of efficiency and rationality at
the level of science, and their professional and social organisation must be
developed in line with the standards of modern nations.
2 — Equal opportunity and access are your unwavering goals.
3 Social security guarantees must be applied to all young
people in the nation.
4 — Free healthcare services should be provided to all young
people.
5 — Children and young people should be given special
consideration in working conditions.

145
p. : to
BÜILÎ EDUCATION - MÖL-KÜLTÜR

.
6 — Educational and cultural facilities should be distributed
evenly throughout the country.
University youth must be united around a single ideal, namely:
nationalism and Turkish consciousness. Citizens living within the borders
of Turkey are, without distinction of origin, religion or sect, the true
children of the Turkish Nation.
. Ensuring that they work hand in hand to elevate their homeland and
make Turkishness a strong, advanced entity, and to strive towards our
united national ideal, is one of the foremost duties of Turkish youth
. ,
Moreover, the youth's adoption of nationalist views brings us all
many benefits for the good of the country and the nation.
The material situation of university students is poor. The state
should cover all their living expenses, clothing, accommodation, and
the cost of all their coursework and books.

Scholarships should be expanded with ample opportunities.


Furthermore, during university holidays, students should go to the public
and the villages, get to know their problems and understand their causes
and grievances closely, and even participate in the development of the
villages, actively and decisively.

Turkish sport

Great nations are athletic nations. The Turkish


nation has been renowned for its athleticism since ancient times. has
been renowned for its athleticism since ancient times. .
:l46
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Wrestling, Javelin, Archery, s-Akan and Tomas games, and


Binieilik are among our national sports that have made history.
However, today the importance of sport in the life of a nation seems
to be misunderstood in Turkey. It would be appropriate to hold our
statesmen and administrators responsible for this. The healthy,
courageous and talented development of Turkish youth is something
that can be achieved through sport. Improving the health of our people
and increasing their physical strength, as well as developing their
mental strength, is possible through the organisation and promotion of
sport.

For years, athletics has been a means of livelihood and a path to


profiteering in our country. As a result, unskilled and poorly trained
athletes sent to international competitions cast a shadow over the
honour of our nation. The results achieved by our athletes in
international competitions and their behaviour there, which is contrary
to Turkish manners and sportsmanship, have caused deep sorrow to all
citizens. Governments must be protected from using the Ministry of
Sport and Youth for partisan purposes. Attention must be paid to
sports education, and sports must be rescued from the hands of
profiteers and entrusted to genuine sports personnel who prioritise the
health and honour of the nation above all else.

J47
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION

Organisational Nation

The Nation has two great characteristics. These are:


"E&Ii?‹itçz M=/7et" and "ûsit8T 3'ftîîet" are characters. Various. To say
that the nation is organised means that the Turkish Nation possesses the
ability and superiority to establish a state. Indeed, there is no other nation
in the world that possesses the ability to establish a state as great and
superior as the Turkish Nation. The 16 great empires established
throughout history are the most definitive proof of our nation's
exceptional ability to establish superior states. In the face of this
definitive historical evidence, the Turkish Nation's establishment of the
Republic of Turkey is the most definitive proof of its exceptional ability
to
is the clearest proof of our nation's superiority in state-building. In light of
this indisputable historical evidence, there should be no doubt that our
nation will make the Republic of Turkey one of the most superior and
great states of tomorrow. Our nation possesses every element of creativity
in its organisational ( founding) nature. Among these, we must especially
mention our characteristic of creating culture and civilisation. I firmly
believe that tomorrow's strong and nationalist Turkey will be one of the
modern civilised nations. The defining character of the Turkish Nation is
that it is a Soldier-Nation. The aim of the military nation is to be a
disciplined, courageous and heroic nation. History is replete with
countless examples of this characteristic of our nation. Essentially, it is
the aspiration to grow and become a world power.
Our greatest guarantee is our character as a nation of soldiers, a brave
and heroic nation. The day we achieve spiritual and economic
development, we will undoubtedly take our place in world politics.
. We believe this with all our hearts. Essentially, this is our natural right
and our historical mission.

Unorganised Turkey

Turkish society is in a state of disorganisation. Our traditional


rights were organised through foundations, guilds and ahî organisations
and were organised from an economic perspective. As no new
organisations have been established to replace these defunct ones, a
state of disorganisation persists.
Unless Turkey is organised in terms of possibility, the validity
of the system that is claimed to have been established will always be a
matter of debate. In order to save Turkey from the clutches of
communist subversion and to bring the Turkish people to the
prosperity they deserve, to put them in a secure position, it is essential
to establish a social organisation that encompasses the entire Turkish
people. I firmly believe that social activities and mutual aid will be of
great benefit to us.
Due to our people's lack of social and economic organisations, we
encounter very painful situations every day. Our people are in a state of
utter despair, deprived of protection, support and assistance, as if
abandoned to fate.
This situation must come to an end. A Social Security Organisation
encompassing all Turkish citizens must be established.
J52
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Production and consumption cooperatives must be established to rescue


the people from the hands of moneylenders and, especially in the field of
agriculture, to increase production. Small civil servants, tradesmen and
artisans must be rescued from hardship and distress and encouraged to
provide productive service. Measures must be taken to ensure their
welfare, and solid foundations must be laid for the prosperity of the people.
These groups, which are the solid foundations of the economy, must be
provided with •
The organisation of Gens and its involvement in national
development are essential. Particularly during holiday months, their
involvement in voluntary services should be considered.

National administration system

The Turkish people are being forced to endure the burden of


intellectual movements. Some individuals have taken advantage of this,
defended the systems of foreign nations, and worked towards this end.
Some have risen to power and caused harmful events. For example,
during their time, enlightened figures such as Ziya Pasha and Nam=k
Kemal worked to establish constitutional rule in our country, as was the
case in France. However, without taking into account our history, our
traditions, our beliefs, and the conditions of the day, this system was
copied, which hastened the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Everything must be suitable for us, suitable for our national
structure. Anything outside this idea, any other idea, must be discarded,
must be rejected.
It must not be forgotten that nations are like human beings. Just as a
human being cannot live without a heart, a brain, and blood, nations
cannot live without a heart, a brain, and blood.
The heart of a nation is its culture; its brain is its political
organisation; its blood is its economy. According to medical science,
a human heart and brain can be transplanted into another person, but
long-term survival cannot be guaranteed, as the body rejects it. If the
simplest of living beings cannot survive with the organs of another,
how can one nation survive with the culture, economy, and politics of
another? Unfortunately, this simple truth has remained unrecognised
for years. Turkish culture, the Turkish economic and political
systems have been discarded, replaced by the cultures, economic and
political systems of others. Meanwhile, it has somehow failed to be
realised that it is a nation's own system that develops it. Nations do
not develop with foreign systems.
The Nationalist Movement arose from the necessity of
establishing a great, faithful, and prosperous Turkey. The foundation
of this great state is a nationalist doctrine based on Turkish culture
and Turkish economic and political understanding. The foundation of
the state we will establish will be our national culture. National culture
is a nation's way of life. National culture is the sum of values that have
emerged over centuries from the interactions between the members of a
nation. National culture encompasses
refers to a nation's religion, morals, laws, customs, language, and art. It is
regrettable to note that today, one of these institutions . This is because
they have been replaced by the cultural institutions of European nations.
These institutions are based on the religious, moral, legal and political
ideas of European people. The religion of European nations is
Christianity; their morality is materialism; their legal and
political systems are based on individualism. However, the religion of the
Turks is Islam, the most perfect of religions; their morality is the virtue
and excellence of Islam. The law applied today is also
far from being Turkish law. This law has been taken from Switzerland,
Germany or Italy. Likewise, our education system is entirely under the
domination of foreign cultures.
As a result, our intellectuals, our children with their parents, our imams
and teachers have been brought to a state where they defend each other's
cultures. In order to save ourselves from extinction, we must embrace our
national culture anew and cling to it. This culture is the Great Turkish
Culture, embellished by Islamic philosophy and shaped by Turkish
history. For this reason, our government will implement a national
cultural policy and will thoroughly Turkify and nationalise cultural
institutions.
The second fundamental pillar of the nationalist movement is
political nationalism. Our political nationalism is a great, independent
Turkey in relation to the outside world, and National Democracy within.

Today, liberal democracy brought about by liberal capitalism is


practised in Turkey. In contrast, Marxist socialists seek to establish class
democracy. The roots of both liberal democracy and Marxist democracy
lie outside Turkey. Liberal democracy is a political regime born of
European industrial capitalism. Its aim
protect the a s. Liberal democracy is a class democracy because it
protects only the bosses among the groups that make up the nation. Social
Democracy, defended by those who call themselves centre-left, is a
democracy with its roots in Europe. It is essentially based on capitalist
capitalism and envisages appeasing workers with inadequate social policy
measures. In fact, social democracy is a class democracy of patrons.
Communist
15S
ID B- STRONG POWER

xe}lmier The so-called system of Marxist democracy is also a class


democracy. It seeks to protect the interests of a fictitious working class.
However, in reality, it protects not the working class, but a handful of
Communist Party members.
.
The National Movement's understanding of democracy is National
Democracy. The state we established
has never been a "state of the few". The nation is not merely composed of
employers or workers. Within the nation, there are also peasants, civil
servants, tradesmen, and other groups besides employers and workers. In
national democracy, all these groups that make up the nation, namely
employers, workers, peasants, civil servants, tradesmen, and members of
the liberal professions, are one.
It is protected in this way. In a national democracy, sovereignty
belongs not only to the employer or the working class, but to the entire
nation.
The Nationalist Movement is our foundation and our principles. The
foundation of the Nationalist Movement Party is based on the European fibre
and socialist ideology, and i t will continue to be so until the day it is
dissolved, with its institutions functioning as they are. In this context, instead
of a parliamentary system of government Presidential system. In
this system, the powers of the Presidency and the Prime Ministry will be
concentrated in a single person, creating a government based on authority,
trust, and discipline . We will change and rebuild
the other institutions of national democracy, especially TRT, the
Constitutional Court, the Council of State, the Court of Cassation, the
University, and the High Council of Judges, in accordance with our national
interests and security. We will completely abolish not only the Senate, but also
abolish the
Senate institution entirely. Thus, this great nation will be divided into classes
and interest groups, and the class...
J56
TEM£1L GÖRi!S

I will put an end to their mockery and, as the State, I will Turkishise and
nationalise democracy and the constitution.

Alienation and Turkish state philosophy

The Turkish Nation is an honourable member of the family of


nations. The Turkish Nation has a great, rich history and state philosophy
worthy of pride. The Turkish Nation has high ideals, cultural superiority
. Throughout its history and across the continent, the Turkish Nation has
established powerful states. In establishing these states, the Turkish Nation
has always relied on its own state philosophy and its own unique culture.
. has established powerful states throughout its history and across the
continent. In establishing these states, the Turkish Nation has always
drawn upon its own state philosophy and its own unique culture.
has been inspired. However, for 200 years, our nation and our state
philosophy have suffered from certain weaknesses. The reason for this is
our distancing ourselves from our own national culture and state
philosophy, and our exposure to the invasion of foreign cultures and
movements. This alienation in state philosophy and culture has distanced
institutions from the national ideal, and the Turkish nation has become an
underdeveloped country in terms of its national values. It is natural for a
nation that has strayed from its national ideal and become alienated from
its national culture to be underdeveloped and backward. Over the past
decade, our country has witnessed anarchism communism, separatism
sectarianism and
»+ The reasons for sabotage, which destroys national wealth,
and arson are the cultivation of generations alien to national ideals and
culture. The intention to destroy the unity of the homeland and the nation,
to dismantle the last independent state, and to bind it to communist
imperialism
is the culmination of a rootless, soulless philosophy that has been
cultivated for over 200 years.
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION — STRONG GOVERNMENT

The development and shaping of human personality is possible in


free and democratic regimes. Regimes that are not free and democratic are
contrary to human personality. In these regimes, people are not respected.
There is no love for humanity. The Nationalist Movement is about loving
and respecting the Turkish people and wanting them to flourish. For this
reason, I am opposed to all regimes that are hostile to a free and
democratic order; I do not believe in them.

The Nationalist Movement sees the path of governance and


destiny of the Turkish nation and the Turkish people in a democratic
system. I do not believe in systems that deny rights to the whole of
the people. Our national doctrine points to a new path for our nation,
one based on love for humanity and infinite respect for human dignity.
The fundamental source of this path is the Islamic faith and Turkish
consciousness and pride. The torch of the Great Turkey, which will
rise like a new sun on the horizon of the world, has been lit.

National integration — National democracy

The Turkish Nation's ability to rebuild its great, powerful and


developed state depends on its return to its own culture and state
philosophy. The day the Turkish Nation frees itself from the
domination of foreign influences and returns to its own state
philosophy, it will regain its status as a great state and take its rightful
place among the nations of the world. The only political organisation
that defends Turkish national culture and state philosophy and makes
it the basis of its own understanding and programme is the Nationalist
Movement Party. Turkish nationalism with the Nationalist Movement
Party

158
BASIC VIEWS

has, for the first time in history, become the programme


an
d worldview.
Turkish illness's culture and state philosophy, within the framework
of Turkish nationalism, is the ideal of a united, democratic state. In the
history and traditions of the Turkish nation, there is no division,
fragmentation, or separation into groups or classes. The head of state
shares the same fate as the nation he leads in times of peace and war,
sorrow and joy. fate . Systems and ideologies that
divide the nation into classes or groups, oppress one class over another, and
teach rulers to look down on the nation and divisive ideologies. The
philosophy of the Turkish state is based on the principle of national unity
and the ideal of a united nation. . Democracy, in
its narrowest sense, means the sovereignty of the nation. Democracy is the
participation of the nation in political, cultural and economic governance,
and the fact that political, cultural and economic
sovereignty b e l o n g i n g to the nation.
It should be emphasised here that the concept of nation is not an
abstract one. The nation is neither, as capitalists claim, a mere collection
of individuals, nor, as in communism, solely the members of the
Communist Party. The nation is an entity. The current composition of the
nation consists of six social strata: the poor, the workers, the tradesmen,
the civil servants, the employers, and the self-employed. In this respect, a
country and a system where sovereignty belongs only to the employer or
the state is not democratic. For a country to be truly democratic, the
participation of the nation: peasants, workers, tradesmen, civil servants,
employers, and the self-employed
b e s t employees.

139
MGi#DARS - STRONG GOVERNMENT

Political democracy

There is a very close relationship between democracy and the


celebration of freedom. Democracy, in a general sense, means good will.
Good will means that one person does not take orders from another.
.the ability to make decisions according to one's own will and to act
freely. A person under the pressure and influence of others is not free.
Political democracy is a regime of political freedoms.
.sî detnokrosî is the equal participation of all members of the nation in the
political management
.me, and political decisions. Citizens participate in political decision-
making by electing and being elected to political bodies. Parliament is at
the head of political bodies. Parliament is the
.sî representative body, therefore, to speak of true political democracy, all
social segments that constitute the nation must be represented in
parliament; ltöylün . employers, and the
self-employed
.

The political organisation of the people

According to Marxist and capitalist political theory, society is


divided into two antagonistic classes. These are the so-called working
class and the capitalist class. In capitalist political theory, political
decisions are made solely or mostly by the capitalist class. In this theory,
the nation is represented in parliament by the capitalist class and its
bureaucrats. According to capitalism, the nation consists of the
bourgeoisie. However, as mentioned above, the nation, bourgeoisie
160’
BASIC VIEW

(capitalist) classes, but also encompasses other social strata. • •s•* we


are. Therefore, according to capitalist political theory, political
democracy is not National Democracy, but only capitalist class
democracy. Marxist political theory is also based solely on a so-called
working class, so in this system, the parliament is also composed solely
of members of the Communist Party. Consequently, here too, instead of
national democracy, we have the dictatorship of the Communist Party.
Nationalist political theory views the nation as a whole composed of
six social strata. Accordingly, it envisages national representation in
parliament as comprising representatives of these six social [Link], the
parliament is neither solely the organ of the capitalist class nor solely that
of the so-called working class. The parliament is the organ of the entire
nation. For this reason, in order to achieve political democracy and
integration, the nationalist movement insists that a certain number of
peasant representatives, including workers, artisans, and merchants, be
elected to parliament. When the representatives of the six social strata
enter parliament, the KÖTk iutlfeti becomes a unified whole, and the
political institutions become stable and the political s i t u a t i o n
becomes secure.

Democratic nationalist state

A Democratic NationalistState is one in which people belonging to


the same nation are organised politically and legally to govern themselves
(national democracy) and to control their own economic resources
(national economy); externally, it is a state that has equal rights with
other nations.
161
The term "national state" thus acquires a legal character. In a Democratic
Nationalist State, the individuals and social groups that constitute the
nation determine their own destiny and participate effectively in the
administration of the state. This phenomenon is called the democratic
element of the state (national democracy). Every individual contributes to
the formation of political power, particularly the legislature and the
executive. Nations have the right to be independent in their own
administration and to freely determine their own future. This is the
internal form of national sovereignty. In the National State, the external
form of sovereignty is that the state is equal to other states and does not
remain under their pressure and influence. This is called national
independence.
It is granted. External sovereignty is based on the principle of
equality among states in the international community. One state
cannot interfere with another state that is equal and independent.
The Democratic Nationalist State is based not only on the political
destiny of nations, but also on their economic destiny. In this sense, the
National State is a state based on the national economy, which has
nationalised its economy. In order to be a Democratic Nationalist State,
the state must rely on the resources and strengths of the national
community. National independence and national democracy can only be
achieved through the development and strengthening of national power
and economic national strength.
it can be understood. The term "national power" in the phrase "a state
relying on its own national power" refers to national economy and
national defence power. A national state is a form of state that has united
and mobilised its national power in order to protect and maintain its own
existence against external threats. The most essential condition for a
national state is its own economic
resources and power to preserve and maintain its existence.
1ö2
BASIC PRINCIPLES

. A state based on national power requires, in principle, an economy that


is self-sufficient and capable of sustaining its own existence. A state that
is dependent on foreign economies cannot be national. A state that is
completely dependent on foreign economies
It is impossible for a dependent state to be independent in its foreign and
domestic policies. For this reason, the national state must not allow itself to
be exploited by foreign powers; it must complete its development using its
own internal resources and develop its economy.
The Democratic Nationalist State aims to ensure the economic and
moral development of all individuals and social segments of the nation.
The state must achieve this goal in its activities. A state that prioritises the
interests of an individual or a particular class, based on the dictates of that
individual or class, cannot be a national state. The national state is a state
of service and welfare based on the nation; it must serve all members of
the nation and realise their welfare.

163
STRONG POWER

Single president — Single parliament system

Milliyet The Movement defends a system of a single leader


and a single parliament. Our era is one of strong, fair and swift
execution. When the Turkish Nation established world empires, it
implemented a system of swift and decisive execution. Strong and
swift execution is possible only when executive power is concentrated
in a single hand. For this reason in accordance with
our history and traditions, we defend the principle of a single
executive. We cannot divide the executive into the Presidency and the
Prime Ministry. Since we are integrative in every respect, we must also
be integrative at the head of the executive. In the philosophy and
history of Turkish history, there has never been an orientation, that is, it
has always been carried out by a single executive. Nationalism in
Turkey is also Democratic National Republic
principle, the President will be the sole head of the executive organ of
the Turkish Nation.
In line with the single-president system, we also advocate the
parliamentary system in terms of the legislative body. We want the
Senate, which is a legacy of European monarchies or federal state
regimes, to be abolished because it delays legislative work alongside the
National Assembly.
The existence of political democracy is the foundation of true
democracy.

164
TRMELGÖRÜ IAR

is not sufficient for the existence of true democracy. In order to speak of


true democracy in a country, economic democracy, which complements
political democracy, must also be established. Economic democracy is the
ability of a nation to freely vote on economic issues and to participate
equally in the economic decisions of the country.
If, in a country, social strata cannot participate equally and freely in
economic decision-making and cannot vote, then there is no economic
democracy in that country. The existence of economic democracy
depends on the social strata that make up the nation owning the means of
production, participating in profits, losses and management. From this
perspective, there is a false relationship between the concepts of
economic , freedom and democracy on the one hand, and ownership
and management on the other.

Reform and reformism

The origins of the turmoil and upheaval Turkey finds itself in


today date back two centuries. Ever since the changing and evolving
new conditions of our era made it impossible for the Ottoman Empire
to maintain its is , and power, a period of rapid decline began. The
cadres in control of the country's administration, with few exceptions,
failed to prevent this downward spiral into crisis. In our view, the
leading culprits responsible for Turkey's current miserable, powerless,
and fragmented state are the political cadres who came to power. At
the end of the War of Independence, the revival and strengthening that
began with the "spirit of the National Forces"
ADMINISTRATION - POWERFUL GOVERNMENT

could not be achieved. Many states that entered two world wars and
saw their lands trampled underfoot, their homelands turned to ruins,
have now left Turkey, which did not enter the war, far behind.
To overcome this situation and restore peace and tranquillity, it
is essential that six reforms be implemented within a short period of
time. These are:

1) Reform of national culture, morality and spirituality (National


Education Reform)
2) *s*/maî reform
3) Administrative reform
4) Industrial reform
5) Agricultural and land reform
6) Economic and financial reform.
Generations are deprived of national culture, neglected in terms of
faith and spirituality, and it is impossible for a society with weak morals
to live in peace.
The aim of social reform is the fair distribution of the burdens and
benefits borne by the people according to merit and ability. It should be
noted: not equally, but fairly... If this is not done, merits will not be
apparent, and the ability to work will fade. To reiterate, the qualities to be
considered in social justice are merit, competence, and diligence.
The aim of administrative reform is to restructure state
enterprises that have become bureaucratic, to abandon paperwork, and
to bring services to the people.
J66
BASIC PRINCIPLES

The aim of industrial reform is to produce the tools and


equipment needed by the people and to ensure that more profit is
made from the work done.
Agricultural and land reform, on the other hand, aims to transfer the
surplus population from agriculture to industry, prepare the ground for
modern agricultural management, regulate land distribution, and, in short,
resolve this issue through the "Agricultural Towns" project.
The aim of financial and economic reform is to prevent tax evasion,
which amounts to large sums in domestic and foreign trade, to put an end
to black market activities, usury and all kinds of speculative activities,
and to regulate business life within the framework of service, security,
stability and business ethics.

The fathers of reform

Administrators have fallen into a state of paralysis. To see how


Turkey finds itself in a state of stagnation and strife, one need only recall
the topics of debate over the last 15 to 20 years. Those who lack a
vision and conviction regarding the country's main issues have focused
their attention on a series of "myths" they have created; all kinds of
conflicts and debates have centred around these "myths". The series of
reforms exemplifies the nature of these myths. Reforms gain meaning and
significance through the political personnel who implement them.
Failure, the existence of the horizon, the inability to keep abreast of
events at home and abroad due to sterile daily squabbles, and the fact that
politically experienced cadres are in charge during this period, "Reform",
wJuc=l=k
The situation has not changed. In fact, the Civil Servants Act has been
amended to establish a personnel regime. Arbitrariness and injustice have
dealt a heavy blow to public service. The situation is the same with land
reform. Today, Turkey's land dispute is based on: 1 — The fact
that our agricultural land is not sufficient for our agricultural population, 2
— Low productivity in the agricultural sector. The only solution to this
problem is a consistent and long-term policy that transfers the population
from the land to industry and increases the productivity of the land
through fundamental measures such as irrigation, fertilisation and
mechanisation. However, governments are resorting to temporary,
delaying and artificial solutions. The Land and Agricultural Reform Act,
5,§ -9 is being implemented gradually.
will be finalised. Ultimately, around 500,000 landless
No one will be buried in the ground. Eu application's is
estimated to cost 90 billion Turkish Liras. . That is nearly double the
current state budget. Of the 22 million people working the land, only
500,000 will be affected by the EU law, which will cost 90 billion TL.
Within five or six years, the effects of this law will be completely lost due
to population growth and fragmentation through inheritance. A reform of
t h i s kind is not only impossible to implement in p r a c t i c e , but also
It is also very far from being
fundamentally reforming the land issue. Other reform issues are
exactly the same. Under the name of National Education Reform, certain
changes should be made every year. Various ministers have come and
gone over the years, but none have made any effort to reform education in
accordance with the goals of "reforming education and meeting the needs
of the nation". In the field of national education, it is necessary to
reorganise the subjects taught in every respect.
188
. The armed communist uprisings of recent years have unequivocally
demonstrated the inadequacy and shortcomings of education in schools.
But where are the political leaders who have learned from this and are
working to resolve the issue at its root?

The political leadership governing Turkey, with its incompetence,


narrow-mindedness, and tendency to regard trivial, temporary issues as
matters of primary importance, has not only failed to halt the decline that
began two centuries ago but has also given rise to new problems. Turkey
is in a
backward state economically. The inability to find a way out of the crisis
has led to
political instability and uncertainty. Our national fabric has been
has been undermined by insidious propaganda. has been
. Citizens are distrustful of one another and...
They no longer have confidence in tomorrow. Citizens are now unable
to determine which political factions to align themselves with. Everyone
is in a state of uncertainty . Our
cultural and spiritual existence is characterised by defeat, exhaustion and
hopelessness. Those who bear political responsibility are foremost among
those who have brought citizens to this state of mind. None of the issues
discussed in parliament, which are dominated by petty and destructive
disputes none of the
topics of debate are of any substance. In an environment where party
interests and personal struggles take precedence, it has become impossible
to make sound decisions for the good of the country.
STRONG GOVERNANCE

Reforms and national integration

The fundamental principles of the Turkish state philosophy and the


Constitution
The essence is national unity.
First, the "three principles" set out in the preamble to the
Constitution were defined in the Government Programmes, but no
principles or strategies were presented to achieve this ideal. The
moral and socio-psychological element of national unity
"M=ftî Üîkü" and "Miffi Jwrdur" The dynamite core of the national
ideal and national consciousness is national culture, or in other words,
" " biiftür bü-

Education has a very important role to play in terms of cultural


integration. Educational reforms are important in this regard. Higher
education is the natural school of national consciousness and economic
development.
The Nationalist Movement advocates a "vertical" approach in education
policy,
It advocates "horizontal education". Vertical education produces an elite.
This elite is the state's nationalist idealist, research-
oriented, and scholarly cadre. A nation that has not cultivated its own
national elite, its scholarly and idealist intellectual cadre, and its technicians
cannot achieve development, existence continue . European
countries, America, and even Russia developed by first
cultivating their national elite and continue to do so. . One of the most
important reasons why our country underdeveloped and
undeveloped state is largely due to the failure of those in power to adopt a
"national elite" policy. The Bilingual Movement advocates "vertical
education" alongside
It also attaches importance to "horizontal education". Through this
education, our entire nation—our villagers, workers, and tradespeople—
becomes united with the national ideal.
Reforms aimed at our economic development are sufficient.
J70
BASIC PERSPECTIVE

It is not. The basis of economic development is industrial development.


It is impossible for a state that has not achieved capital accumulation to
possess the characteristics of a democratic national social state. If this
is understood, it is clear that the issues of savings and investment, the
two fundamental elements of development, have not been given
sufficient attention in the reforms. In a society where capital dominates
labour in the production process, class division arises, not integration.
Economic democracy is essential for establishing national peace and
balance between labour and capital. Granting political participation to
those who cannot make economic decisions is nothing more than a
formal democracy. To prevent labour from being exploited by capital
and capital from being exploited by labour, reforms are needed that
will enable workers to participate in the ownership and management of
the workplace, sharing in its profits and losses.

Conclusion

One of the things that has been memorised is the


phrase "Refor=n" . Reform is necessary. Regulations must be
implemented in administration, the judiciary, agriculture, society, trade
and industry, but the fundamental condition, the main principle and the
sole objective must be as follows: for f’ürR, according to the Turk, by the
Turk... If it is based on principles such as "Europe will approve, activists
will rejoice, merchants will be crushed" such
principles based on a sense of inferiority, fear, and compromise, and the
pursuit of class interests, the result will only be anarchy,
suffering, and collapse.

171
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT - STRENGTH AR

Strong governance

In addition to the economic, social and spiritual crises prevailing


in our country, there is also a crisis of authority that is becoming more
apparent with each passing day. It is clear that before 12 March, there
was no such thing as authority in our country. The occasional emergence
of authority and discipline has led to irreparable damage. A national state
must have a strong authority. In a country where there is no national state,
there are weak authorities ( &st) ü b=r. söz
It is impossible. A nation state is a state that is independent in its internal
and external relations. The state's sovereignty means that it has supreme
authority over the country and can issue orders without taking orders from
anyone. Today, it is a fact that there are certain circumstances that
limit the internal sovereignty and national independence of my state. The
fundamental condition of nationalism is to work for the independence
of one's nation. No one who does not fight for the independence of their
nation
is never a nationalist and cannot be one.
The division of the executive power of the national state into two
parts is extremely detrimental in terms of weakening authority. In light of
these realities, we are determined and resolved to unite the President and
the Prime Minister under the title of Head of State and to make the owner
of the executive organ a single person. If our view, which you call the
"presidential system," is realised, the Head of State will be elected by the
people themselves through a referendum. This will ensure that the
people participate in the management of the country and are directly
involved in decisions on matters that concern them.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

democracy will be established. It is widely acknowledged that we are


in an era of strong executive power, and that this situation is of great
importance for less developed countries such as Turkey. Development
requires swift and bold decisions. A government that listens to the people
in a democratic manner will be able to take such decisions easily.

As Nationalist Movement Party members ( ), we have


repeatedly stated that replacing the current bicameral system with a
"Single Chamber System," abolishing the Senate, and establishing a
National Assembly consisting of 300 members would be the most
beneficial situation for our country.
rescued from the situation of conservatism and obstructionism
and be reorganised
according to the needs and conditions of the national community is
only possible through this process. developed countries,
being in a state of balanced development, urgently need a legislative body
that can pass laws swiftly and efficiently. in Turkey, the
establishment of a single president and a single parliament system is an
absolute necessity for the establishment of a referendum institution that
will determine the public's opinion on issues of concern to the broad
masses. It is impossible to justify the feeding of more than 600 deputies in
two parliaments with the income of a poor nation is beyond
measure. The Nationalist Movement will, as its ninth principle,
establish a single 300-member parliament composed of peasants,
tradesmen, civil servants, employers and professionals as a first step,
ending the crisis of authority in our country and enabling rapid progress in
the economic sphere. Thus, the Nationalist Movement, which will
solidify the theory of a national state and strong government, will
also guarantee the establishment and strengthening of national democracy.
LEADERSHIP, STRONG GOVERNMENT

Constitutional amendment

Three main issues must be taken into consideration in the


constitutional amendments to be made.
The first issue is that the principle of nationalism should be
enshrined in the Constitution. As is well known, the 1924 Constitution
adopted "ZfilfiyefçiîiR" as its fundamental principle, which was the
founding philosophy of our state. This principle was incorporated into the
Constitution by order of Atatürk.
Those who constantly profess their respect for Atatürk's reforms have,
for some reason, forgotten the principle of "nationalism," which
constitutes the essence of Atatürk's ideas. During the drafting of the 1961
Constitution, under the influence of circles hostile to our state, the
word "3filîî" was used instead of the principle of nationalism, and the
principle expressing the power of the Turkish Nation was removed
from the Constitution.

In this era of accelerating modernisation and competition between


nations, our world is experiencing a period of nationalism.
As the Nationalist Movement, we will proceed from these
realities and see it as our duty to ensure that the principle of
"Nationalism" is incorporated into the new Constitution in a manner
that leaves no room for doubt.
The principle of nationalism, which is progressive,
developmental and uplifting, is the fundamental source of our state.
The Turkish Constitution must regulate the principles of Turkish
Nationalism. Our nation is immortal as long as it is nationalistic.
The second issue is that the institution of referendum should be
included in our Constitution. In matters of vital importance, the people
should be consulted directly.

y74
DIRECTLY CONSULT

to the people and draw fresh strength from the people.


The main issue is the abolition of the Senate and the reduction of
the number of members of parliament. There is no need for a second
chamber consisting of senators in Turkey. Furthermore, a parliament
consisting of 450 members is excessive. Therefore, the Senate should be
abolished and a parliament consisting of 100 members should be
established.

Nationalist movement

The National Movement, with the philosophy outlined above,


ensures national unity in every field, particularly in law, economics,
politics and social policy, and establishes the national democracy that is
the greatest model of democracy, . Ultimately, this will make the
Turkish nation, with all its ethnic and social segments, sovereign, free and
prosperous. The Nationalist Movement firmly believes in a multi-party
political system. In a country where different political and economic ideas
cannot be defended, a totalitarian regime, especially a communist, fascist
or Nazi regime, is in place. In our view, capitalist and socialist systems
are also constitutional.
These systems are contrary to our very essence. For these systems are
based, politically and economically, on the domination of one class over
another. Our Constitution has categorically rejected class domination.
. Since the fundamental nature of our state, which is a democratic
republic, is based on the principle of secularism, the exercise of political
and economic domination is only possible in name.

1'7S
NATIONAL GOVERNANCE - STRONG GOVERNANCE

to the monopoly of a single class or a "strength of the state," are


anti-democratic systems.
In Turkey, political powers have always been under the influence
of a limited minority that has never embraced all segments of society.
To date, the parties that have held power in our country and their
political philosophies have been capitalist-oriented, which is why
Turkey has remained an underdeveloped country. As long as these
parties remain in power, the development of our country is impossible.
Capitalist-leaning parties are weak and powerless in government,
particularly because they are deficient and inadequate in economic and
social terms and cannot meet the needs of the masses.
As a result, the people are deprived of their support and
assistance. Consequently, extra-parliamentary opposition emerges,
and the streets, educational institutions, and other public spaces
become sources of anarchy. In such situations, these parties make
frivolous statements such as "There is a bit of anarchy in every
democracy" and "Walking does not wear out the streets" to cover up
their weaknesses. However, the real reason is that they are not
nationalist and do not represent the nation as a whole.
.
Our goal is to establish DettOhî‘dt2/c Zfiltiyelçi Z'ürkiye. This
path is arduous, this cause is sacred, this ideal is the ideal of Jürklük.
The flag of our ideal has been raised, its torch has been lit.
DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL
ECONOMIC POLICY
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Our fundamental issue

The issue facing Turkey today is that of industrialisation. Our


nation has made its choice and reached its decision. This decision is to
become an independent industrial nation in a very short time and to
establish a great nationalist Turkey. The greatest aspiration of our
nation is to become an economically strong, developed, and
prosperous Turkey. A national administration is one that understands
economic development and is able to make choices in this regard. It is
not possible for our nation to develop with just a few reform
measures. Development is a process based on industry and
industrialisation. Today, we are not implementing a reform and
programme that will enable our nation to industrialise in the short
term. In this day and age, it is impossible for a country that has not
established a national industry to survive and maintain its
independence. While the world's major economies are establishing the
latest technologies and the newest industrial facilities, our stagnation
poses a threat to our future. Our nation, which has been a great nation
throughout history, rightly desires to grow today. It is an unavoidable
national duty to fulfil the nation's desire for economic growth.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

Time is passing.

Our institution was established in 1048 by the blessed hands of


the great Marshal Evzi akmak and has rendered valuable services to
the country to this day. During the period from 1948 to the present, the
country's main issues have not been resolved in a healthy manner, and
increasing needs have not been met.
Responsible administrators have succeeded in distracting our
intellectuals, youth, and people by presenting the slow and
presenting necessary developments as major advances, have succeeded in
distracting our intellectuals, our youth, and our people.
The deception of our people may have benefited those in power,
but there has been no change in the bitter realities we face as a nation.
Responsible politicians have been presenting figures to substantiate
their view that significant milestones have been achieved in Turkey over
the years.
The only question we can ask them is: 25-50 year
First, has the gap between the standard of living and pace of development
in developed countries and that of Turkey narrowed today? Or has it
widened? Twenty-five to fifty years ago, developed countries had the
speed of aeroplanes, while Turkey had the speed of horse-drawn
carriages. Today, they are at rocket speed, while we have only reached
train speed. In short, the gap between us and
developed developed countries gap
has not decreased.
Our country possesses all the means necessary to achieve national
development. Our underground and surface resources, as well as our
human resources, are more than sufficient.
180
TEMbÎK GÖRÛ Elt

Administrations should make decisions according to the


preferences of the people. Our nation has expressed its preference for
growth and the completion of its economic development. We must
abandon misguided economic policies and adopt a national economic
policy that meets the needs of our country. This economic policy
must be one that secures our economic independence and creates a
structure capable of exporting industrial products abroad. This requires
prioritising domestic investments.
To realise these investments, priority must be given to all types of
savings, and citizens' desire to save must be encouraged. A country
whose savings and development do not rely on national resources
cannot claim independence.
and the citizens' desire to save must be encouraged. A country whose
savings and development do not rely on national resources cannot
claim independence. The first condition necessary for the establishment
of an independent industry is the establishment of a machine
manufacturing industry. Indeed, a country's ability to achieve or
maintain economic independence depends on its ability to establish a
machine manufacturing industry. In addition to the machine
manufacturing industry, importance must also be given to the
metallurgical industry, the petrochemical industry, and the energy
production industry. It is impossible for a country that has not
established a national industry to reach the level of modern
civilisation. However, the great Turkish nation has left its mark on every
era and has earned its place in every age. This is evident in its rich
history, great culture and lineage.

The rapid establishment of our national industry will also provide a


solution to our employment problem. Today, in our country,
and a hidden army of unemployed people. The fact that a large portion of
the country's population is unemployed is an obstacle to establishing
national peace and tranquillity. The most important way to eliminate
unemployment
is the establishment of national industrial sectors.
”181
This will create new workplaces, which will absorb the population
and provide them with employment opportunities. If we eliminate
unemployment, we must also focus on infrastructure investments
alongside small facilities. We must utilise idle labour in the
construction of major roads, bridges, ports, and dams.
It is impossible for a country that has not built its infrastructure
(facilities) to make investments in its higher economic structure. In
this way, while on the one hand transforming the army of hidden and
open unemployed into a service army and contributing to our national
development, on the other hand, the homeland, which has gained
purchasing power, will...
*a9°• 'u• b•=sq>they will find opportunities for
employment. Today in our country, actual and hidden
unemployment reaches 10 million in some seasons. This means that in
some months
(19 million people are unemployed in our country. these
unemployed
people should be united in a service corps and employed in the
country's
>•=*'m<' *s» is the only national employment policy.
.

The development of nations

The rise, development, and expansion of nations depend above all


on their ability to preserve their existence and continue their existence.
Being useful both for themselves and for the human family is only
possible by acquiring and realising goodness, beauty, and freedom.
Civilisations have always sought to achieve the better, the more
perfect, and to liberate themselves from the captivity of natural
forces, desiring to grant them freedom. From his father, do§-
BASIC PRINCIPLES

. It is necessary to propel the Turkish nation rapidly through the ages


and reach the atomic and space age as soon as possible, and to surpass
other nations. The source of strength that will achieve this is the Turkish
national spirit and sentiment. It is the Turkish nation's profound sense of
its own identity
and turn inward.
The first condition for the liberation and development of a nation is
the establishment of unity and internal security. *s unity and • It is
necessary to be vigilant and intolerant towards any disruptive activities
directed against unity.
The Turkish nation must be rescued from its current dire situation
as soon as possible. Putting aside a set of showy, fanciful ideas and
actions, it is necessary to mobilise for scientific and technical progress.
It is imperative to halt and develop its aeroplanes, lorries and buses,
ships, tractors
tractors and agriculturalmachinery, missiles, nuclear plants, in short,
everything that modern countries are competing for, must be developed
and improved. The ability to build more modern and more useful
facilities ensures the power and superiority of nations over each other.
The Turkish n a t i o n must acquire these capabilities as soon as
possible. Development initiatives undertaken in Turkey to date have been
ineffective. This is because the wrong strategy has been used in
investments.
It is necessary to establish research laboratories to cultivate high-quality
scientific and technical personnel and to use heavy industry, namely the
main industries (iron and steel factories, energy sources, transport
facilities)
has not been done. Instead, the focus has been on constructing
ostentatious buildings,
MI t 6a .ZETNMA AND tM•Î t›E’I’IsA styAsSI't

waterworks, and diverting resources towards other light industries.


Industrialisation is a matter of science and technology. Turkish Dev-
The advancement of our country to the level of contemporary societies is
only possible through the application of the most modern and latest
technology to industry. We can only close the terrifying gap between us
and developed countries in a short time.
The only condition for t h i s is the initiation of an extraordinary
mobilisation effort, with a cadre of patriotic and idealistic intellectuals
dominating state positions instead of bureaucrats and those in power.

Great importance must be attached to science and scientific


research. The scientists and technocrats needed by the country must be
identified, and an education system appropriate to this goal must be
implemented in place of the current chaotic system. Science and
technology must be given priority in a direction that is productive and
research-oriented.
The education system should be reorganised in line with the
country's priorities and development goals. With such an education, the
productive, research-oriented minds that will be nurtured should be
provided with the status they deserve, taking centre stage in our
development, without being forced to leave the country. The exploitation
and export of brains must come to an end.
This national elite, whom we can call the "Brain or Managerial
Elite," consisting of nationalists, idealists, researchers, and scientists
trained through special education, will be the cornerstone of our
development.
Otherwise, it will be impossible to continue the nation's progress,
development, and existence.
6continue.

184
THE FOUNDATION OF DEVELOPMENT
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES

Westernisation did not emerge

Now, I shall address a fundamental issue facing our country, one


that we have been unable to resolve despite our great efforts and
countless sacrifices: As you know, Turkey has been suffering the pain
of backwardness for two hundred years and yearning for an era of
progress. We have endured everything for this cause, even accepting a
situation that is contrary to our historical tradition. So much so that, in
order to prevent its collapse, the Turkish nation has not hesitated to
abandon the world it pioneered and become a follower, even a
Our administrators, politicians
and intellectuals have seen Westernisation as the only way forward.
What do we have left after two hundred years of experience? What
have we gained, and what have we lost in return? It would take too
long to recount our material and spiritual losses, but the short
summary is this: A great empire has slipped from our grasp, and our
immense underground and above-ground riches have fallen into the hands
of other nations. Worse still, we have begun to lose our national identity
and our spiritual superiority. So what have we gained? For various
reasons, answers that dare not be given or are merely soporific...

185
Î DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

We boldly ask this crucial question that has been glossed over, and we
give the answer without hesitation: we have wasted almost two hundred
years and have not even accomplished one per cent of what we could
have done. We believe that a single, clear example is sufficient to satisfy
those of sound mind and conscience:
When we embarked on our Westernisation efforts, what was the
level of our knowledge and research? What is it today?
What was our level then, and what is it today? Unfortunately, it is
impossible to give a positive answer to the above question without
straying from the infallible principles of science and the findings of
research. In other words, the gap between us and developed countries
has widened rather than narrowed. Despite countless sacrifices, even
the blessed blood of millions of martyrs shed like rain for this cause,
who is responsible for our stagnation? Let us just say that it is not
possible to place the blame for our backwardness solely on the
shoulders of our administrators. The real reason is that, despite the
changes in form, minds have not changed. We chanted "West! West!"
, yet...
It is our failure to understand what the "West" is. While striving to
abandon the development models we had become accustomed to and
embrace new ones, we chose the wrong starting point and failed to
understand the foundations upon which development should be based.
Development has two main foundations. One is the "material
foundation" and the other is the "spiritual foundation".

The material foundation of development

The material foundation of development is based on a positive


scientific mindset and technical progress. A positive scientific mindset
J86
BASIC PRINCIPLES

There are certain requirements that must be strictly adhered to. One of the
most important of these is that the production and consumption activities
of a society must be carried out in a completely transparent manner.
The production life of a nation must be based on the same system, the
same principles, and the same understanding as its consumption life.
When I observe our beloved Turkey in this r e g a r d , I am confronted
with a devastating picture. Our consumption is developing in line w i t h
Western standards, but our production remains entirely Eastern, unable to
escape its backward state. We dress like the West, but we cannot build the
factories that produce those clothes. We try to take advantage of the
means we consider to be Western. We want to have our cars, our
telephones, our radios, our washing machines, our refrigerators and other
modern conveniences. But we cannot adjust our production capacity to
our demands.
I cannot produce most of what we call "civilised goods"; we
constantly buy them from others. If Dir relies on outdated production
techniques, but becomes accustomed to consumption like nations with
superior consumption techniques, what will be the outcome? The
verdict of science on this matter is clear: nations that produce like
Easterners and consume like Westerners are, economically speaking,
doomed to perpetual exploitation, dependence on others' aid, and,
worse still, inevitable impoverishment. Neither the powers that be in
the past nor the powers that be today have grasped this fundamental
issue, which is rapidly leading our beloved nation to disaster. They
have been defeated by the powers that be, wasting time on petty
electoral calculations.

187
NATIONAL DEFENCE AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

The ruling class has abused the trust of the nation. For the first time, we
are experiencing the joy of laying new foundations, establishing new
principles, and seeking and demonstrating the path to development.
Another indispensable requirement of a positive scientific mindset
is this: no nation can develop by imitating systems tailored to the
structures and conditions of other nations. Of course, nations, like people,
will benefit from each other's experiences. However, if they simply do
what others have done and do not contribute anything of their own, they
will never achieve a good result. How a nation will develop must be
examined by studying its own conditions, correctly assessing the
country's potential, and researching solutions appropriate to the
characteristics of its material and spiritual resources.
Relying on solutions devised by foreigners often leads to the disease
worsening, or even, God forbid, death. Our Turkey is striving to achieve
economic development by implementing the capitalist system .
Capitalism is a system conceived according to the structure of European
civilisation and the conditions of European nations. That Europe is a
foreign world, unlike us, with values that do not fit our standards and are
contrary to our values. That Europe is based on social hostilities.
class antagonisms. In the history of the Turkish Nation
There is no such thing as "class enmity." There is only the unity of an
entire nation around a single goal. That Europe owes the greater part of
its wealth to the ruthless exploitation of others. How can we develop with
a system designed to facilitate our exploitation? Internally, we reject
capitalism, which seeks not only to condemn our people to poverty, but our
nation as well.
, we reject capitalism, which seeks to condemn not only our individuals
but our entire nation to poverty.

188
OPINIONS

Especially in recent years, we have seen that a second path,


seemingly socialist and sometimes communist, has been
recommended to our nation, which is again a foreign system. It is
natural to wonder what communism would bring to the Turkish
nation.
I am not in a position to say, "Let's try this too." Because, after fifty
years of practice, we know very well what it has done to the 60
million Turks who are like us in terms of ethnicity, religion, language
and culture, and we see the indescribable consequences it has brought.
Communism has brought upon our unfortunate compatriots the forced
herding of animals, expulsion from their homeland, mass
extermination, forced oblivion of their history and nationality, forced
submission to attacks on their faith, forced acceptance of the
corruption of their language, the destruction of their culture, the
plundering of their wealth, and the loss of their freedom.
. Ultimately, our struggle for communism is not so much an
"economic"
cause but rather a cause of "independence". We will not forget this
reality. We will always remind those who forget, and we will surely
uproot those who seek to make us forget. Let us also note that
capitalism and communism, despite their different appearances and
their struggle against each other, are actually made from the same
dough, originating from the same source. Because both are based on
"materialism" and appeal only to people's stomachs. I propose a path
of national development that is distinct from foreign systems such as
capitalism and communism. This path is not derived from stolen
doctrines, but from an examination of our national structure and our
unique conditions. This is «üs ( II) cü
We call it "The Path." We call it "The Path of Nine Lights." And we believe
that serving this great Turkish Nation—which takes infinite pride in
serving it—

189
will surely accept our proposal and thus return to itself once more.

The spiritual foundations of development

I would also like to touch upon the spiritual foundations of our


development. The spiritual foundations of development are nationalism,
faith and morality. We are sincerely committed to Turkish pride and
consciousness, Islamic morality and virtue, above the concerns of vote
gathering and political hypocrisy. Turkish pride and consciousness, along
with Islamic morality and piety, are the spiritual elements that make up
our nation, in perfect harmony.
The union of nations only acquires meaning and value if it is built upon
such a noble foundation. A rise without nationality, an immoral
foundation, is impossible. At this juncture, I shall point out a matter I
consider important.
I would like to point out a matter that I consider important. Very
Although few in number, we see some people attempting to pit
nationalism against Islam. Such an attitude is wrong, absurd, ignorant, and
if done deliberately, it is treason and hypocrisy. Struggle occurs between
different, even hostile, ideals. However, Turkishness and Islam have been
fused together in the same sacred crucible for a thousand years, becoming
inseparable like flesh and nails. By becoming Muslim, the Turkish nation
has gained the highest values of social order and religious life, and Islam
has found in the Turkish nation a mujahid with unparalleled bravery and
love for construction. Millions of Turkish children, "in a rose garden...

190
BASIC PERSPECTIVE

They rushed to the battlefields, drank the cup of martyrdom. Questions


such as "Are you Turkish? Are you Muslim?" stem from ignorance and
are foolish. Otherwise, they are treasonous. A religious understanding that
rejects nationalism and a nationalist ideology hostile to Islam are alien to
us. Those who defend these flawed views, even if they claim to belong to
us, have no connection to us; they are not one of us. As a nation, we reject
them. are foreign to
us, outside of us. Those who defend these flawed views, even if they
claim to belong to us, have no connection to us, they are not one of us. If
we want to survive as a nation, we must reject them.
, we must embrace our Muslim identity and our Turkishness.
If we wish to protect one another, we must love one another, refrain
from pursuing fabricated divisions that are utterly meaningless, and
not be swayed by the words of hypocrites. We must not become
pawns of evil forces at a time when we are calling for a holy war to
spiritually and materially elevate the Turkish nation and ensure its
continued existence as a free and independent entity in a world
surrounded by enemies. We must not be deceived by appearances. We
must not forget
that the descendants of Abdullah ibn Saba, who spread discord and
corruption in the Islamic world, are still alive today and are trying to
divide us.

science and technology

Furthermore, and ultimately, let us note that in motiner-de, in


symbols, in patterns that have lost their vitality and energy, there is no
miraculous power. Türlt — The shameful and agonising state of the
Islamic world is before us. The proud and tyrannical forces representing
the dominant civilisation of the age are ruling in the old magnificent
civilisations and keep
unfortunate countries in a state of humiliation.
NATIONAL RESISTANCE AND ECONOMIC POLICY

They are striving. These countries are endeavouring to establish a


superior system of life by embracing the superior principles of the
dominant civilisation, not by blindly clinging to outdated institutions
and dusty, outdated motifs, but by finding solutions and ways to
protect and perpetuate their children's homelands and their existence.
We must accept the guidance of reason, science and technology. We
want hearts to be enlightened and minds to be illuminated by science.
We will dispel the darkness of ignorance, delusion and doubt.
We are committed to establishing Turkish scientific life. We
must establish the absolute supremacy of reason and science in the
material realm. We will establish a Turkish academy. We will open a
new era of thought and action that will bring universal prestige and
opportunity to Turkish universities. We accept the world as a vast testing
ground and a great school. We will move away from being poor
imitators of the cultures and technologies of advanced nations. We
will rise to a level where we will be the guides in science and
technology. That represents the nation's hardship, deprivation, and
shame. The coming centuries will be like this. The wheel of time is
turning. It is turning forward. For the Turkish people, glory, honour,
prestige, and the future lie ahead. It is time to be reborn in accordance
with its essence and nature.

National culture and development

If the children of the same era within a society do not share the same
spirit, then there is no such thing as a nation there, or if there is, it is in
danger. This is where the importance of culture and art lies, in creating
this spirit of national unity, the same era
£9,2
BASIC PERSPECTIVES

compels the children of the same era to carry the same spirit. The
temperament and character of people millet bah=m=n-
Culture is the counterpart of nationhood. Culture is the character of a
nation. And in this respect, it is also national. Just as a person's
character is a manifestation of their entire inner being, so too is a
nation's culture the fruit, the result, of all its institutions.
The loss of identity means becoming vulgar, degenerate, and base.
Imitation turns both the individual and the nation into monkeys. It is
important to note the significant difference between culture and
civilisation. Civilisation, unlike culture, is not national; it knows no
national boundaries and is universal. I wish to emphasise the
importance of this point.
From the time these ideas of development and progress first
emerged until today, we have been caught up in a weekly rush to become
Westernised, and it is certain that we have imported political and
economic systems from the West just as we import cars. Such behaviour
is no different from looking at a sheep with a wolf's teeth or dressing a
patient in fancy clothes. What could be more dangerous than applying the
cure for one illness to another? For example, if the political or economic
system of England suits England and produces brilliant results there, this
cannot be proof that the same system will produce positive and productive
results in Turkey. On the contrary, a system that works very well there can
produce very poor results here. This is because the social conditions in
England are very different from those in Turkey. And again, English
culture bears no resemblance to Turkish culture. We say this for good
reason. Without considering the importance of culture for a nation,
succumbing to the disease of imitation and importing regimes and systems
from abroad

193
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MH iKTÍBAT SÍYA8ETI

If we do this, the result will be destruction. Sometimes, when I say


that the children of the same era have a ritualistic spirit, what I mean
is that a nation's political, economic and other institutions must be in
harmony with its national culture. I must express the same truth in
terms of civilisation and technology. Institutions imported from the
West seem to me as illogical as putting an aeroplane engine on a cart.
And this situation encourages a ready-made mentality and makes us
lazy. Again, for this reason, we lose our own creative power and
succumb to feelings of inferiority. It is an indisputable fact that we are
not civilised simply by imitating the West.
In the current situation, civilisation in Turkey is an imported
material civilisation, a civilisation of consumer goods, and is merely
superficial. Nations that are not themselves productive and creative
are doomed to decline. Moreover, and most painfully, the national
cultures of such nations are also invaded, melted away under the
influence of foreign cultures, and disappear. The backwardness in the
field of civilisation leads to the extinction of national [Link]
modern world is not won on bloody battlefields,
but in the cold war. This is also
The most effective way to counter this is to engage in cultural
invasion. I would like to emphasise that developing countries must be
particularly vigilant against cultural invasion. Our enemies now feel
no need to land at Çanakkale with armoured vehicles; they aim to
destroy our culture, to alienate us from our national identity and
spirit, that is, from our culture. Having clarified this point, I would
also like to highlight the following:
2. Turkey's development is, above all, a matter of national
culture and national awareness. The preservation, promotion, and even
creation of national culture is paramount.

194
BASIC PRINCIPLES

It would be a sacred duty for enlightened individuals and artists to


awaken the Turkish community from its slumber and remind it of its
true identity. I believe that the happiness of people living in Turkey can be
achieved through the creation of an indissoluble
spirit of unity, can be realised. For this,
The task falling to cultural creators is also significant. They will
harmonise the social orchestra by preserving national culture, and our
institutions will be compelled to carry the same spirit.
. To achieve this goal, the fine arts must be directed towards service and
national intellectual movements must be created. We must sing the
praises of our villages, our national ideal, through our novels, our poetry,
our theatre and our cinema.
, the Turkish Ideal. I believe that in order to be worthy of our ancestors,
who emphasised the importance of national culture by saying "we are like
ourselves," we must not be like others. I must abandon imitation. My love
for everyone who strives for this cause is immense.
is immense.
In order for our country to become self-sufficient, it is necessary to
minimise current expenditures and undertake extensive and large-scale
investments that will rapidly increase productivity in the agricultural and
industrial sectors. Furthermore, it is essential to utilise our labour force,
which is currently being wasted, and to mobilise the energy of the people.
We live in an age of great advances in science and technology.
Science and technology today are a source of real miracles for human
communities. Among the various branches of this

195
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

has been given a special plan and activity.

It is a difficult task to elevate an entire nation in terms of science


and culture in a short period of time. However, it is relatively easy to
establish a cadre of 5-6 thousand high-quality scholars in a short
period of time. Such a high-quality cadre can also lead our country to
great strides. It is necessary to embark on extensive scientific and
technical research and to pursue paths that will rapidly develop
Turkey under the leadership of science.
We would also like to emphasise that a growth rate of 7% and an
investment rate of 18% are insufficient for Turkey. It is not appropriate to
take Japan's 25% and China's 18% figures as a basis.
We consider it essential for our salvation that investments be directed
solely and exclusively towards areas that will increase production.
As the descendants of a generation that built great empires, ruled
continents and oceans, and brought civilisation and enlightenment
wherever it went, we cannot claim to have fulfilled our duties properly.
The Turkish individual, who is loyal to his state, the agent of
national wealth, and who approaches his patriotic duty with the
understanding of "either a veteran or a martyr," is not entirely confident.
To ensure Ges'
The sight of women and men queuing at the doors of foreign states
The scene presented by these children of the homeland, who have been
forced to enter the spirit of social solidarity, is not only heartbreaking but
also creates many obstacles in terms of the spirit of social solidarity. It is
painful to live in the shadow of those who ruled us in the past; therefore,
it is one of our fundamental duties to strive for industrialisation through
the bold steps we will take in our own homeland.

196
and overt unemployment, we must embark on a comprehensive campaign
of work and competition to create a prosperous and strong Turkey.
It is my sincere belief that the issues of roads, schools, education,
health and insurance have not been addressed in a systematic manner, and
that past political administrations have failed to focus on fundamental
issues due to their preoccupation with short-term gains.
No serious steps have been taken in the direction indicated by the
spirit of solidarity and in line with the interests of the state to counter
regionalism and separatism.
The discord between the Turkish people and the educated elite has
created a deep rift within our social fabric that is difficult to bridge. The
only way out of this situation and the crisis it has created is a serious
national education reform. . Seeing
that the current authorities are unable to take such fundamental measures
is at the forefront of my concerns.
In Turkish politics, it is truly regrettable that, after so many painful
events, seriousness and a sense of duty cannot be instilled. Irresponsibility
and lack of accountability have become rampant. We cannot claim to
have saved our national dignity in international relations. The geopolitical
and strategic situation of the land we inhabit requires us to be cautious.
The issue of trust is a painful one, left to future years in incompetent and
unqualified hands.
It is a separate wound that Turkey, an agricultural country, imports
wheat from America. Imports and exports must be re-examined in terms
of national interests. Economic state institutions and government
departments have not yet mastered the methods and means of serving the
nation and being productive.

197
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

Bureaucracy has cancerised the state apparatus. The intrusion of


daily politics into institutions has completely disrupted affairs and
undermined the spirit of service.

The meaning of development

There can be no peace in a country where the balance between


burden and benefit has not been established. In a society where the
majority of people sleep soundly, it is impossible to speak of social
justice.

People ask us what our economic views are. We have explained


this repeatedly, and we are explaining it again... Turkey has been
presented as an agricultural country up to now, and investments have
consistently been directed in this direction. No country in the world
can develop through agriculture alone. Those who argue that Turkey
can develop in this way are either traitors or, at the very least,
ignorant. In order to develop, Turkey must shift towards industry and
transfer those working in agriculture to this sector. Industry is not, as
some claim, about buying factories from this or that country and
operating them. Until now, industry has always been presented in this
way. Those who established the Nasilli and Kayseri textile factories
claimed to have brought industry to the country. This is the state of
industry. We advocate not the assembly of factories imported from
abroad, but the establishment of factories that manufacture factories.
The Turkish state must first become a self-sufficient state. Every
obstacle hindering our national industry must be removed. Manpower
must be shifted from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector.

198
3’EME6 OPINION R

Our plans will encourage investment. The idle capital in the


hands of the people will be directed towards large investments under the
leadership and guarantee of the state. The Turkish worker will be both a
partner and an employee of the factory where he works. These
investments will increase production, provide foreign exchange, and
create jobs. The era of burying millions in stone buildings must
now come to an end. The Turkish nation has no tolerance for waste and
dead investments.
The Turkish peasant buys at high prices and sells at low prices. We
consider it essential to establish production-sales-consumption
cooperatives to rescue him from this situation. Cooperatives are a means
that will bring many benefits to the Turkish nation. It is imperative that
the state take the lead and provide protection, giving this the importance it
deserves.
The right to property is a sacred right. Property is part of a
person. We accept this. However, those who possess property cannot
use it to the detriment of others. We do not accept this. Property
owners must follow the path shown by the state and consider the
interests of the nation.

Widespread industrialisation

The fact that industrialisation has been haphazard, random and


focused on the manufacture of consumer goods means that it cannot give
us what we expect from industrialisation. This is because entrepreneurs
are inevitably drawn to regions where transport facilities are readily
available, marketing is easy and demand is readily met. The foremost of
these regions is the Istanbul-Ismit corridor, and all factories are
concentrated in this area.

199
Of OF INDUSTRIALISATION AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC
POLICY

We must move away from making investments in large centres and


concentrating our industry in certain large centres. The attitude of
spreading out from large centres is harmful. Until now, all governments
have stubbornly maintained this wrong attitude. Industrialisation
across regions in a fair manner and directing it towards the major centres
that deserve it is a new principle adopted by the Nationalist Movement.
Dead investments must be eliminated. .
Due to the continuation of misguided policies, thousands of
citizens from all over Anatolia, who have been forced to seek work,
are flocking to the major industrial centres. In these cities, which have
grown by force, masses of people have formed who have been
uprooted, lost their customs and traditions, and been separated from
their families. This accumulation creates an environment ripe for all
kinds of evil.
Citizens are forced to choose between two evils: either uproot
themselves to find work, or resign themselves to poverty to avoid
uprooting. The nation will inevitably suffer some harm.
We must take measures to ensure that industry is established in
this region. We can outline these measures as follows.
a) To move from an agricultural structure to an industrial one,
villages should be merged into towns with a population of at least five
thousand.
b) Provide infrastructure investments (roads, water, electricity)
to these towns.
c) Spreading our new factory towns, such as Karabük and K=rMal=,
to our underdeveloped regions.

200
TI2MEN OPINIONS

d) Prioritise allocations for underdeveloped regions.


e) Additionally, provide tax reductions, customs exemptions,
credit increases, and interest rate reductions for such regions.
In this way, citizens' employment opportunities will be
fundamentally secured kop-
. If this neglect continues, there is no doubt that the crisis Turkey finds
itself in will continue to worsen. Every second that passes without these
measures being implemented is detrimental to the national identity. The
concentration of industry in one or two specific regions is forcing Turkish
villagers to move to these regions in search of work.
Thus, shanty towns spread as far as possible around large cities,
creating pockets of poverty. This situation causes social erosion.
As a matter of principle, initiating development from major centres
is one of the most grievous mistakes committed by almost all
governments.
Development should not be initiated from large centres and spread
outwards, but rather initiated from the periphery and directed towards the
large centres.
, mobilising all resources to tackle Anatolia and industrialise the
peasantry , the only way forward .

Industrialisation and Eastern Anatolia

Industry tends to concentrate in developed regions. This is a natural


and human condition. However, the continuation of this situation develops
one part of the country while neglecting the other part.

201
NATIONAL UNITY AND NATIONAL POLITICAL

is declining. The influx of population from rural areas to industrialised


regions is creating masses in these cities who are uprooted from their
roots , have lost their customs and traditions, and are separated from
their heritage. In this way, the growing cities that have emerged constitute
a fertile ground for social disasters.
Turkish citizens are unemployed in their own regions, and when
they find work, they are neglected and suffer great hardship. If a
workplace supports 6 workers, that is the law of this economy.
(9000) A city with a population of 55,000 has been established in the
village of Karabük. Striving for development at a rate of 7% means
accepting that it will take 250 years to reach the current level of America.
Such a
a slow pace is unbearable.
*The people must be involved in industry, and the entire nation's
strength must be focused on the development drive with great enthusiasm.
Capital, labour and knowledge can transform the country into a
prosperous land under the guidance of the state. Weak governments and
administrators lacking enthusiasm and faith are preoccupied with petty
calculations.
We must learn from our mistakes. The spirit of the Second National
Movement must emerge. An industry in which labour is also a stakeholder
can be established rapidly. Our children, who have fallen into poverty in
search of bread, are content with less in their own homeland. We must
show the effort that will bring this hope and opportunity.
We must not fall into the trap of seeking work in the countries
we conquered yesterday. It is a disgrace that the governments of the
past turned a blind eye to the erosion of our national dignity.
The eastern region, in particular, lives in poverty and hardship
despite the great opportunities afforded by its nature. The people of this
region should benefit from its opportunities.

202
TEMRL VIEWS

To achieve this, we must plunge our hands deep into the soil. We must
immediately establish a special fund for the development of the East. We
must ensure that private enterprise is encouraged to move to the East by
granting credit transfers, interest rate reductions and tax breaks. In this
way, a new class will emerge around the newly established factories.
ECONOMIC POLICY AND INDUSTRIALISATION

Economy and industrialisation play the most important role in the


development of the country. We believe that human labour is sacred and
that it is one of the fundamental elements of economic activity.
In order to make the most efficient use of the country's wealth, to
overcome the mass unemployment caused by the backwardness of the
social and economic structure, to enter an era of prosperity, and to live as
an independent nation, I consider it essential to rapidly implement the
industrial revolution and establish an advanced production system. Our
Turkey today bears all the signs of a backward and ailing structure.
The homeland, which carries the meaning of a political whole, is far
from expressing economic unity and integrity. The people are deprived of
the opportunities offered by the national economy. Modern nations are
societies organised according to modern production techniques. For
individuals and society, development means moving from deprivation,
helplessness and weakness to existence, power and prosperity. The
current structure of the Turkish nation cannot escape poverty, suffering,
and the tyranny of natural conditions unless the order of life and society
changes. We need hundreds of thousands of service and specialist
personnel from every profession, fa-
’I'BWEL GÕRÜS R

The community is unable to derive sufficient benefit from those who


are trained. Goods are produced, but there are no buyers; specialisation
is created, but it is not sustained. The deprivation, hardship and
dangers created by the economic structure and organisational
dysfunction, and the low national income, will continue to worsen year
after year, generation after generation, unless the current ratios, order
and structure change. This nation does not deserve this painful
situation. We cannot allow our homeland to be a country of starving
prisoners.
We cannot allow this to happen.
For this purpose, measures will be taken to bring about a
fundamental inktlâba
yiinelecektir:
a — To plan and organise for the benefit of the nation's material and
spiritual resources for
the benefit of the nation,
b — To modernise the national economy,
c — Developing and training to
develop and train economic and professional groups,
to provide employment, specialisation and income for
unemployed citizens, and to prepare them for new professions and
specialisations when necessary.
d — Ensuring the continuity of goods and services production;
ensuring continuity and security in production, distribution, and
consumption

e — Regulating employment cards in the workplace,


f — Ensuring that labour receives its due value,
g — Addressing entrepreneurial and knowledge gaps through
education and removing legal barriers,
g — Realising the vision of a "100 million-strong Turkey" by
ensuring Turkey's demographic strength,
h — To ensure the full implementation of the mixed economy
principles stipulated by the Constitution.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY

i — Providing private enterprise with the means to serve national


development and industrialisation plans
In our country, which is in the process of development, the strategy
for investments has not been clearly defined.
The scope of the state and the private sector must be clearly
defined, and opportunities for long-term projects in these sectors must be
created.
In order to master the main strategy of development, heavy industry
energy sources and railways must remain in state hands; light industry must
be transferred to the private sector .
These facilities, currently owned by the state, should be divided into
shares available to everyone and offered to the public, making citizens
property owners in their own country. The capital raised in this way can
form the basis for new investments
and the nation can move towards prudent saving rather than being
crushed under price hikes. However, state enterprise in light industry
should only play a pioneering role in underdeveloped regions; we must
break free from state capitalism. Today, the state has become a victim of
a policy of attributing everything to the state and turning citizens into
labourers, the result of a difficult-to-understand mentality.
The sad truth is that Y. Ynönü and his party, who drafted the 1924
and 1961 constitutions and personally established the state order
twice, are now among those who claim that the system they created is
flawed.
In Turkey, where 85% of industry is state-owned, accelerating the
pace of statism will lead to divisions between "the state as employer and
the people as labourers". The task at hand is to rid the state of its role as
hotelier, shoemaker, tailor, butcher, and tavern keeper, and to free the
productive sector of industry from the clutches of privileged friends
operating with a profit-seeking, opportunistic mentality.
200
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Inadequate economic policy

It cannot be said that the economic policy being pursued carries the
conditions and sacred spirit required for an economic independence and
liberation struggle. First and foremost, it is essential that statesmen
wholeheartedly believe in and commit to economic independence and
liberation, and that they have clear views on the sequence and order of the
necessary efforts. The success of Turkey's economic liberation struggle
lies in modernising agriculture on the one hand, while simultaneously
initiating an industrial revolution and establishing heavy industry in the
country. It is necessary to say with regret that, since the founding of the
Republic
to the present day, it must be said with regret that, instead of making
investments that would ensure agricultural and industrial production, state
revenues have been spent in arbitrary and fanciful ways.
For economic independence and the success of the war of liberation,
it is essential that the leaders, the people, the intellectuals, and the
development workers believe in each other and have an infinite sense of
trust.
The consequences follow. This means that 'Oh, the administrators must
live like the people and, together with the people, engage in significant
savings and frugality, accepting many hardships for a certain period of
time, day and night.
However, today partisan behaviour takes precedence over all other
considerations, and instead of activities that will quickly bring the country
up to speed in agriculture and industry, actions are being taken to satisfy
those with political influence. are
being carried out.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY

State investments made with state resources that are deemed


unprofitable and inefficient,
. If such projects do not give rise to any social or other significant
drawbacks, they should be liquidated. Beyond this, the preservation of
facilities and enterprises established by the state is the most appropriate
course of action.
.

In expressing our views, we note that we were among those who


established the State Planning Organisation for the first time in Turkey
.let Planlama Teki1ât= (State Planning Organisation) in Turkey and
whose signature appears under the first orders of the Planning
Organisation, I would like to point out a
.
It is as wrong to regard the planning organisation as an entity
that will implement everything after careful consideration as it is to
view this organisation merely as a consultative body. The head of
government is responsible for determining and presenting the plan's
objectives, strategy, and available resources, and is also tasked with
supporting the plan in its entirety during implementation. The primary
duty of the planning organisation is to determine priorities based on
scientific principles for the use of available resources and to apply
these priorities with discipline. At the same time, it is to conduct the
necessary scientific research and studies and to assist the head of
government in making the right decisions. To this end, it is necessary
for the Prime Minister to work in close cooperation with the planning
organisation from the very beginning of the determination of the
plan's objectives to the very end.
Applying planning only to the public sector and excluding the
private sector is not an approach appropriate to Turkey's circumstances.
208
Economic policy is fundamentally flawed.

Turkey's development into an industrialised country will be


possible through industrialisation. Although this is the common view
of the public, it would be impossible to claim that those governing
Turkey have adopted serious principles towards industrialisation and
are taking measures to put development on a fast track by overcoming
bottlenecks.
Indeed, although industrialisation is a mandatory policy, economic
decisions and behaviours have not been conditioned towards industry in all
income streams. The highest proportion of income is from industrial
revenues, followed by share and bond revenues; commercial profits from
goods production; thirdly, banking and deposit income; and fourthly,
income from all types of real estate. While it is necessary to anticipate
these and to channel income towards industrialisation, not only has this
important issue been overlooked, but public opinion has also been misled
and attention diverted elsewhere on these vital matters. However, for
countries seeking to industrialise, it is essential to curb speculative gains in
unproductive sectors and areas.
On the other hand, fiscal policy, particularly tax system measures,
emerged with the aim of resolving financial difficulties that arose from
time to time. Rather than being a fragmented and inconsistent system
designed solely to generate revenue for the treasury, it should be
— a system that regulates economic policy,
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

— Ensuring the flow of savings, profits and dividends to industry,

— Anticipating changes in credit and tax policies in line with the


development targets of the sector,

— Regulating income distribution in favour of industrialisation and


in accordance with the principles of social justice,

— It is essential that the profits of unproductive areas, especially


real estate income, be reduced to a level below the interest rate on time
deposits. In contrast, fiscal policy generally does not go beyond being a
means of financing hidden unemployment and unproductive current
expenditures.

The path to rapid development

Rapid development can be achieved by channelling income towards


industrialisation, the fundamental condition for which is to reduce
property income ratios to a lower level in favour of industrialisation and
deposit interest rates. For example, if the term deposit interest rate is 9%,
the real estate income should be no more than 9 . 7 %. In addition, it is
essential to envisage property transfer tax and annual building tax at
progressive rates for any excess over the required amount.

210
BASIC VIEWS

The greatest resource for development is real estate


income.

The fact that real estate income is more advantageous than term
deposits and share-certificate and bond income, and that it has a
stabilising effect on economic decisions and behaviour, means that this
issue is important for the rapid development of all developing
countries. To prove this point, it would be useful to refer to the
following mathematical explanation.
If a property purchased for 40,000 lira
9 Compared to the current interest rate, the capital market value
is 10,800 x 100
120,000.— and the annual profit ratio is
9
10,800
= 7» 27. In this case, the profit
40,000
will deviate from industrialisation; it will be directed towards bank deposits
deposit
ed in banks.
It will not be possible to determine.

An important method of comparison

The value of money is lost due to price increases; in contrast, the "
" values of real estate increase at least at the level of price increases; as a
result, real estate amortises itself in a short time with its annual income
and price increases, do-

211
K INM v ELLI ECONOMIC POLICY

it is a fact that savings are insured by being tied to real estate investments
so that they are not affected by inflationary trends.
The table below has been prepared taking into account the
realities of Turkey.
It aims to demonstrate which is more advantageous: investing 100,000
lira in savings (deposits) or in real estate.

NOTE: The term deposit interest rate is 9% 7, the real estate income is 100,000 lira.
- per 'cin axda 800 TL dan y=tda 9600 dolay=siyle ö» 9.6 income ratio,
period 10 years, average price increase % 8 olstin.
- 100,000 Deposit + 100,000 Real estate investment
.+ 70,000.— Interest income ( /» 7) - 96,000 10-year rental income
— 44,500.— 80% over ten years -!- 80,000.— Ten-year value increase below
Decline in purchasing power due to the price level.
price increases 10-year 6% property tax
— 14,000 Tax collected from Fais's will G.000.— 10% income tax
over ten years (9 20)

— 15,000.—

(maximum)
— 20,000 10-year building repair
cost (maximum)
25,000 10-year heating system
cost.

.+ 111,500 Value accumulation after ten + 210,000.— Situation ten years later
years

.+ O 1.15 Annual value and initial


value and income
increase
increase
MiMÎ KAWINMA AND MEn ECONOMIC POLICY

It has been assumed that during this ten-year period, real estate
income would remain fixed. Moreover, it is clear that the interest rate on
term deposits cannot be maintained at such a high level as 9% over a ten-
year period. It is therefore clear that real estate investment is at least S
times more advantageous than savings and industrial income, and that
industrialisation will remain stifled as long as it provides opportunities for
speculation. Given that this is generally the case, as long as real estate
retains its appeal over savings and industrialisation, the bottlenecks and
vicious circles of development cannot be overcome.

It is not difficult to resolve the housing issue.

If the real estate income ratio is reduced below the level of the
fixed-term interest rate and property taxes are increased at rates that
are not passed on to tenants, residential construction will suffer a
significant blow for profit [Link] is clear that residential
construction will be significantly impacted, and unless alternative
measures for housing production are envisaged, a large and dangerous
housing shortage will emerge.
However, to prevent such an outcome, the state must undertake at
least the annual urbanisation and housing construction required to meet
the demand in cities Social Housing by establishing the Social
Housing Institution and providing modern, affordable housing by
deducting housing contributions from the incomes of those covered by
social insurance, the Labour Pension Fund, and the Social Security
Institution.
r24
BASIC PRINCIPLES

It is imperative that citizens be guaranteed a home throughout their lives,


freeing them from the tragic struggle and hardship of leaving property to
their children. Itald= hi
With such a measure, cement, iron, construction materials, and timber
worth billions in national production would also be prevented from being
squandered on shanty towns and similar primitive housing constructions.
However, the Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing and the State
Planning Organisation favour ad hoc interventions rather than a humane
policy.

A great opportunity for rapid development or a proposal


for a new system

It is not difficult to see that workers or civil servants today spend 30-
50% (40%) of their wages on rent, 15% on taxes, and 8% on social security
contributions, meaning that they immediately lose 63% of their income and
live on a low percentage of 37%.
Those who ponder development issues will inevitably ask what
purpose these sums serve and in what direction they are being used.
40% of the income was squandered by property owners for
speculative purposes,
— 15% was used to finance unproductive current expenditure
and hidden unemployment,
— • 8% is not evaluated in terms of social security situations

215
and is generally used to fuel and reinforce inflation and
speculation,
will be determined.
However, if these amounts are evaluated in the direction of
industrialisation and a 6% annual productivity gain is achieved, there
will be no reason for Turkey not to join the ranks of countries
showing miraculous growth within a maximum of 15 years.
Yet, due to politicians who engage in daily political speculation and
blind the public's foresight, only minimal progress is being made in terms
of development. To put an end to this stagnant development, we consider
the following political principles to be essential.

7Catlnztmodzz price ist*/rror=zto importance/c condition

o In order for money to fulfil its role in the economy, it is


essential to protect savings against price movements and, consequently,
to ensure that the annual rate of price increase does not exceed the
interest rate on demand deposits.

7. Make savings and investment attractive

o Investment is necessary for development, and savings are


necessary for investment.
, it is necessary to encourage savings and real estate

216
TBMEL PERSPECTIVES

to prevent the diversion of savings to r e a l estate


to keep real estate income below the term deposit interest rate.
•' *=s =lmaz .olmaktadir. On the other hand, the property tax and
building tax are also applied at high rates • However, it is also
imperative that property taxes be passed on to tenants. is also a
necessity. bonds invested in industry
must also be ensured.
is also essential.

• Significant amendments to the Capital Markets Law and the


Workers' Mutual Aid Institution Law are also required. ••

It is also necessary to attract foreign capital in a positive


manner.
is also crucial.

o The objective of encouraging foreign capital to transition


from assembly to manufacturing and to produce vital components
through compelling incentives is to establish a corporate tax rate on
foreign capital ventures equivalent to the tax rate on imported
components.
corporate tax rate should be set in proportion to the imported parts.
On the other hand, parts should be scored according to their economic
importance, and the tax rate should be adjusted accordingly. *•°•sa*ar
When manufactured domestically, tax should be levied at a lower rate
based on the corresponding score value.

o Today, as the share of buildings and land in investment capital


continues to grow, dev-
J\/tÎLLI DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMY S1TASET1

Those who establish businesses abroad should cover the land and
construction costs themselves, but should be able to recover the
assistance provided through nominal rent or annual instalments.

The tax regime should be organised in such a way as to facilitate


industrialisation.
be regulated.

Today, in order to reduce dependence on foreign currency and


imports, it is essential to rapidly develop the production of 1abz'iüa and
the arc goods industry and to create an environment in which the national
currency can play its role in development. Moreover, establishing this
type of industry is more economical and cheaper than importing .
. However, the import of
.is increasingly undermining the welfare of the country and the nation, as
imports gain greater importance with each passing day. We do not
advocate the nationalisation of imports and exports to remedy this
situation,
However, participation in industrial investments that will prevent imports
by paying import duties should be a prerequisite. Furthermore, it should
be accepted that the limit on imports should be directly proportional to
this tax and participation amount. In this way, the current situation, which
is detrimental to the country, will be conditioned on the path to
development.

It should also be considered a primary solution to set aside a


portion of export revenues as compulsory savings and dedicate them
to the establishment of manufacturing industries.
BASIC VIEW R

Reform is also essential in banking

Instead of banking and central banking, which are proliferating like


mushrooms and generally finance speculation and non-productive
investments, it is essential to develop a system where emissions and
securities transactions are linked to production and to make the domestic
and foreign resources of banks more effective in terms of
industrialisation.
Banks should introduce a new deposit system called sexeki capital
Jtesobt to replace high-interest long-term bonds for depositors.
In this system, depositors are not paid a premium in addition to interest,
and such deposit income should also be exempt from income tax.
However, the state does not regard citizens' shares and bonds as tangible
assets and treats the money tied up in them as lost.
While officials in Western countries panic at the slightest price
increase, those governing Turkey remain unmoved. The main reason for
this is undoubtedly ignorance and lack of foresight. This issue has not yet
been taken seriously.
We believe that inflation can be prevented primarily by ensuring
that emissions and securities transactions are based on actual
production and exchange, meaning that banks and the Central Bank
should not accept securities that do not contain daily and ledger
entries. In addition, the condition of not paying tax when benefiting
from securities and discounts should also be envisaged.
219
Furthermore, the amount of tax paid should be taken into account as a
criterion in credit and discount limits.
Instead of considering measures that increase political investments
and employment and reduce hidden unemployment, and showing
sensitivity in these matters, they prefer to appease the public and bind their
foresight.
They do not consider it necessary to knock on the doors of the General
Directorate of Employment ( ) in order to find jobs for them in state offices
and enterprises, thereby deceiving the public. It is not important for them
that state enterprises become shelters (imaret-hane) for unnecessary
labour. Moreover, it is clear that this kind of policy, i.e. increasing
unnecessary employment when there is no need for it, will result in
encroaching on the livelihoods of those who are already struggling to
make ends meet.

Some obstacles to development

Becoming an industrialised and developed society is linked to


rapid industrialisation. Industry and a service-based society are
characteristics of a modern society. It is a fact that industrial
investment is more productive than agricultural investment and that
the increase in prosperity is directly proportional to industrialisation.
In order to rapidly develop Turkish society from a backward
agricultural society, it is imperative that all resources and
opportunities be directed towards industrial investment and that
employment growth be linked to industrial production.
However, the agricultural sector makes no contribution to
production.
TEMBL VIEWS

The unemployment rate, which is growing day by day and is the main
cause of inflation, and the unemployment insurance that affects high school
graduates,
, turning the public sector into a soup kitchen and reflecting the cost to
society through taxes ( ),
. This policy is severely undermined by today's employment policy.
This policy serves no purpose other than to reinforce the bureaucratic
feudalism of state entrepreneurship and to undermine the peace and
prosperity of the people.
On the other hand, the investment policy is not production-oriented
but consumption-oriented.
. For, apart from a few ostentatious investments, the rest are nothing more
than expenditures that bind the public's foresight.
Furthermore, the education system is also geared towards
consumption rather than production. Graduates, instead of becoming
elements of machine and goods production, are caught up in a terrible
mechanism that consumes society's resources as desk jockeys. From this,
we wish to assert that education policy is completely isolated from
development goals.

Some mice

Today's investment policy is consumerist rather than productive.


Apart from a few investments that go beyond mere showmanship, the
rest are nothing more than current expenditures that bind the
community's foresight. If analysed carefully, the consumerism that
prevails in society instead of productivity is actually nothing more than a
manifestation of the community's philosophy of a morsel and a cloak.
manifestation of the society's philosophy of "a morsel of food, a cloak."
221
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY

The people are poor, lacking modern facilities, and have surrendered
themselves to a life of contentment and resignation. To put it bluntly,
they are neither thriving nor dying. Due to frequent price hikes, the
morsels passing through the people's throats are being recklessly
violated. The duty of the government and the welfare state is not to kill
its citizens, but to keep them alive.
The basis of industrialisation is the manufacture of machinery by
machine. In this regard, special importance should be given to the
establishment of factories that will manufacture the machines needed to
produce machinery. Industrialisation is the reorganisation of all the
productive economic sectors of the country in accordance with the
requirements of modern science and technology. This is possible only if
the country's main economic, political and social resources are mobilised
by competent, capable and nationalist leaders, and if the people willingly
make the necessary sacrifices and concessions.
The state budget in Turkey is quite meagre. Nevertheless, the
capital necessary for the industrialisation of the country can be provided.
There is an opportunity for rapid development without imposing a new
burden on society. The opportunity for development lies in the severe
hardship endured by the people.
For this reason, in addition to attaching importance to price
stability, the aim should be to reduce all types of real estate income to a
level below bank deposit interest rates, with the goal of evaluating
resources and opportunities in the direction of industry.
The Capital Markets Law must be enacted as soon as possible in order to
ensure that large capital ( ) and public savings ( ) are directed
towards industry.
to industry.
BASIC VIEWS

Tax rates should be envisaged at varying rates according to


development and regional benefit.
Machinery factories should be established for each sector to add
value to investments.
Banks should introduce a new type of account called an industrial
capital deposit account, which pays a premium in addition to interest.
The state should bear the building and land costs of the industrial
.
The tax rate should also be reduced when foreign capital shifts
from assembly to manufacturing.
There is no possibility of escaping the current situation with our
current lax investment policy.
there is no possibility of escaping this predicament. Encouraging
investment and directing it towards beneficial areas requires the use of
state authority.
This authority;
1) Achieving quality production,
2) Absolute savings,
3) should be used to rectify investment policy.
A haphazard investment policy prevails in Turkey. Without
incentives, savers invest their savings in brick buildings. The key to
investment is to pay attention to priorities. It is essential to channel
investments into areas that will increase production. It is a grave
mistake to believe that gas factories are beneficial to the Turkish
economy.
Engaging in costly construction activities is detrimental. Instead
of spending millions of lira on parliament buildings and municipal
palaces, it is imperative to prioritise investments in establishing motor
factories and heavy industry that will increase production.
223
NATIONAL FOREIGN . TRADE POLICY

Urgent measures must be taken to reach a level where we can


compete with the global economy. Instead of importing luxury goods
from abroad, we should import semi-finished and finished goods that will
develop our industry, and we must pay the utmost attention to ensuring
that our relations with developed industrial countries do not undermine
our national economy. Efforts to drain money abroad must be stopped. In
our view, it is a betrayal of the homeland to allow the profits earned
through the labour and sweat of the Turkish people in Turkey to be
drained abroad and to tolerate this. We want imports and exports to be in
the hands of Turks, and we want those who have this opportunity to be
people who are truly loyal to their country and nation and who do not
harbour a longing for another foreign nation in their hearts.
Imports must be planned in line with our development objectives.
The fact that our exports are limited to a few items is also a cause for
concern. It is imperative that their numbers be increased in line with
the development plan. The
continuing deficit in the balance of payments for foreign trade should
compel us to take urgent measures. National production should be
standardised in domestic and foreign markets.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

and ensuring quality control. The shift from exporting raw materials and
agricultural products to processed materials and industrial goods must be
rapidly realised, and our trade relations with the Middle East, in
particular, must be rapidly developed in this direction.
Foreign capital comes to every country to make money. This
means I SO the conditions it has invested in, the security of its capital,
and the return on its capital in a short time. dmorti
to do and to be able to go out more ••• s kartabilmeñtir <s-a
nation does not help another nation for the sake of kindness. Every nation
maintains or severs its relations with another nation based on its own
interests.
It is necessary to view foreign capital through this lens and take
measures accordingly.
The first point to note is that the entry of political influence
along with foreign capital must be prevented. The capital to be
invested must be of a nature that will increase production. If these
conditions are fully met, it is not harmful to benefit from foreign
capital for a period of time.
Today, international mutual interests bring with them
opportunities for mutual assistance. Developing countries can benefit
from this assistance without compromising their freedom and
independence in the slightest. Turkey, of course, will and must follow
the same path to benefit. However, there are issues that require
particular attention to ensure that this does not become a heavy
burden inherited by future generations. These can be listed as follows:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT V ECONOMIC POLICY

1 — The interest rates, instalments, and repayment periods of debts


must be determined in a manner most suitable to the country's economic
conditions.
2 — Part of the loans obtained are provided in net foreign
currency, and Turkey can use this loan for imports from any country it
chooses and in any manner it wishes. Another type is provided in the
form of a letter of credit and is used only to finance imports from the
country that granted the credit, which is a type of in-kind credit.
Another type is project loans.
While utilising these loans in every form, Turkey must adhere to the
principles of the lowest price and superior quality. Otherwise, the loan
obtained will cost Turkey twice as much, and thus, we will not be able to
save ourselves from the foreign exchange market.

3 — The loans taken are used to cover the deficit, i.e. the negative
difference between the figures for the annual import programme and our
export revenues. Therefore, when preparing a programme for imports
made at the expense of loans, the country's needs must be determined in a
sound manner. For example, in 1965, imports amounted to $665 million.
Of this, $44.2 million
corresponding to 44.2% of this, and 291 million dollars, corresponding to
43.8%, was used to import raw materials. In other words, 88% of the
programme was allocated to imports of investment goods and raw
materials. For example, how was the need for the $291 million worth of
raw material imports determined?
Has it been done? Is this figure excessive or insufficient? Since 1958,
the quota has remained more or less the same at 16 per cent. We
believe that
OPINIONS.

import programmes are prepared without relying on a serious inventory of


the country's needs. The approximate needs of the country are calculated
based on the quantities allocated in the previous quota. If these needs can
be accurately determined and the quantities of raw materials and spare
parts imported into the Turkish economy are closely examined, it will be
seen that unnecessary stockpiling is taking place every year and
imports exceed actual needs.
If the principles listed above are not taken into consideration,
Turkey will not be able to save itself from the clutches of those who seek
to destroy it. In that case, future generations of Turks will
hold us responsible for implementing such a development plan. Faced
with these realities, the way forward for Turkey is to make investments
that will increase production, enabling the establishment of Turkey's
balance of payments as soon as possible, and to ensure that these facilities
are built and maintained. Turkey must rapidly increase investments that
will enable the raw materials it produces to be processed into finished and
semi-finished products for export to foreign countries. After these
fundamental measures, I would like to point out an important measure
that must be taken, as the measures mentioned above can only be realised
through this. The external debt, which has now reached an unsustainable
level, should at least be deferred for a more favourable period, given the
current situation. However, if such an opportunity exists and attention is
paid to the points I have mentioned in subsequent borrowings and
import calculations, it will be possible to relieve the Turkish economy
from the pressure of foreign debt instalments. Economy
. 227
We recommend and hope that the relevant countries will initiate efforts to
defer existing external debts to the long term and that the Consortium will
at least raise this issue for discussion now.
It is necessary to benefit from advanced countries. It is essential to
utilise foreign capital and foreign technology in establishing the facilities
that will enable rapid development and produce the necessary goods.
However, in such cases, the use of Turkish personnel should be
maximised, and conditions should be such as to cause the least possible
harm. The profit margin should not exceed 10% of the foreign exchange
value of the production provided by the established facility.
Economic development cannot be achieved solely through external aid
and manual labour. Above all, it is by establishing its own national objectives
and implement a plan to achieve these goals.
and apply them with scientific insight. Mutual exchanges of benefit
and cooperation between nations have been common throughout history.
Indeed, such cooperation has even occurred and continues to occur
between countries under regimes that are bitter enemies, even mortal foes.
The crucial point is that the statesmen of the recipient country must use
this aid appropriately and judiciously, and that such institutions must not
be allowed to undermine national independence and national identity.

228
Z'ZM£tI• GÖRÎî6

Foreign economic relations

1. — The measure in foreign economic relations is national interest.


2 Be debt-free towards foreign capital.
3 — Foreign capital can be used as a tool for realising national
ideals if it is in the hands of a national government capable of defending
national interests.
4 — Foreign relations are prone to producing results that are
detrimental to weaker units. In this respect, it is essential that relations be
organised in a manner that overcomes this tendency and with particular
care.
5 — We are not opposed to purely regional economic
organisations.
6 We consider it a national duty to clearly oppose the use of
regional economic organisations as a means of achieving economic
and political unity, as the only alternative that does not conflict with
national interests is not feasible in the short term.
Our entry into the Common Market will pose a serious
obstacle to our industrialisation. Factors such as the costs incurred and
the time it will take to gain experience mean that it is impossible for our
country, which is striving to industrialise, to compete with the
industrialised countries of the Common Market.
7 We are clearly and unequivocally opposed to the open
market, as it would allow foreigners to acquire land and resources
wherever and however much they want, thereby indirectly implementing
the Treaty of Sèvres, leading to cultural and social deformation, and
hindering the development of national industry.
MÎM.Î DEVELOPMENT AND MAI ECONOMIC POLICY

8 — xa=x=n>« We hope to benefit from the development and


expansion of the Regional Cooperation Agreement from national
decisions.

9 We believe that developing trade relations with Third World


countries, especially Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa, and
with China, will bring great benefits.
DEVELOPMENT OTHER ISSUES

Capital accumulation

Accidents and savings must be able to represent value in


industrialisation, and the acceleration of development investments
requires that the increase in investment costs be low, while the increase in
profits and savings be higher. Governments that fail t o grasp this
important point have n o t o n l y failed to act in the face of rapidly
rising prices, but have actually added fuel to the fire. They have added yet
another burden to the citizens and entrepreneurs.
Indeed, the savings made by entrepreneurs and the loans they have
secured with great difficulty cannot cover the rapid increase in investment
costs. As capital and savings owners cannot escape the inflationary pitfall
created by the state, they are investing their funds in unproductive sectors
and services. For this reason, instead of seeking solutions among citizens
and capital owners, it is imperative to hold those in power accountable
and demand answers from them.
There is nothing more tragic than those who do not understand
monetary and fiscal policy aspiring to govern . For those in power who
fail to grasp the destructive nature of inflation in economic and social
policy lack foresight.
2J1
} INy' DR AflLL ECONOMIC POLICY

and ignorance, have cut the branch they were sitting on by subjecting the
people to inflation psychology; that is, they have destroyed the citizens'
large savings
to the detriment of the citizens themselves. In contrast, it is evident
that the business and entrepreneurial community has yet to develop the
foresight to demand accountability for the capital and savings that have
been destroyed.
In the development of economically underdeveloped countries,
capital...
It is imperative to place special emphasis on the formation of capital. For
our country's development, this can be achieved by mobilising savings,
taxes and foreign aid, and by organising and utilising the labour of the
people through .
In Turkey, the costs incurred by banks are provided to
businesses, particularly in the trade sector such as imports and
exports, in the form of short-term, high-interest loans. This makes the
money provided expensive, and the borrower also incurs a burden.

There are too many banks in Turkey. Management is very costly.


Credit costs are high. Credit distribution is based on the patronage of
certain individuals. State banks are also modelled on commercial
banks, so there is a waste of resources in state banks too. These banks,
which are wasteful of resources, cannot find sufficient funds for their
purposes.
Foreign aid and speculative capital are also failing to contribute
to capital formation in Turkey. This aid is shifting towards increasing
consumption and facilitating the outflow of foreign exchange.
The magazine's policy is narrow and will cause hardship for
citizens. It runs counter to capital formation.
. To the extent that it is possible to provide the means of taxation, it is
necessary to avoid indirect taxes and move towards the direct taxation of
goods and income, and to increase taxes in proportion to the size of
income.
is necessary.

Our principle in commercial and economic matters is the


concept of a wealthy nation and a wealthy state. We must abandon
this and adopt a realistic approach. Efforts must be made to ensure
that imports and exports are organised in a manner that is absolutely
in line with the conditions and interests of the nation and the country,
and no opportunity should be given to individuals or institutions to
monopolise them. New markets should be sought, with particular
emphasis on Middle Eastern countries.
The capital markets law must be enacted without delay; banking
regulations that encourage speculation must be thoroughly reviewed.
The system and regulations should not be manipulated to benefit the
wealthy.

De:free trade

Turkey must embark on rapid development initiatives. In order to


achieve development, it is necessary to undertake continuous, productive,
income-generating and production-enhancing large-scale investments.
Investments, however, require substantial capital accumulation and
extensive financial resources. Since Turkey lacks significant capital
accumulation, we are compelled to seek alternative solutions for the
investments we require. Solutions
NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

One who comes to power must give priority to maritime affairs. Since the
upper part of the homeland is surrounded by seas, it is imperative that
the Turkish nation become a maritime power.
.
For many years, those who have governed Turkey
have failed to
understand the importance of maritime affairs and maritime trade and
have not taken the necessary action in this regard.
This attitude has been
one of the main reasons for the continued poverty and misery in my
country. Maritime affairs and maritime trade are our salvation. They
are a magical path to development. The backbone of maritime affairs
is the shipbuilding
industry. Great importance must be placed on this, and everything
necessary must be done to develop this industry.
It is widely accepted that trade has been the most significant factor
in the prosperity and economic development of nations. States are
relentlessly engaged in this endeavour.
. As for our country, which is surrounded by seas, only a small portion of
our imports and exports are transported by our own ships due to the
inadequacy of our fleet. Unfortunately, the proportion of imports and
exports carried by our own ships is at a regrettable level, given that 99.5%
of our country's imports and exports are transported by sea. The balance
of payments
Our balance of payments deficit covers a significant portion of our
foreign trade. The Greek merchant fleet, which was 7,840,826 gross
tonnes in 1966, increased by 100% to 15,440,392 gross tonnes in 1971.
has risen significantly. It ranks fifth in the world. In the five-year plan,
the necessary steps to be taken in terms of breadth and depth in the
shipbuilding industry sector have been listed, but these statements
IEMELGÖRS+LRR

have been carried over to the next plan period with the same rhetoric, and
unfortunately, no serious action has been taken to date.
Today, the Turkish shipping market is in foreign hands. This market
must be returned to our national shipowners. Currently, Turkey loses 6
million lira in foreign exchange every day to foreigners for the transport
of its own cargo. This amounts to a foreign exchange loss of over 2
billion lira this year.
Turkey cannot maintain its position in the international market
without strong shipyards. This can only be achieved by creating
conditions in line with global maritime trends under state protection.
Today, our national enterprises have fallen behind foreign maritime
enterprises because governments have not addressed maritime issues and
have failed to steer our maritime sector. Consequently, Turkey is unable
to develop its exports.
The most concrete example of this is clearly seen in the market war
between Australia, which sells agricultural products to Canada, and our
country. Indeed, even though we offer the same type of goods 15%
cheaper than Australia, due to transportation by foreign ships, our goods
are offered at a $10 higher price in the Canadian market because of high
freight costs.
Our public sector maritime enterprises are truly lacking in terms of
shipowning capacity. As a result of this deficiency, our investigation
revealed that these companies, which only operate on two foreign routes,
allow foreign-flagged ships carrying 1,156,000 tonnes of cargo to "carry"
them, while at the same time, our maritime industry d e n i s c i1i; i m i z i
at least

235
223,000 ira in foreign exchange.
.
Our vessels must be modernised to meet world standards as
quickly as possible. In addition, productive coordination must be
established between the country's land transport routes and its shipping
systems.
Maritime education should be addressed first. This education should
be of a quality that ensures personnel at all levels keep pace with advanced
technology in their respective fields.
Unless measures are taken to rapidly advance in maritime affairs, it
will not be possible for Turkey to have a strong economy. It would be
beneficial to draw the attention of our nation and all stakeholders to this
point.
In addition to governments and other official bodies, members of
the private sector and every Turkish citizen must also demonstrate
initiative to develop our maritime capabilities and rapidly transform
the Turkish nation into a maritime nation in the broadest sense.
The rise and development of our Turkey is dependent on the
evaluation of the possibilities of maritime affairs and our connection
to the seas.

The energy issue

Today, the energy crisis facing our country is actually one of the
natural and, at the same time, very dangerous consequences of the policy
pursued for years by those responsible for governing Turkey in
matters of consumption, economy and industrial development.
If this trend continues, Turkey will face a crisis not only in the
energy sector,

236
Despite having steel, machinery, vehicles and similar items, there is
still a shortage of many materials, and this will continue to be the
case.
The shameful droughts that have appeared in Ankara, Istanbul and
other cities, the pollution of nature,The drought and pollution, the lack of
animal protein in the diet, unemployment, and poverty are just a few
examples of the problems that the short-sighted, disorderly, and
unfounded policies mentioned above have gradually plunged our nation
into. These are
just a few examples.
This mindless policy, which considers imitating the outward
appearance of Western civilisation a virtue and presents this imitation to
the nation as if it were the fundamental solution to all societal problems,
bears the heavy responsibility of, above all, failing to possess a national
worldview. For every factory, power station, or similar facility
established in our country over the past quarter-century
has undoubtedly been created with the aid or assistance provided by a
foreign country. Those who present this as a triumph of their policies
have gone so far in their actions, which run counter to the flow of
Turkish history and the national sentiment and pride of the Turkish
people, that they have virtually brainwashed the public into believing
that nothing can be achieved in our country without foreign aid.
Thus, the Turkish nation's ability to determine its own destiny
has been stifled, and its national creative intellectual power has been
left to rust and decay on the sidelines. If, at a time when we are in dire
need, sü i• A-ll
at=r industrial organisation, this-
NJLL DEVELOPMENT WHAT IS M Î ECONOMIC POLICY

the reason for this the fundamental failures of


economic and industrial policies, which have been at the forefront, must
be sought in the absence of a national philosophy.
Today in Turkey, there is an energy crisis that everyone knows and
sees. This crisis will gradually diminish, perhaps even disappear. It is
clear that this situation will strike at the heart of the Turkish national
revival movement and hinder development. There is no sign on the
horizon that this crisis will be resolved from today to tomorrow. Because
a society that cannot manufacture its own machinery cannot reach the
level of industrialisation required by the 21st century through the help of
others. And for this reason, no event has yet occurred that would prove
the contrary.
According to experts, almost half of Turkey's daily electricity needs
are met by petroleum. Given that Turkey is not an oil-producing country,
this fact alone is cause for concern, disturbing enough to keep not only
the country's leaders but even ordinary citizens awake at night.
If, for any reason, we cannot import oil tomorrow
, the cities of this country will be plunged into darkness, factories will
shut down,and it is impossible to predict the consequences.
That being the case, it appears that preparations are underway to
construct additional oil power stations in Turkey, in addition to those
already in existence.
Turkey is experiencing an energy shortage. The same
shortage is also an issue for steel, machinery, and vehicles. Cities are
water-
BASIC VIEWS

is waterless. Drought is increasing. This is because, in order to make the


large investments needed to overcome all these bottlenecks, there is a
need for machinery, engines, iron, and many other basic investment
materials. The Turkish economy and industry have not yet reached a level
of maturity where they can grow on their own and without the need for
external
assistance. This is because, in practice, no policy aimed at achieving such
a level has ever been implemented. On the contrary, the recent
implementation of the personnel law has created the possibility of
outsourcing national engineering services in the public sector to foreign
firms.
Due to its highly sensitive nature, the dangerous situation that has
arisen in the energy sector today is causing the Turkish nation great
distress. Throughout history, this nation has established great states and
carried the pride and longing of being a great state as a historical legacy.
It continues to carry this legacy today. To keep such a nation, within the
community of nations, in a state of inertia, having lost its claim to
progress and greatness and being subjected to the shame of backwardness,
and to insist on this state and prevent it from participating in the race of
civilisation, brings with it a heavy historical responsibility. This is the real
reason behind the energy crisis we face in Turkey today.
NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY

Considering our population, the size of our land and our


capacity, it is low. Turkey's land is rich enough to comfortably support
100 million people. This is not an opinion or a claim, but a
scientifically proven fact.
Another situation is that neighbouring countries are encouraging
population growth and their growth rates are steadily increasing. What
are our Turkish governments doing about this? Our governments,
which cannot even feed
encourage population growth, and their growth rates are steadily
increasing. What are Turkish governments doing in response? Our
governments, which cannot feed our current population, seem to have
adopted the principle of "birth control".
According to this view, our population growth will be
controlled, and in this way, the income level per capita will increase or, if
it is low, it will not decrease. This is nothing more than the administrators
admitting and declaring their incompetence.
admitting and declaring their incompetence.
It is nothing. While all countries encourage population growth, we
consider Turkey's implementation of population control to be deliberate.
Who is helping with population control today? We are receiving
foreign aid for this. An aid organisation from an American state is sending
us incentive grants for this work. Is this because they love us so much?
BASIC PERSPECTIVES

Are there other motives behind this? Behind this lies the fear of
industrialised, self-sufficient Turkey.
. If these nations truly love us, they should provide this aid not to
restrict our population, but to strengthen our economic situation.
The birth control being implemented by the government in our
country is, in fact, a betrayal, an assassination attempt on the existence
of the Turkish nation, its future, and the future of the Turkish race.
The main goal of this policy, carried out under the guise of birth
control or population planning, is to render the Turkish nation
powerless and helpless.
Turkey's enemies, who do not want a Turkey with a population
of 100 million that Anatolia can comfortably feed and support, are
deceiving the government officials with the lie of "birth control". Turkey
is not India, China or Japan, nor is it America or Russia. T h e
l a r g e p o p u l a t i o n s of these nations are a problem both for
themselves and for the world. Turkey's situation does not create such a
problem. A hundred years ago, our nation had 13 million people,
which meant 1 person per square kilometre, and the greatest need
was population. Today, our primary need is still population. In Holland
and Belgium, there are 300 people per square kilometre. Based on this
ratio, Turkey's land could accommodate a t least 150 million people.
It is a very misguided policy to increase the national income by
increasing the population. The welfare of the people is achieved by
scientifically exploiting the country's underground and above-ground
resources and by making good use of human labour without wasting
it.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

The growth of the mi11eti type constitutes a major driving force for
economic development is a
major driving force. This has been the case in all developed countries.
Furthermore, it should be noted that birth control is contrary to both
Islam and national values, as well as being contrary to the principles of
the Turkish Republic.
For every Turkish citizen who undergoes birth control, doctors and
nurses are paid premiums from foreign sources. As with other movements
and behaviours originating abroad, we have determined that this initiative
constitutes an assassination and betrayal of the Turkish nation's national
existence and future.
Birth control is practised in neighbouring countries around
Turkey, in the Balkans, Israel and Iran. In this situation, the fact that
birth control, which aims to reduce Turkey's population, is being
persistently continued here is a bitter reality that must be given serious
consideration.
The population planning currently being implemented in our country
is the responsibility of our nation. In recent years, all nations that have
experienced industrial and economic development
have also experienced significant population growth. It is as if population
growth has spurred industrialisation and development in those countries.
Given this, it is not appropriate to attempt to prevent the growth of our
population.
Finally, let me remind you , that in Turkey
a population reduction policy has been pursued under the guise of "birth
control," threatening the health of thousands of Turkish women. For our
security and for our development, it is essential that our population
continues to grow steadily.
242
RURAL LIFE. RURAL REFORM
AGRICULTURAL CITIES
RURAL LIFE

The state of our villages and rural life

The foremost issue facing our country is the cause of rural life.
90% of our population is still engaged in agriculture and lives in
villages. While our villages bear a large burden of state services, they
receive very little attention and assistance.
Since the establishment of the state, the Turkish villager, who
has only been given patience, resignation and hardship, has been
reduced to a state of starvation
*'*left in a state like fish left on the bone. These hardworking
people, who sell their fields, cows and rugs to educate their children
and treat their young, struggle to save the seeds they sow in the soil
from the mouths of birds and beasts, from harmful insects, and from a
thousand other difficulties. But before the wheat fills the barn, the
fruit ripens on the tree, or the tobacco is harvested, loan sharks lie in
wait at the market, black marketeers at the field boundaries,
opportunists on the roads. After all these struggles, even the fields,
cows, and sheep in their hands are mortgaged to the banks. The villager
appears to be a landowner, a property owner, but in reality, he is not.
The sheep are his, but the milk belongs to someone else. He grows the
wheat, but his share is barley bread. Unfortunately, the services are on
the backs of these millions of people, while the benefits go to a
handful of people.
VILLAGER , VILLAGE REFORM, and AGRICULTURAL URBANISATION

It is in their hands. While Turkey's coastlines are being snapped up by


opportunists, even the bartender villagers on the coast can only watch the
sea from afar. The Turkish villager is pushed to the back when blessings
are shared, and is placed at the front when services are rendered.
Economic development and balance
can only be achieved if the management of property is based on sound
, scientific method, national interest, and the clouds of uncertainty must
also be addressed.
I wish to express a great concern before the Turkish nation and
warn those responsible:
In a country where the gap between poverty and wealth is wide,
the rich and the poor drift apart, leading to social and economic
It is impossible to prevent the destruction caused by storms that arise
when low and high pressure systems form. And it should not be
forgotten that the first step in combating mosquitoes is to drain the
swamps. In a country where unemployment and favouritism, robbery
and bribery go hand in hand, and where misery and despair are on the
rise, there can be no talk of a just system.

Wrong village policy

Today's village policy is being implemented from the centre


outwards. This is a view that makes village development impossible and
increases migration to cities. Village development should be carried out
from the periphery towards the centre. Investments in Anatolia will not
only provide cheap labour but also prevent the depopulation of villages.
The slums surrounding our big cities are caused by nothing other than
misguided rural policy.
246
TERM VIEWS

The villagers are unorganised

970% of our nation consists of villagers gelÎnek-


.tedir. Our villagers, however, are today the most disorganised and voiceless
group in our country. The narrow-minded groups that migrate t o large cities
exert influence and pressure on governments because they are organised in
various institutions. As a result, wages and salaries are increased. This
situation reduces and slows down investments that would increase the
country's production.
The main thing is to organise and develop the peasant masses. To
this end, it is necessary to give importance to the production economy
rather than the consumption economy. Our villages should be organised
into village groups and agricultural towns should be established.
Cooperatives should be adapted to the specific circumstances of our
country and our people, and our people should be organised into
production and processing unions. Our peasants should also be organised
in this way.
If this is achieved, it will be possible to resolve many of their problems.
can be addressed.
Organising our entire nation into production and consumption
cooperatives and establishing these institutions
, will greatly facilitate our development by making the necessary
investments for the industrialisation of our country.

Certain measures.

Agricultural policy should be designed to evaluate the opportunities


in agriculture and eliminate limiting factors.
P47
VILLAGE THREE, VILLAGE REFORM, AND AGRICULTURAL CITIES

The structural deficiencies in agriculture must be rectified, and


economically viable family farms must be established; these should be
regarded as fundamental elements in structural reform.
The yield of both plant and animal products in Turkey is extremely
low. For this reason, productivity in agriculture must be increased, and
fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, irrigation, good nutrition and artificial
insemination facilities that increase productivity must be provided to farmers
in a timely and efficient manner.
The production of our products should be planned with the aim of
improving the nutrition of our people, increasing exports, meeting the raw
material needs of our industry, and taking into account domestic and
foreign market conditions.
Our soils face an increasing threat of erosion year after year.
Overgrazing and disorder in our pastures are a cause for concern.
Increasing the number of animals instead of increasing the amount of land
per animal is not an example of progress. Our level of animal production
is also very low.
Within the team, state and private sector investments should be
increased to sufficient levels. Our country possesses extensive land
resources and has the potential to cultivate all kinds of crops.
and diverse climatic characteristics. Despite this, agricultural loans are
inadequate. The volume of agricultural credit should be increased and
integrated into a system. The Agricultural Bank's own resources should
be reinforced, and coordination should be ensured by linking it to the
Ministry of Agriculture.
to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Marketing services in our country are still primitive.

248
TEIVIIU GÖR SLER

. In order for farmers to be able to evaluate their goods, modern


marketing methods should be applied, and the education and training
of farmers should be addressed to the fullest extent. The large and
hidden population working in agriculture
Unemployment is a reality. While this issue is being addressed in
industry, the agricultural industry must be taken into consideration and the
transfer of population to the agricultural industry must be prioritised.
The situation of our forest villages is also heartbreaking. For this
reason, we consider the establishment of a forest products industry in
forest areas to be of vital importance.
Cooperatives should be developed, and farmers should be
encouraged to take an active role in them. By establishing a cooperative
in every village, we can create what we call Agricultural Towns.
and in the third five-year plan,
Cooperative unions should be established in these villages, and at least six
villages should be connected to each other.
Furthermore, usury and profiteering, which have engulfed our
country, must be prevented in a definitive manner. Our peasants and
producers are being crushed by usurers. Unless measures are taken to
eliminate them, the political and social peace of our country cannot be
secured. Our peasants must be freed from being slaves and victims of a
consumption economy based on luxury and waste. Rural towns must be
organised. Governments must address this issue promptly.

The activities of our banks, especially the Agricultural Bank,


towards the peasants are very limited and inadequate. Producers are being
crushed by usurers and are experiencing great hardship. Usury is rampant
throughout our country.

249
RURAL LIFE, RURAL REFORM AND AGRICULTURAL CITIES

and is a harmful activity for our nation in every sphere of society.


Freeing the people from the hands of usurers is one of our most urgent
tasks.

It is n e c e s s a r y to organise our villages, primarily the


villagers,
. It would be beneficial to organise our villages as agricultural towns
and in the form of production cooperatives.
Turkish villagers and producers are currently in a very difficult
situation. The base prices set by the government for the products they
produce are inadequate. All the basic necessities that villagers and
producers are forced to purchase are rapidly becoming more expensive
and continue to rise in price. In contrast, the base prices set by the
government are low, and it is not possible for producers to sell their
products at official prices. Neither the economic state organisation nor the
state organisation acting as a buyer

They do not have sufficient credit and facilities. They cannot


purchase all of the producer's goods. In this situation, the peasant is
left at the mercy of merchants and moneylenders. The merchant
purchases the producer's goods not at the official base price set by the
government, but at a lower price.
Agricultural product pricing policy is part of the general
government policy. The government's influence in grain remains
limited and, as in the case of grain purchases, it cannot establish
complete control. This is to the detriment of the producer. Playing
with prices alone
BASIC VIEWS

Goods are not sufficient to increase the production of agricultural


products. Price measures should reduce the cost per unit of the
product, and other measures should be taken in conjunction with this.
Until these measures are taken, it cannot be said that the farmer's
health, property and risk are secure.

Forest villages

Our villagers living in forest villages are facing great difficulties due
to the pressure of the existing forest law. A situation has arisen in which
forest villagers are forced into starvation or imprisonment by harsh laws
without providing them with new means of livelihood. The issues cannot
be resolved with dry prohibitions and violent laws.
The development of the Turkish nation, the protection of forests...
The efficient operation of the plant and the team largely depends on the
implementation of a scientific fuel policy. The Turkish nation must be
freed from using manure as fuel, and manure must be returned to the
fields. In addition to the rich lignite deposits in Merîleke-timis, there are
other possibilities for meeting fuel needs. A fuel office should be
established to swiftly address this issue.
The price of fuel gas should be reduced, and the burden of
collecting firewood and drying dung should be lifted from our women.
Gas stoves, which can be easily manufactured in state factories, should
be distributed to villagers at low prices. In this way, both forests
should be protected and comfort provided.

251
VILLAGE REFORM

Land reform o r village reform?

The realisation of our national unity depends on the improvement


of the rural community structure, which encompasses a large part of our
population. The rural community is the gateway to...
Its rectification requires the implementation of social, economic and
cultural measures. Rural development cannot be achieved through a
narrowly defined land reform. If we compare the current rural population
and its annual growth rate with the amount of land that can be distributed,
it becomes clear that land reform alone is nothing more than a misleading
measure. Therefore, the task at hand is to implement narrowly defined
land reform on the one hand, and rural reform on the other. Today, there
are around 60,000 villages in our country.
Twenty-five million people live in these villages. In order to enable
people living in villages to live humanely, it is essential to provide every
village with infrastructure and superstructure facilities, cultural and social
facilities such as schools and hospitals. However, it is not possible to
bring these facilities to 60,000 villages. In this situation, it is necessary to
unite the villages in terms of social, economic and cultural services. For
this purpose, the most suitable village is selected from among the villages
established in the region. This is called the "central village".

252
BASIC PRINCIPLES

All infrastructure facilities, socio-cultural services and institutions are


concentrated in this village. Thus, services are brought directly to the
village, and the villages have become urbanised, turning into towns. The
surrounding villages are connected to the central village from all
directions. As this village is an economic and cultural centre, t h e
facilities and b u s i n e s s e s h e r e will operate, and a certain
proportion of the civil servants, workers and employees will be recruited
primarily from the surrounding villages. This will provide employment
opportunities for the accumulated army of open and hidden
unemployment in the village, and the surplus population in the village
will be transferred to the industrial and service sectors.
In our view, just as other reforms are needed, there is also an urgent
need for land reform. However, it is impossible to consider land reform
separately from agricultural reform, industrial reform, the redistribution of
the population, and social and legal reforms.
"Agricultural reform" entails analysing the land, allocating each
plot to the most profitable agricultural use, utilising both surface and
groundwater for agriculture, taking measures to prevent erosion, the
establishment of organisations to ensure the use of agricultural tools
and equipment, the use of pesticides and fertilisers, the insurance of
agricultural products, the facilitation and economic optimisation of the
sales, transport and distribution system, and the prevention of usury.
With "land reform", we have made it our cause and claim to destroy
the estates of the landlords who own 8-10 or more villages
, and the improvement of the social conditions of peasants tied to the land.
On the other hand, we have made it our cause and claim to prevent usury,
which is caused by land divisions that lead to non-productive farming
through inheritance.
.
We envisage the adoption of legal and economic measures, as well as the
implementation of projects that will encompass the transfer of 25 per cent
or even more of the population to industry and other sectors.

Industrialisation and land reform

At the root of Turkey's problems lie the issues of education and


industrialisation. Unless these are resolved, it will not be possible to get
other matters on track. The issue of land reform is also related to these.
Agriculture and land reform must support industrialisation. The
state should not establish large enterprises but should encourage private
initiative and determine the smallest operational unit in each region in
order to operate the sparsely populated lands, which are becoming less
productive due to the population drawn to industry, efficiently and
rationally.
The point is, it's not just about is not just about how much money
my wife earns, but about keeping waste of tools, materials and labour to a
minimum and maximising how much yield can be
o b t a i n e d from the field.
Land reform before industrialisation will give rise to social,
economic and political crises. Yesterday's neglect is the cause of today's
anarchy. Today's recklessness may also disrupt tomorrow.

Land reform efforts

Land reform, to put it briefly, is the increase in agricultural


production and the provision of sufficient land for the landless or those
with insufficient land.
TEMBL VIEWS

It is the provision of land to peasants who do not own any. Our Turkey is
a country based on an agricultural economy. Countries based on an
agricultural economy are considered economically underdeveloped. In
such countries, a large proportion of the population lives in villages.
Indeed, today, nearly two-thirds of our population lives in our villages.
With the land reform envisaged by the government, it is impossible for
our rural population to achieve material prosperity and live humanely.
Today, the total area of Turkey is 776,000 square kilometres. This
equates to 776 million acres. If we divided this land among our 30 million
people, each person would receive 80 acres. The 776 million acres include
Lake Van and Mount Ararat, the Konya deserts, and the plots of land on
which I built my houses. Turkey's total arable land is 160 million acres. If
we divide this among our 30 million villagers, each person would get 8
acres of land. This means that even with the method they advocate, our
problem cannot be solved. Even if land reform is considered in the most
radical form of land redistribution, it would only be possible to distribute
the available land to 150,000 peasant families. However, the number of
peasant families who have no land or do not have enough land is around
3 million. For this reason, we say that land reform alone is not a
sufficient measure.
We are a party that advocates land reform. However, we advocate it
in a different way from other parties that support land reform.
Today, agriculture*• s = 2lüfllsumuz, general nüfusumuzun yüzde
yetmi ikisldir. A country, especially an industrialised country, cannot
achieve prosperity through agriculture.
8Sü
RURAL LIFE, RURAL REFORM AND AGRICULTURAL CITIES

is a reality, and it is ridiculous to insist that we are an agricultural


country. Turkey's underground and above-ground wealth and our
geopolitical position compel us to industrialise. The population must be
increased to start industrialisation.
A land and agricultural reform to be announced will achieve success.
. This idea must be accepted as fundamental. Once this is done, the issue
of land registration and cadastral surveys must be resolved, and the matter
of cooperatives or, as we call them, "f'ortm Retttîeri," must be settled by
establishing a system of cooperatives. We are in favour of an agricultural
and land reform that is intelligently implemented, does not constitute a
transition to collectivism, and positively impacts production and
productivity by assisting industrialisation.

Land consolidation

Land reform is not merely about land distribution. Land distribution


is only one element of land reform. The other two important elements of
land reform are consolidating small plots of land and preventing the
division of land. In our country, 87% of plots are less than 100 acres. *
.
Agricultural holdings smaller than 100 acres are far from being
economically viable. Therefore, the first reform to be implemented is the
consolidation of land divided into small parcels.
. Land consolidation should be mandatory .
. Today, compulsory land consolidation is carried out in democratic countries
such as Belgium. It is not possible to implement voluntary consolidation.
Furthermore, due to inheritance, the division of land ma-
” 2fi6
3'EMEL VIEWS

The provisions to be enacted are also important. In land distribution, the


upper limit for private property is a very important issue. Large enterprises
are more efficient in agricultural economics. Given the conditions in our
country, the private land to be distributed will be determined by taking into
account the population conditions of various regions, covering no more than
1,250 acres of irrigated land and 2,500 acres of dry land. Leaving smaller
plots of land to landowners would undermine the economic benefits expected
from land reform. On the other hand, priority should be given to the
Southeast and East regions in land reform. This is because in these regions,
Y00 villages are owned by individuals or families, which is contrary to the
democratic way of life of our nation and human dignity.

Co-operation

Co-operation is a complementary element of land reform.


Agricultural management requires technology, capital and marketing.
Small farmers cannot achieve this on their own. It can only be realised
through union and solidarity. This can only be achieved through
cooperatives, which are economic organisations. However, freedom is
fundamental in a democratic system. The guarantee of freedom is private
property.
The guarantee of freedom is private property. For this reason, peasants
joining a cooperative must retain private and individual ownership of
their land. Granting cooperative ownership rights leads to the emergence
of kolkhozes, as in the Soviet model.
A standard of living befitting human dignity
PEASANTRY, AGRICULTURAL REFORM AND AGRICULTURAL
COOPERATIVES

It will be achieved. With Agricultural Colours, while the villagers gain access
to water, electricity, roads, schools, hospitals, in short, the conditions necessary
for human life, on the other hand, will contribute to our economic
development through the savings it will make thanks to increased agricultural
production and the substantial income it will generate. The starting point for the
agricultural towns movement is the establishment of village industries. In
this way, agricultural towns pursue the goal of industrialising our
country and, consequently, our villagers. Rural industry will be financed
by the savings of the villagers and the assistance provided by the state. On
the one hand, agricultural towns will provide villagers and rural
communities with industrial facilities, and on the other hand, it will lead
to the implementation of productive land reform. In our view, land and
agricultural reform consists of four actions: preventing the division of
agricultural land, consolidating fragmented agricultural land and
holdings, expropriating private land above a certain size in exchange for
compensation and distributing it to landless or land-poor villagers, and
finally, establishing a system based on labour and property ownership.
property rights, and having no connection totheMarxist cooperatives in
the country, is entirely village-based.
It is a cooperative movement that reflects the will of the people.
Any land and
agricultural reform is doomed to fail.

Cadastral issues

It is necessary to exclude gardens and vineyardsfrom the


scope of land reform. Because gardens and vineyards require a large
investment, a great deal of labour

258
'BASIC PRINCIPLES

. The Draft Measures for Land Reform has presented a flawed picture by
including vineyards and gardens within the scope of land reform. However,
we note that the commission has correctly removed this article. If vineyards
and gardens are included in land reform, their owners will face significant
labour and investment costs.
, they will destroy it, they will turn this place into a wasteland. Only
2% of our cultivated land consists of vineyards and gardens, and these are
mostly small plots: half an acre, one acre, three acres, five acres, at most
50 acres.
100 is in force. On the other hand, we believe that the provision in the
draft law on land reform u rin, which prevents the acquisition of
property through ownership, does not correspond to the realities of our
country. The state cannot blame its citizens without performing its public
service duties. One of the most important services the state provides in
relation to land is the registration and cadastral survey of land. Because
this organisation has not been established as required in our country, only
30% of our land has undergone cadastral survey, while 70% has not. Only
about 40% of our land has genuine and valid title deeds. Therefore, if the
provisions of the Land Reform Ten Measures Law are implemented, the
ownership of 70% of the land, which has title deeds and is based on
possession, will be transferred to the state. Let us note here that
nationalisation is not a social reform, but a social revolution. In states
governed by the rule of law, revolutions are not carried out; reforms,
corrections and improvements are made. Moreover, in accordance with the
social aspect of land reform, the landless or smallholders...

”259
6ÖVCÜLÜK, IEÖV REE'ORMII and GARIP Tc11T3‘LERI

Since land will be allocated to them, whose ownership are the lands to be
nationalised without title deeds under? Let us immediately state that these
lands—
These lands are in the hands of our poor villagers. Because our villagers
have been left poor and uneducated, and because the state has failed to
provide the public services of land registration and cadastral surveying,
these lands will be taken from the villagers, and without compensation.
This will create social unrest rather than social peace in the country, and
will run counter to the fundamental meaning and spirit of land reform. On
the other hand, it should not be forgotten that the land whose title deeds
have been revoked belongs to large landowners who are being brought
within the scope of land reform. In this case, the provision in the law
stating that real estate ownership cannot be revoked will cause more harm
than good and will therefore increase internal unrest.

260
AGRICULTURAL TOWNS

One of the most important issues in establishing economic


democracy is the matter of villages and villagers. Today, two-thirds of our
population lives in villages. There are around 10,000 villages. As our
villagers are Turkish people, they must attain a standard of living that
befits human dignity. However, in most of our villages, even the most
basic services are lacking. It is impossible to find roads, water, electricity,
hospitals, schools, libraries, doctors, midwives, or teachers in every
village. This results in our villagers living in primitive conditions.
, in this country, his ‹ SeIl i1 , his b'l the government has no right_ We
must gather our villages around service centres and establish agricultural
towns.
We have been advocating this view for years, and although it has been
included in the Third Five-Year Plan, I do not believe that the current
political powers will be able to implement this project. These are policies of
appeasement and procrastination. Agricultural towns will change the social
and economic structure of our villagers. Factories, workshops, small
manufacturing plants, modern schools and hospitals will be established in
every agricultural town. As with , the savings of our villages can be utilised
in the establishment of agricultural towns. , ,

261
AGRICULTURAL REFORM, VILLAGE REFORM, AND AGRICULTURAL
RENT

will give priority to these institutions through incentives and credit


measures. It should not be forgotten that in the 16th century, when the
Ottoman Empire reached its highest political and economic level, the
number of villages ranged between 8 and 10 thousand. In developed
societies and countries, instead of small and fragmented villages, there are
large, developed villages. With agricultural rents, our villages will
become major economic, social and cultural centres:

Agricultural towns and development

Today, there are 40,000 villages and 62,000 settlements in Turkey.


In this case, if we calculate the minimum requirements for each village,
namely a school, a mosque, a midwife, a health officer, a doctor, two
teachers, an imam and a road network connecting the village, we arrive at
the following result:

40,000 Mosques,
40,000 schools,
40,000 fountains,
40,000 Imams,
40,000 midwives,
40,000 health workers,
80,000 teachers and a road network connecting 40,000 villages are
the minimum requirements.
If we divide the rural population of 20,000,000 among 40,000
villages, the average population of villages in Turkey is 500. The average
distance between villages is 5 km, and a minimum of 200,000 km of
roads is required.
ÂÎL. G*ÖR?, ZR

Without these conditions being met, the citizen's residence in the


village amounts to abandonment to nature. Meeting these conditions
would entail enormous expense.

Given that the distance between villages is 5 km, the border


junction between two villages is located 2.5 km from the village centre.
This distance means that it takes at least half an hour to reach the nearest
field.
This means that if we switch to mechanised agriculture today, a half-
hour journey by tractor will cover 10-12 km. In this case, the natural
consequence of mechanised agriculture is the consolidation of 8-12
villages. With the merging of villages, all needs will be reduced to one-
tenth, and the road network will be resolved with 80,000 km. Only the
savings made from the road network can enable the state to build these
new villages - agricultural towns. Today, 99% of our village houses are
symbols of poverty, consisting of four walls and a roof, lacking in health
and safety.

Agricultural towns with a population of 5,000 will ensure the


establishment of handicrafts and newly established industries in these
areas, preventing the formation of shanty towns and ensuring the birth
of a prosperous Turkey with running water, mobile butane gas and
electricity in every home.
A settlement will be established around a square, with a glass
factory, school, dispensary, agricultural machinery cooperative,
administrative buildings, orderly streets and a market; the distinction
between village and city will disappear, and three-quarters of the
agricultural population will shift to industry and services, achieving
the goal of a strong nation and a prosperous homeland. Mobile filming
crews will visit every village* every week. Agricultural needs
VILLAGERS, VILLAGE REFORM, AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

Tools and equipment will be rented interest-free at harvest time, and all
types of fertiliser and seeds will be provided under the same terms.
By the time this stage is reached , an average of 4 million people in
Turkey will be engaged in agriculture, and farms consisting of family
businesses of 250 acres will be established.
All these principles will be implemented over time, taking into
account geographical and economic conditions. In reaching this stage,
consent and preference for the good will be the guiding principles.
As Turkey undergoes the restructuring described above, the housing of
civil servants and teachers will be resolved automatically.

264
FOREIGN POLICY
NATIONALISM THE AGE OF NATIONALISM AND
FOREIGN POLICY

The era of nationalism in which we live continues. Relations


between nations and states on the world stage are governed solely and
exclusively by national interests. Organised in the form of states,
societies...
They live as nations and maintain their contacts with each other as
separate nations. It has never been seen that any society has emerged
under the name of the people or peoples of a particular country.
. Instead, nations are governed by a mentality that prioritises the interests of
privileged groups within their own borders, rather than one that anticipates the
welfare, advancement, and development of the masses.
, they are governed by a mentality that prioritises the welfare,
advancement and development of the masses.
In the latter half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th
century, the view that the proletariat would dominate the world, that the
meaning of nation and nationalism would be replaced by the proletariat, and
that internationalism would prevail,
It has been claimed by some that a humanist system will be established.
Despite these views, events have unfolded differently. In no country has
any similar system outside the proletarian system been eliminated and
abolished, nor has a separate system emerged in the view of rñilliyetsii›
.
FOREIGN POLICY OF

Despite having c o m m u n i s t regimes, many communist


countries have become bloody, bitter enemies of each other due to the sale
of national interests. The hostility caused by the sale of national interests,
which first appeared between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, later
spread to Albania and the Soviet Union, and Hungary and the Soviet
Union.
It also occurred between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union.
Yugoslavia, which had the close support of the West, was able to escape
Soviet aggression, and Albania was also able to defend itself due to the
opportunities afforded by its geographical position. However, Hungary
was violently overrun by Russian tanks, and Czechoslovakia was later
invaded by force.
At this time, relations between the two major communist blocs,
the Soviet Union and China, deteriorated due to the pursuit of national
interests, leading to bloody border clashes between the two sides, and
tensions between them continue to this day.
In contrast, the United States, a capitalist country, Western
European states, and Japan, also a capitalist country, have pursued very
close relations and agreements with both communist China and the Soviet
Union. It seems highly probable that a major war will break out between
Communist China and Communist Russia in the next 15 years. The
parties have already embarked on a major political, military and economic
struggle for this.
Given the circumstances summarised above, it is clear that we are
living in an era of nationalism.
268
WHAT IS FOREIGN POLICY?

Introduction

It is a well-known fact that nations cannot exist alone in the world.


They live in relation tothe world communitycreated by many other nations.
In this respect, foreign relations are a science that is extremely importantfor
the life, development, survival and protection of a state and a nation,
andone that must not beoverlooked.
relations are extremely important for the life, development, survival, and
protection of a state or a nation, and it is a science that must not be
overlooked.
Upon entering our subject, we will sadly observe that foreign
policy is often taken lightly by those who govern our country. Foreign
policy is not a matter that anyone can simply take up, conduct, and
handle. It requires special knowledge, science, diligence, training and
experience. Furthermore, it can only be successfully conducted by
individuals who are capable, knowledgeable and of sound character,
who are familiar with the characteristics of the country they serve, who
are imbued with its national spirit, who have a good understanding of its
national history, and who have properly identified its national
objectives.

What is foreign policy?

Foreign policy means the relations of a nation with foreigners to


the maximum extent of national interests.
FOREIGN POLICY

.
There are various ways to describe this. There are also many other
definitions. It would be useful to mention one of the most famous ones.
They say that politics is "the art of using the opportunities and conditions
available in the best possible way." The politics of a state must comply
with the geopolitical situation of that country, that is, with certain
conditions imposed by its geography. 0 It must be shaped according to
the national ideal of the nation.
It takes shape and direction according to its national history, its own
social situation, and the philosophy of life of that nation. Its philosophy of
life, its view of life, its political views, and its views on the regime are all
part of this. Politics is determined according to the national goals that a
nation wants to achieve and maintain.

What is the foremost national objective?

First and foremost among national objectives is the preservation of


that nation's independence and territorial integrity. Therefore, the primary
task of foreign policy is to anticipate and identify all kinds of threats in
advance and prevent them, ensuring the independence and territorial
integrity of t h a t nation and t h a t country. After that, it is necessary to
arrange and organise the activities required to secure greater political,
military, and economic interests.
Civilisations and great movements arise from people's constant
desire and will to achieve more. Civilisations and great movements arise
from people's constant desire to find what is better, to obtain what is more
beautiful, to achieve more,
BASIC PRINCIPLES

The desire and will to find something better, something greater, to possess
it, arises from within humanity. If this feeling, which exists within
humanity, were to be removed, people would remain where they are, and
civilisations would be buried. After that, the birth of new civilisations
would not be possible. Political activities are the same. Nations and states
always act with the desire, will, and feeling to achieve greater prosperity,
gain more wealth, become more powerful, gain more influence, grow
more, and expand. If we examine the events that have occurred
throughout history and the lives of various nations, we see that this is the
case. When a society loses this feeling and perspective, it gradually fades
and collapses in terms of civilisation. In political life, it also suffers the
same fate, weakens and collapses. This means that foreign policy
After the first objective, the next consideration will be to ensure that his
own nation and country always enjoy greater political, military and
economic advantages, and to maintain this.
Throughout history, many empires and states have been established
and fought each other for this reason. Since the beginning of the twentieth
century, imperialism has suffered major blows. The awakening of nations
and peoples has led to the struggle against exploitation, and imperialist
empires have collapsed in places. However, under the influence of events,
imperialism and colonialism have changed form. The current form is the
spread of culture and friendship .
It is a form of infiltration. In many places, foreign states establish
hospitals, schools, and other institutions, creating many situations where
they perform charitable work. The straw we examined is our own.
FOREIGN POLICY

We see that his homeland also needs m a n y more hospitals and


schools. So why is so much affection shown towards us? In today's world,
economically developed countries use a new method to gain benefits from
other countries: spreading culture and gaining access through friendship.
If nations do not take precautions against this, they will naturally suffer
great loss and damage. If they are vigilant, measures will be taken against
them. It is like a race, a struggle. Whoever is more honourable, more
energetic, more alert, more cautious, and fights, protects their rights and
does not let them be trampled upon. And they secure the interests of their
own nation, their own country.

Two styles of politics

A state's policy is conducted in two distinct activities according to


national interests. One of these is the main policy. The other is daily politics.
The main policy is a long-term plan that sets out the state's real objectives. It
is long-term. It is not short-term, two-week, three-month, six-month or five-
year; it is long-term, at least 50 years, 100 years, 200 years... States that
pursue a policy like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, without
considering tomorrow, suddenly face surprises and lose a great deal.
Therefore, the main policy is a long-term plan that outlines national
objectives. It cannot be compromised. The main policy must be kept
confidential, not disclosed, and implemented for generations to come.

272
‘BASIC PERSPECTIVE’

Daily policy, on the other hand, is the implementation of the core


policy.
• These are activities carried out in a planned manner according to the
prevailing conditions. The daily political necessity may require a
period that is different from or contrary to the main policy.
We can give an example from the Balkan War. We know that the
Balkan states entered the Balkan War of 1912-1913 as an alliance.
Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria formed an alliance against
the Ottoman Empire. However, in terms of their main policies, they
had many demands and certain interests against each other. But
against the Ottoman Empire, they set aside their main policies
according to the circumstances of the day and united. After defeating
the Ottoman Empire, they then went to war with each other. In other
words, until they declared war on the Ottoman Empire and achieved
their goal, they postponed their main policies against each other. After
that, they went to war with each other. As is well known, they took
some territories from Bulgaria.

Foreign policy and domestic policy

Foreign policy and domestic policy are closely intertwined. If a


state is not united, devoted to each other, loyal, conscious, and peaceful,
its foreign policy will be worthless. No matter how stable, peaceful,
and secure a state is, if it is not united, devoted to each other, loyal,
hand in hand, with the same ideals and national goals behind it,
if they are united, the foreign policy of that state will also be

F.: 18
FOREIGN POLICY

to that extent, it will be robust and successful. Foreign policy and


domestic policy mutually reinforce each other and influence one
another.

Politics and its relationship with strategy

The renowned German general Klawzeich—whose works have


entered the classics of world political and military literature—has a work
titled "On War."
He has another work entitled "The Principles of War," which is
studied as a classic in all countries around the world, both in schools
teaching political science and in military academies. War is "the
continuation of politics by other means." In other words, the essence is
politics; it is the national goal. Seeing no possibility of achieving this goal
through peaceful means, they resort to force. Peace, on the other hand,
consists of various relations and a c t i v i t i e s pursued without resorting
to armed conflict. strategy and the command and control of the army
must be under the command of politics. Although this is the case,
strategic necessities must not be ignored in the conduct of politics. I can
give an example from history: remember the famous military campaign
launched by the Germans against France in 1940; Hitler stopped the
German armies, which had surrounded the British, 30 km from Antwerp.
The reason for this halt was a psycho-political consideration. He was
fixated on the idea that "if we destroy the British army here, British pride
will be wounded and the British will be inclined to make peace with us."
However, the strategy of " " never stopped.
BASIC VIEWS

to continue to the end and order the destruction of the British forces there by
throwing them into the sea. All the Romanians, all the generals insist on this.
But Hitler says "no". Of course, according to the results reached after
the war, this was determined to be a big mistake. Therefore, the men
who will carry these out
well-trained men well-trained, who can calculate these matters very
well. —
and measured them very well. Because they all have a mutual influence
on each other.
FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR
ONWAR
DS

The political changes in the world are closely related to


developments in science and technology. At the end of the Second
World War, the United States possessed the atomic bomb, developed
by harnessing the power of splitting the atomic nucleus. The
Communist bloc, however, held the upper hand in terms of
conventional military strength. Yet, in the face of the atomic bomb's
mass destruction capability, the Communist bloc could not utilise this
superiority. Thus, two superpowers emerged on Earth: the Soviet
Union and the United States. One possessed a very powerful,
technologically superior weapon, while the other had superior
conventional forces in terms of numbers and quality. Faced with this
situation, other states eventually clustered around these two great
superpowers. T h e countries that the Soviets had effectively occupied
at the end of the Second World War were forced to accept the regime
imposed on them and submit to their hegemony. Western European
democracies, wishing to protect their freedom and independence,
considered it in their national interest to rally around the United States
in the face of the communist threat. Thus, the world was divided into
two major blocs.
27.ö
BASIC VIEWS

. Apart from these, there were fourth and fifth-class states that claimed to
be neutral, but in reality, these countries were always within the sphere of
influence of the West.
The Second World War brought humanity face to face with two
great dangers. One of these is the danger posed by weapons of mass
destruction, known as "atomic and nuclear weapons". As is well known,
these weapons have three types of lethal and destructive effects. One is
the effect of pressure and impact, another is the effect of heat and
incineration, and the third is the lethal effect caused by radiation. The
effects of these weapons spread over areas hundreds, even thousands of
kilometres long and wide. Thus, it would be possible to wipe out millions
of people in a short time by dropping one or more bombs on an urban
area. If countries possessing these weapons were to attempt to use them in
a war, it could lead to the destruction of all humanity and civilisation on
Earth.

Population and foreign policy

Another danger is the ever-increasing rate of global population


growth. According to long-standing research and statistics, the
amount of food available on Earth is increasing arithmetically, yet the
human population is growing geometrically ( ).
277
metric series). If this trend continues and
*no measures are taken, in the coming centuries there will not be
enough food on Earth to feed the population, and as a result, terrible,
painful events will occur among humans. It is said that "to prevent
this danger, birth control must be implemented now to reduce the rate
of reproduction." The countries with the highest birth rates are India,
South America and African countries. There are also other countries
that will follow suit. Birth control is not harmful.

Blockades

The Western democracies gathered around the United States formed


an alliance known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or NATO
for short. From the end of the Second World War until the Russians began
manufacturing atomic bombs, a strategy of "sword and shield" prevailed
between the two blocs. Accordingly, if the communist bloc, relying on its
numerical superiority, launched an attack with conventional forces,
NATO's conventional forces, which were fewer in number but balanced,
would counter it, defend themselves, and buy time. Meanwhile, the US
would attack Russia with its atomic weapons, inflicting massive
destruction and securing victory. This "Sword-Shield" strategy generally
ensured peace. After the Soviets acquired the atomic bomb, the United
States maintained its superiority in certain areas, but its own territory
remained vulnerable to nuclear attack.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

faced the danger of destruction. Thus, a balance of terror emerged


between the two sides. This balance of terror ensured the continuation
of general peace on earth. However, both sides did not delay in
finding new methods to secure their national interests. Without risking
a general nuclear war that would endanger themselves, they continued
to pursue their policies by waging r e g i o n a l wars or underground
wars, or by organising ideological political movements, rebellions,
and uprisings. The Korean War, the Vietnam War, the underground
movements in Burma, the Israeli-Arab wars, the rebellions and
uprisings in Africa, and the wars in other countries followed one
another and did not stop for a moment. A relentless and relentless
propaganda campaign was waged. In countries that were to be
subjugated and forced to submit, the people were skilfully incited to
divide and conquer. These provocations were carried out on the basis
of religion, sect, race and regionalism. For example, the provocations
carried out between Croats and Macedonians in Yugoslavia are
particularly noteworthy. Furthermore, the sectarian conflicts in Ireland
and the regional conflicts in Spain demonstrate the extent to which
these underground (subversive) movements have been taken.
Meanwhile, the provocations carried out among the Bengali people in
Pakistan, an important member of the CENTO and NATO alliances,
led to the Indo-Pakistani War and the partition of Pakistan.

Initially, Anglo-Saxon countries, namely America and England,


possessed atomic and nuclear weapons, which Russia later also
manufactured and acquired.
In response to this situation, France, one of NATO's important allies, also
began to demand that atomic and nuclear weapons be given to it.
However, these demands were not accepted by the Anglo-Saxon states. In
response, former French President General De Gaulle argued that it was
meaningless to conceal and withhold information about the atomic bomb
and weapons possessed by the communist bloc, which was causing
tension within NATO, from NATO members.
stating that "France must definitely join the Atomic Club," he embarked
on the production of French national atomic weapons. On the other hand,
he chose a more flexible and independent policy path by shirking
NATO's military obligations. In a short time, the French State also
acquired atomic weapons and aircraft capable of carrying atomic
missiles. Thus,
The weapons, which were previously monopolised by the United States,
became the monopoly of four countries: . Shortly afterwards,
Communist China began conducting atomic bomb tests and became the
fifth country in the world to possess atomic weapons. In addition to these,
countries such as Japan, India, Germany and Israel, which have not yet
been confirmed to have developed atomic weapons but possess the
scientific, technical and economic capabilities to do so at any time, are
being noted with interest by political observers.
, such as Japan, India, Germany, and Israel, are being closely monitored
by political observers.

Economic Unions
At the end of the Second World War, the world was in a state of
extreme exhaustion and impoverished, .
,
BASIC PRINCIPLES

They managed to recover quickly and formed an economic union


comprising France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and the
Netherlands. This economic union, known as the "Common Market,"
also served as a precursor to the political idea of a "United States of
Europe." Thanks to their scientific and technical efforts and the
reorganisation of their industries, the countries of Western Europe
gradually freed themselves from the dominance of the United States
and became a major force in their own right. Meanwhile, Japan has also
made a major leap forward in scientific, technical and industrial terms,
emerging as a major economic and political power capable of
competing with Western Europe and the United States. Thus, in the
present dayera, a third superpower has emerged on the world's political
stage alongside the two old superpowers. Consequently, the world has
entered a period of politics shaped by the political and economic
relations of five superpowers: the United States, the Soviet Union,
Western Europe, China, and Japan.

International politics today is undergoing major changes. The


global balance of power is shifting, and new superpowers are
emerging. In the past, the global balance of power was based on the
equilibrium between the United States and the Soviet Union. Today,
alongside these two superpowers, three new superpowers have
emerged: the European Union, Japan, and Communist China. The
global balance of power is being re-established according to the
relationships between these five superpowers. Among these
superpowers, the situation of the Turkish State m u s t be re-evaluated.
FOREIGN POLICY

and make the choice that best suits our national interests. Europe is
rapidly moving towards the ideal of a United Europe. To this end, the
developed countries of Europe, known as the "Dozens", have established
a Common Market among themselves.

282
TURKEY AND THE NATO ALLIANCE

Its establishment and mission

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), established after


the Second World War, is one of the great alliances lost to history. This
agreement was initially signed by ten European and two American states.
It was formed for defensive purposes, under the leadership of the
United States, to bring together Western democracies against Stalin's
aggressive and expansionist activities, which aimed to bring the
devastated and ruined Western Europe into the communist fold and to
extend his influence to Africa by taking control of the Middle East.
The possibility that the Berlin blockade might lead to a new
world war emerged, and the NATO alliance, formed at a time when
communist propaganda and underground activities were rapidly
advancing in Western Europe and the Middle East, which were not
under Soviet occupation, provided significant support to free nations.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was established for the
purpose of legitimate defence against attacks from the communist
bloc, and this characteristic is clearly stated and explained in the
written provisions of the agreement.
Throughout history, various states have formed alliances against
common enemies. Milletler-

283
The fundamental principle in relations between states is the exchange of
national interests.
In the face of powerful enemy threats, it is a natural and normal
course of action for every state to combine its resources and capabilities
with other states in order to establish a balance of power and protect its
own existence.
In our country, communists portray Turkey's decision to join
NATO, rather than relying solely on its own resources, as a grave mistake
and argue that our state should remain outside all kinds of alliances.
However, communist countries, primarily Soviet Russia ( ),
have entered into political and military alliances.

Advantages and disadvantages

Wars mostly arise from the desire to attack created by the imbalance
of power between states. It is unreasonable to expect states with a balance
of power between them, which have no chance of winning if they attack,
to go to war. The countries of Western Europe, crushed under the impact
of the heavy destruction and losses of the Second World War, were in a
state of social, economic and political weakness, which spurred the Soviet
Bloc's desire for attack and conquest. The misery and hardship caused by
the Second World War spurred the Soviet Bloc's desire for attack and
conquest.
, which was under the heavy impact of the devastation and losses of the
Second World War, was whipping up the Soviet Bloc's desire for attack
and conquest. The misery and hardship caused by the Second World War
provided ample opportunity for communist agitation and propaganda in
Western European countries.
propaganda. It was against this

284
BASIC PERSPECTIVE

By combining their forces and resources within NATO, the twelve


Western powers created a balance of power against the offensive
forces of the communist bloc. This made it possible to preserve peace.
Faced with attacks and determined to defend themselves, Stalin and
Khrushchev were forced to take cautious steps when they saw that an
alliance had been formed.
Furthermore, the nations of Western Europe, exhausted and
weary from the Second World War, were saved from despair and
hopelessness by the NATO alliance and gained a sense of security,
realising they were not alone. This enabled member nations to work
swiftly and embark on their path to development.
The main issue in all alliances is the harmonisation of the mutual
interests of member states and the establishment of sincere cooperation
through good coordination. Powerful states within alliances always try to
pull their weaker allies in the direction they desire. It is very important for
member states in alliances to trust each other and to maintain this trust. In
order to achieve this, responsibilities in the management of alliances must
be shared according to the capabilities and capacities of the members,
while political authority must be shared on the basis of equality. Military
powers, on the other hand, should be determined according to
geographical factors.

From the very first days of the establishment of the NATO alliance,
responsibilities were assigned disproportionately, while political powers
were distributed according to the view of large states, small states

283
FOREIGN POLICY

It has been determined accordingly. For example, from NATO's inception


until the very end, a headquarters called the Permanent Group was
established at the highest level of the military organisation. Within this
headquarters, a governing committee composed of the United States, the
United Kingdom, and France held sway over everything, and the officers
of the permanent group headquarters were also drawn from the armed
forces of these three states. Thus, NATO's high-level strategic planning
and decisions were shaped according to the wishes of the major powers.
This situation caused dissatisfaction and discontent among other members
within NATO for a long time. In addition to this, competition between
members and conflicts of interest over areas outside the European region
sometimes caused NATO to...
It has been established.
Among the Western European nations that quickly recovered
from the wounds of the Second World War, national consciousness re-
emerged and strengthened. As a result, each nation's efforts to
maximise its own interests and become a great power led to the
establishment of NATO under American authority.
The United States' intention to establish a nuclear club,
including the Soviet Union, with the aim of preventing the
proliferation of nuclear weapons led to fierce disputes among NATO
member countries. France, a member of the alliance against a
common enemy, refused to share its nuclear weapons with the enemy
and withheld information about nuclear weapons, causing serious
tensions and ultimately leading to France's withdrawal from NATO's
military cooperation and remaining only in the political sphere.

286
This is the path to maintaining unity in meaning. As if this were not
enough, during the Cuban crisis, the United States entered into
negotiations with the Soviet Union without taking into account the
Jupiter-type government in Turkey, and later, in order to reach an
agreement with the Soviet Union on the limitation and reduction of
arms, it undermined trust among NATO members. Furthermore, the
United States' scattered interests and attention around the world have
shaken the trust among NATO members.
. This has undermined trust among NATO members. Furthermore, the
United States' scattered interests and attention around the world and its
perception of Europe as merely a shield in a third world war have caused
complaints among its allies: The Soviet Union's ongoing efforts and
propaganda aimed at dissolving and dismantling the NATO alliance are
not without effect on member countries. For example: The Soviets
repeatedly call for the establishment of a "zone free of nuclear weapons"
and the removal of bases and the withdrawal of forces stationed in foreign
countries
to their own territories. These tactics are designed to lure in , and well-
meaning people. In reality, this means the withdrawal of American and
Canadian forces in Europe to the west of the Atlantic Ocean, and, in
return,
the relocation of Soviet forces to the east of the Yistül River. In such a
situation, it is clear that the Soviet Union would gain significantly.
Despite the difficulties and obstacles mentioned above, the 15
nations that joined NATO are entities that share similar views, are
compatible with each other, and have interests that can be reconciled. The
conditions that existed when the NATO alliance was established do not
exist today. The behaviour and policy of the Soviet Bloc are significant.
and changes have occurred. The emergence of a major force such as
communism in the Far East has left America and Russia facing common
dangers and threats. For populous China, a rich Europe with a small
population is a potential target. However, the aggressive and fanatical
nature of communist doctrine is a factor that must always be taken into
account, e v e n in non-communist countries.
The NATO alliance can and will continue under new conditions that
take into account the capabilities and capacities of its members, ensure
equality in political authority, and respect the geographical characteristics
of each member state.
Such a large alliance constitutes the basis for broader
international cooperation and agreement.

Turkey's NATO policy

Turkey faced severe and serious threats between 1945 and 1946. As
a result, it was compelled to seek alliances to maintain the balance of
power. After lengthy negotiations, it finally succeeded in joining the
NATO alliance in 1951. This alliance provided Turkey with political
security. It also enabled it to obtain extensive assistance in the military
field. Thanks to this, the Turkish Armed Forces, which until then had been
equipped with horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, and camel caravans, found
the means to modernise. Exchanging information on new research and
developments, training members of the Turkish Armed Forces in modern
education ,
288
are not insignificant gains for Turkey.
From the very first day we joined NATO, those governing Turkey
have shown great inadequacy in understanding the NATO alliance and
benefiting from it. At that time, they thought that placing all Turkish
Armed Forces under NATO command was a good way to obtain
maximum assistance from America and other Western countries. Despite
resistance from both the United States and other Western states,
responsible Turkish statesmen strove to make the Turkish Armed Forces
entirely a NATO force. They believed that the forces placed under NATO
command would be equipped with modern weapons, vehicles
and maintenance would also be the responsibility of NATO, and that
Turkey would thus reap great benefits without incurring any costs.
According to NATO agreements, although the air defence of each
member nation is its own national responsibility, Turkey has worked to
make its own air defence a NATO responsibility.

Is our army dependent?

At that time, the main effort was to engage America and other
Western countries against the heavy Soviet pressure we were under.
Thus, the United States was encouraged to establish bases and
facilities in Turkey to provide military aid and support to Turkey; in
addition, extensive privileges were granted through bilateral
agreements. In short, Turkey was militarily so outdated that it had to
rely on foreign powers.

F.: 19
FOREIGN POLICY

It was believed that, under the heavy influence of the Soviet threat,
membership of the NATO alliance was a complete surrender. Despite all
this, the propaganda against NATO by communist circles is false and
harmful to Turkey.
The claims that the Turkish Armed Forces are not a national
force, that they are under NATO command, and that they cannot be
used without NATO permission are nothing but empty words. The
Turkish Armed Forces are under the command of the Turkish General
Staff, the force commanders, and Turkish commanders down to the
smallest unit. They can always be used in the direction and manner
required by Turkey's national interests. Provided that there are
statesmen with the necessary determination and will to do so... Other
NATO member states have occasionally used NATO forces in non-
NATO areas. If Turkey deems it necessary, it can withdraw part or all
of its forces from NATO command at any time.
In assessing NATO's alliance, it is essential to understand both
geopolitical and modern strategic developments. • •
In a third world war, the enemy's first targets would be the opposing
side's nuclear weapons sites and nuclear industry centres, as well as other
military industry centres. In other words, Russia's first targets would be
America's nuclear weapon sites, nuclear weapons industry centres, and
other military industry centres. The second target would then be Western
European regions. Today, missiles are being fired at the Moon and Venus,
and satellites are orbiting the Earth. This is heating up the situation.

290
BASIC VIEWS

There is no longer any need to be a member. As a member of NATO, it is


not strategically appropriate for Turkey to be the first target of a Soviet
attack in a third world war. Any action that would weaken the Soviets'
efforts to neutralise America cannot be considered reasonable. The main
strategic principle of the Soviet Union i s to use all means to eliminate
America as quickly as possible.
and swiftly neutralise it. Once America is neutralised,
, would it be possible for Turkey or any other state to stand up to the
Soviets?
It is impossible to wage regional wars against NATO member
states without entering into a world war. No one can doubt that such
wars, started regionally, would quickly escalate into a third world war.
NATO has been beneficial for Turkey: If our statesmen had been
more careful and vigilant, many situations that are now considered
problematic would not have arisen. NATO should continue by
reorganising itself under new conditions. Turkey should remain a NATO
member under equal conditions and with more reliable guarantees.
guarantee s .
We must pursue a policy with character, using our alliances
effectively to best serve both the Cyprus issue and Turkish interests
today.
Agreements with NATO cannot be fulfilled unless there are
competent statesmen at the head of the government. The Turkish Armed
Forces are always the national forces of Turkey. The other side is nothing
more than stories put forward by certain individuals to hide their own
ulterior motives or incompetence.

291
FOREIGN POLICY

Communists and foreign policy

Our country is currently undergoing great turmoil. The majority


of the people are struggling with various problems amid poverty and
hardship, and are waiting for guidance from the enlightened,
especially from the administrators who hold state power in their
hands. The Turkish people, the majority of whom are peasants,
workers, tradesmen and civil servants, have been waiting for years for
the enlightened, the government and the administrators to cooperate and
take action together. Unfortunately, however, the hands of the well-
intentioned and generous-hearted Turkish nation have always
remained empty and continue to wave in the air today. Governments
and administrators continue to ignore these hands today, and months
and years are wasted in an atmosphere of ignorance, thoughtlessness,
and indifference.
The most important thing in overcoming all difficulties and
achieving success is maintaining unity and solidarity.
Being respectfully devoted to the people and having a passion
for serving them is the greatest virtue. True democracy is only
possible when individuals and parties possess such virtue. Behaviour
that destroys our unity and solidarity for the sake of partisanship,
attitudes that turn brother against brother, slander and lies fabricated
against the honour and dignity of citizens are nothing less than
treason. It is our duty to crush the heads of these traitors and corrupt
politicians. And no one should doubt that we will crush them.
BASIC VIEWS

Today, the Turkish Nation faces external threats that seek to


destroy it, as well as divisive, corrupt and treacherous movements
within. The
, led by communism,
The currents of sectarianism and denominationalism are emerging. In
fact, all of these are movements carried out in alliance with communism.
It must be stated that there are many communist organisations established
in Turkey. These
organisations are striving to bring communism to power. Regardless
of their names and how much they may conceal themselves according
to the law, it is evident that they are engaged in full-fledged
communist activities. They are advocates and propagators of a
separatist view of Turkey ( ). They are endeavouring to poison the
minds of the youth with the slogan, "Autonomy must be granted to
certain regions of Turkey."
The Communists are doing everything they can to undermine all
national values in the country. One of the issues they attack most
fiercely is our foreign policy. In particular, they constantly strive to
undermine and discredit our friendship and alliance with NATO, the
Western world and America. Undoubtedly, the fundamental principle
in relations between nations is their own national interests. A dignified
state with national consciousness must always pursue a policy that is
appropriate to its own national interests. In the past, governments
belonging to various parties have been passive and errant in their
foreign policies, each displaying separate acts of negligence and
ignorance. Foremost among these is the indifference and hostility
shown towards the newly independent states of Asia and Africa.
FOREIGN POLICY

Moreover, the negative policy adopted towards Arab countries


and Algeria is neither in line with our history nor our national dignity.
However, we demand Kars, Ardahan, Artvin and the Straits and
and extending a helping hand
to the Western states and America, which have shown friendship
towards us, and joining the NATO alliance has been an appropriate
policy. Turkey is a state devoted to its freedom, independence, honour
and dignity. For this reason, it as fundamental. Turkey is not
in a position to manufacture the tanks, missiles, jet aircraft, warships,
and other weapons and equipment required by modern warfare. Nor is
it in a position to purchase them with its own funds. It can only obtain
them through alliances and mutual exchange of mutual benefits.
Thanks to the NATO alliance and American aid, we have been able to
secure these things until now. However, what we have obtained has
not been sufficient or of the quality to satisfy us. Furthermore, major
mistakes have been made in the management of these relations.
However, these circumstances
do not indicate that the fundamental principle is flawed . They
merely reveal the inadequacy of those governing Turkey. Turkey must
pursue industrialisation, particularly the establishment of heavy
industry, by leveraging alliances and friendships. In the meantime, it
must establish a war industry capable of meeting its own needs. .
That is why governments should be
criticised not for joining NATO and forming an alliance with America,
but for failing to show sufficient effort to establish their own industry
and for not pursuing a forward-looking policy with integrity and
personal conviction. . Under the current conditions,
BASIC VIEWS

It is in Turkey's own interests to pursue a policy of close friendship and


alliance with Western states and America. At the same time, maintaining
friendly relations with both the Soviet Union and other countries
constitutes another aspect of our policy.

Conclusion

Bilateral agreements should be reviewed and revised in accordance


with Turkey's national interests and national dignity.
Turkey must always pursue a multilateral, energetic and flexible
national foreign policy that is forward-looking. The realities we live in
should not be overlooked, nor should Turkey's capabilities and
limitations. Just as it is necessary to pursue a friendly policy based on
good neighbourly principles towards the Soviet Union, we must also
pursue the same policy towards the United States.
.
Recently, the policy of American hostility, fuelled by communist
provocations in our country, has been very dangerous and harmful for our
nation. Without succumbing to feelings of superiority or inferiority, we must
examine events objectively and adopt a far-sighted, planned, long-term
foreign policy.
After joining NATO, governments of this type have fallen into a
kind of hibernation in foreign policy, failing to take full advantage of
NATO and neglecting other dev-

295
.
They showed great indifference, hostility, and even harmful
opposition towards Muslim Middle Eastern countries and the newly
awakening nations of Asia and Africa. The fact that the Turkish
government at the time not only failed to assist and support the Algerian
people, a brother nation, in their struggle for independence, but also took
a hostile stance against them, was a deeply distressing and humiliating
behaviour for the Turkish nation.
In our view, Turkey's foreign policy should be based on continuing
the alliances it has formed with the Batt world
should be based on sincere friendship and good neighbourly relations
with our neighbours. Furthermore, close cultural, economic and
political friendly relations should be established with Muslim
countries to form close cooperation. Furthermore, it should establish
close and strong relations with other Asian and African nations. In
short, the foreign policy of a great nation with a great history, such as
the Turkish Nation, should always be ahead of events, universal,
multilateral, flexible, energetic, alert, and far-sighted.

296
NATIONAL STRUGGLE AND FOREIGN POLICY

The Turkish National Struggle, as we know, the First World


After being defeated in the war and signing an armistice, and
subsequently reorganised its army, disregarded the armistice
agreement concluded with the colonial powers. As a result of the
colonial powers landing troops in Anatolia, the last stronghold of the
Turks and a wholly Turkish homeland, it was a war undertaken by the
entire nation, despite its exhaustion, to protect its own existence and
secure its independence.
homeland,
resulted in the Turks launching a war to protect their existence and
regain their independence, despite their exhaustion. The state was
defeated in this war. In this war, the government was overthrown.
government. The Turkish nation, which had always been meticulously
attached to its independence, took up arms in various places, sold its
property and homes, and fought to the death to defend its homeland.
, who were always meticulously loyal to their cause, took up arms in
various places, selling their land and homes to finance the struggle.
This is a very important event. In the history of every nation
It is not easily seen. Because the government of the day was issuing
orders such as "Do not cause any incidents, do not resist, do not
respond with fire, show no mercy to the enemy" while there is
no army, no force present. in Ayd=n, Manisa, Alaehir,
Ayval=k, the Black Sea
coast, Eastern Anatolia, everywhere, they took up arms
[Link] established bases and initiated the War of Independence
themselves. Those who came later
War of Independence. Later, the
P97
DII ôÎYASET

The leaders, the deviez men, the administrators organised this people,
brought them into order, and then waged a regular war. In our national
struggle, the states defended the view that Turkey should be partitioned.
Britain's policy was to establish a base in the Dardanelles and to have
Greece, which was under its protection, take possession of Western
Anatolia. After the British occupied Iraq, they also violated the
armistice terms by moving further north and occupying Mosul, etc. The French
and Italians were also after a share. However, while they were chasing
this share, their interests clashed. For example, the Italians wanted
Western Anatolia and Izmir, but when they saw that these had been given
to the Greeks, even though they had been promised to them earlier, they
became quite upset. They themselves were not capable of waging a
serious struggle against the Turks.
*and, due to the resistance they encountered, they ultimately reached an
agreement with the Turks and withdrew from the places they had
occupied. At that time, the revolution was still ongoing in Russia, and
bloody battles were raging. A life-and-death struggle raged between the
Tsarist armies and the Communist forces. The British and French
supported and protected the Tsarist forces. Faced with this situation, the
British supported a
Greece's s î •. x•pmasi vé Turkey's entry into such a conflict with
Greece, Soviet Russia, in its own interests, will not allow Turkey to
become a vassal of England, which will use it in its own interests, nor
will it allow Turkey to gain its independence, since it is bound to England
and will be used by England in its own interests.
.

P98
CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE

And for this reason, it supports the Turkish national struggle. However,
Russian geography is open to the open seas and the Turkish Straits.
Turkish Straits to the open seas and •s * x •y.
In other words, whether the Russian nation lives in Russia or the R
nation lives there, and whether the Turkish nation or the Y nation lives in
Turkey, this geography pits these two nations against each other.
In fact, as I mentioned earlier, the main political issue, the subject of
major politics, here the conditions of the day is that
Soviet Russia supports the Turkish national movement, and Turkey,
whose very existence is in grave danger, goes there to seek support. And it
receives support from there. Later, as we know, the National Struggle ends
in victory and the Treaty of Lausanne is signed. The Treaty of Lausanne
is a subject that requires lengthy examination. When the historical
documents of t h a t day are researched, it is seen that the prime minister
of the day the late Rauf Orbay, the chief delegate who managed
the Lausanne negotiations and discussions, and the late Ysmet Ynönü, the
Turkish Foreign Minister at the time. In this regard, there were heated debates in
the Grand National Assembly at the time over the Treaty of Lausanne. .
Undoubtedly, our scholars and historians will days, free from all kinds
of political considerations, to uncover the truth.
They will bring the pieces before us and lay them out.
Thi
s is not far off. When the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, Turkey had
This national pact was established by the last Ottoman National
Assembly, which had made its decision before the National Struggle
began and before it was distributed in Istanbul. The regions where Turks
lived

299
DI§ POLITICS

It is a woman who has given her all to you and made this known to the
whole world, and who has made it clear that we cannot make any
sacrifices. The Treaty included Hatay, Mosul, and many other regions,
However, due to the difficult
circumstances and the hardships facing the country at the time, the
Hatay issue was tied to the condition that it would be resolved 20 years
later, in accordance with the agreement made at the time, by means of a
referendum in Hatay. Mosul was also left to be discussed and
agreed upon between Turkey, England, and Iraq. After Lausanne,
Turkey's desired policy was to focus on its internal affairs and ensure
peace and tranquillity abroad. However, when Turkey began its
National Struggle, it had adopted some very noble principles as its
banner. One of these was the principle of "freedom for individuals,
independence for nations". These After securing its
own independence, Turkey always kept this principle in mind when
conducting its foreign policy and, in accordance with this principle,
viewed with sympathy the struggles and actions undertaken by various
nations seeking to gain their independence, demonstrating this
sympathy at every opportunity, and e v e n assisting such movements
. We have seen that, over time,
Turkey has fallen behind in this regard. For example, when Cessayir
fought for its independence, Turkish foreign policy welcomed those
fighting for independence with sympathy, voted in their favour, spoke
in their favour, and • , but it did not do
so, and even remained neutral.
•*• soñ sömürgeei gibi aavranarak,
"Yes, they have not yet earned the right to independence
and therefore should not be granted independence." They voted against
them.
Foreign policy means, of course, winning the sympathy,
goodwill and friendship of every nation, every state and every society,
and utilising this friendship, goodwill and sympathy to facilitate the
achievement of our own national interests. If Turkey neglects
this, in Africa and Asia, where new
nations are emerging, gaining independence, and striving to
gain independence, and has pursued a blind policy of siding with the
colonialists and the states that keep them under their rule, thereby
losing the sympathy, trust, and affection of these [Link] a result,
we have suffered many damages, and it is impossible to predict how
much more damage we will suffer. As a consequence, an Asia-Africa
Conference held in Cairo passed a resolution in favour of Makarios
and against Turkey. After the Treaty of Lausanne, and Hatay
remained under French administration, Turkey did not make this an
issue for 20 years. It seemed to have forgotten about this issue. It
appeared unaware of this issue. However, when the time came and
conditions seemed favourable, Hatay became ours.

301
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

It has been claimed that this is the case, and it has been requested that it
be returned to us from France. For this purpose, our leaders have made
great efforts and fought hard. At that time, it was stated that "We have not
seen a single inch of land outside our current borders." As soon as
conditions became favourable and the time was ripe, the struggle began
immediately, and Hatay was demanded from France, recognised as the
most powerful state of the day. In those days, tensions between Germany
and France were rising, and allied blocs were forming in Europe. France
had also established close ties with Russia against Germany, and when we
raised the Hatay issue, we were met with certain signals and
recommendations from the Soviets to abandon this issue. However, these
were not taken into consideration at all. The policy was very well defined
and very well executed, and as a result, Hatay was incorporated into the
motherland as you know.
It would be appropriate to briefly mention another event that
occurred prior to this, the Mosul issue. The Mosul issue caused
considerable conflict between Britain and us, leading to diplomatic
disputes. However, because Britain was exhausted by the First World
War, neither the British people nor the people in the dominions and
colonies wanted another war. As Turkey gained the upper hand in this
issue, Britain sought ways to resolve the matter in its favour. And the
famous Sheikh Said rebellion broke out in Turkey.
This is one of the situations that is always encountered. One state
opposes the legitimate, justified demands of another state in various
ways. The most effective, most decisive of these is
BASIC PERSPECTIVES

is to sow discord, division, rebellion, and chaos within that country,


among its own people.
With its extensive intelligence network and financial resources,
Britain has incited the ignorant, even innocent people in this region, our
own citizens, our own people, by deceiving them. And it is with regret
that we must say that this is why Mosul has been lost. These efforts led
our government to feel the need to reach a compromise with the view that
"dealing with Britain is a dangerous path," and the region, whose people
are Turkish, slipped from our grasp.
The Tatsy issue arose at a time when we were faced with a situation.
At that time, an uprising known as the Seyib Rtza rebellion had broken
out in the Tunis region. During the suppression of this uprising, the
documents, letters and weapons seized from the rebels were French. With
French support and organisation, this uprising was suppressed. Why? To
prevent our legitimate claim to Hatay from reaching a conclusion and to
ensure that it remained in their hands. These are historical events that we
will remember with caution and reflect on with care. Later, Turkey faced
Italian and German threats as it approached the Second World War. It
faced constant threats and pressure, particularly from fascist Italy. As a
result, an alliance agreement was signed between Turkey, Britain and
France. When this alliance agreement was made at the beginning of the
Second World War, Turkey, taking into account the problematic
situation of its own geography, ensured that this alliance could not force
Turkey to take action against Russia in any situation or at any time.
303
He signed the agreement. Turkish diplomacy agreed to cooperate with
England and France in this alliance agreement, pledging to act together
with England and France against the aggression of fascist Italy and Nazi
Germany. and that it would act together with Britain and France against
the aggression of fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. However, it also
stipulated that this agreement would not oblige it to take action against
Russia under any circumstances. Why? Because at that time, the Russians
had made an agreement with Nazi Germany. And there was a possibility
that Britain would also take action against Russia together with France.
However, Turkey took into account its own cards, its own capabilities, its
own power, and the situation dictated by its geography, and included such
a clause in the agreement. There is a reason I mention this. We will come
to other topics shortly. I am referring to this. In other words, I am
mentioning this to show that our Turkey pursued a more cautious,
peaceful and well-intentioned policy towards its neighbours, without
provoking them. Because, as we shall see shortly, at the end of the Second
World War, Turkey will face certain difficulties with Soviet Russia's
territorial demands on Turkey; territorial demands.

Politics means looking far ahead, not just 5-10 years, but thinking
about and taking measures that will extend 50-100 or even hundreds of
years into the future. After the Second World War, it was clear which side
had been defeated and which had been victorious. As a result, Turkey was
confronted with the Soviet Union's demand that the provinces of Kars,
Ardahan and Artvin be ceded to Russia and that military bases be
established in Istanbul and the Dardanelles. Naturally, Turkey, in defence
of its territorial integrity and independence,
BASIC PRINCIPLES

sovereignty, would not accept any compromise, regardless of which side it


came from or how powerful the state carrying it out was. This is contrary to
the Turkish nation's sense of honour. After the Second World War, the
Soviets
, Turkey immediately rejected these ugly, despicable demands.
Naturally, this created pressure on Turkey. As is customary in politics,
A state either protects itself and fulfils its own desires solely through its
own power, or it seeks alliances, coalitions, and cooperation with other
states that serve its interests. It finds these and confronts threats to its own
existence with them. As a result, Turkey sought allies, and at that time, the
NATO alliance, established in 1949, had become active in Europe, as you
know. Turkey also took steps to join this alliance. After much effort, it
joined the alliance. This is Turkey's natural and legitimate right. Turkey is
a sovereign state. In order to protect its own existence, it forms alliances
with other countries whose interests are compatible with its own, based on
mutual benefit. However, there are some important points to consider in
this alliance. The first of these important points is that, in order to avoid
being caught in a hailstorm while seeking shelter from the rain, when
entering into an alliance to protect our sovereignty and existence, we must
never allow that alliance to harm our sovereignty and existence through
the means of the alliance itself. Otherwise, regardless of the regime they
have, states must necessarily engage in mutual exchange of interests with
each other and form alliances with each other.

F.: 20
DII POLITICS

They must. They must receive mutual, economic assistance from each
other. To view these as events against Turkey, to think this way, to lack
good intentions; this should be considered a sign of bad faith. However,
in these alliances and exchanges of interests, if our statesmen have
created situations that are contrary to Turkey's national existence and
national interests, that violate our national rights, and have signed
agreements to that effect, they are responsible. Alliances must be
established and conducted with complete reciprocity, mutual respect,
understanding, and friendship. These mistakes were also seen in the
Ottoman Empire when it allied with Germany during the First World
War.
THE MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY

The role of the Ottoman Empire

The Republic of Turkey is the successor to sixteen empires and the


heir to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was an empire where
nations stretching from Crimea to Yemen, from the Caucasus to Algeria,
lived in peace and harmony. In this state, the Turkish Ministry - the
Islamic Caliphate - a n d the Roman Empire were united, and the
subjects lived freely with equal rights and opportunities. None of the
regions that made up the empire were colonies. Under the authority of the
government, no ethnic
group was considered inferior to another. In the Ottoman army, the orderly
of a Konya officer could be Algerian, and the messenger of a Libyan
officer could be from Baghdad.
The state, with its free, fair and tolerant nature, established peace at
the point of connection between the two continents and asked. The
peoples of the regions that made up the empire also endeavoured to
defend every part of their state with equal vigour.
In the 1877 Russo-Turkish War, known as the War of Ninety-Nine
Days, all the soldiers involved in the Palestine incident were martyred in
Plevne, with none returning. During the Italian invasion of 1911, officers
such as Mustafa Kemal, Enver Pasha, and Fethi Bey
officers, along with Libyan tribes and the ancestor of the King of Libya,
Sheikh Sunusi ( ),
Sheikh Sunusi, defended Tripoli.
.
The nations gathered in the state and the Shadows did not
show any effort to separate.
However, the industrial revolution in the region led to industrialised
states taking an interest in this large bloc, and the industrial powers of these
states combined with Russia's imperialist ambitions to cause the bloc's
disintegration. A major balancing factor in establishing and maintaining
world peace, and ensuring security in the Mediterraneanthe Ottoman power
which represented the interests and expression of the nations that
constituted it, was destroyed by external influences and pressures was
destroyed during the First World War, and this destruction was confirmed
at the Treaty of Lausanne.
The empire was divided among Britain, France and Italy, and
true colonial life began. At the end of the Second World War, the
nations of the region gained their independence, forming the current
status.
This region constitutes a commercial, economic, military, and
spiritual whole. The sea, land, and air routes between three continents
pass through this region, which is the connecting point of the old world.
Essential commodities such as iron, coal, cotton, wheat, and oil
are present in the region in quantities sufficient for self-sufficiency and to
influence world markets.
Turkey supplies the region's industrial products with its iron, coal
and other minerals; Iraq and Syria supply wheat and cotton; Iran, Kuwait,
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia supply oil ( ), thereby forming an
economic entity ( ).

308
BASIC PERSPECTIVES

. Surrounded by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and
the Indian Ocean, this area is subject to all strategic manoeuvres in
international politics and constitutes a weight that cannot be ignored in
the global balance and struggle.
All the people of this region are Muslims. For 1,300 years, they
have faced the same direction, read the same book, and recited the
same prayers. For 400 years, they carried the same flag. For 400
years, the Turkish flag flew over the Kaaba. The spiritual and
emotional unity this has created is a force beyond any calculation.
Consequently, we can say that the conditions mentioned above have
made the states and nations of the Middle East indispensable to each
other. A common policy established among these states will be a
factor of peace, tranquillity and prosperity.
Some oddly minded individuals claim that cooperation with
theocratic states is incompatible with secularism. Unless deliberate, these
are meaningless speculations. For Turkey is allied with the theocratic
United Kingdom.
I consider international relations to be in the interest of nations.
Capitalist America, communist Russia and imperialist Britain did
not shy away from alliance during the Second World War. Sacrificing the
nation for the sake of this or that principle is incompatible with
statesmanship.
The government's foreign policy is believed to be guided by
enthusiastic visits. Egypt, which harasses and threatens Middle Eastern
countries; Yugoslavia, which has formed an alliance with Greece , and
the Greek Cypriot administration; and cooperation with Greece.

309
FOREIGN f IVASSI’

initiatives cannot even manage to produce platonic declarations.


Turkish governments should know that diplomatic trial visits
to establish foreign relations. The opinions of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' technicians, who are by no means lacking in experienced
diplomats, should be heeded, and the lack of experience of politicians
should be compensated for by their knowledge. Turkey should implement
a strong, stable, and well-intentioned southern policy. This is in our
national interest.

The Middle East, with its geopolitical situation and economic


wealth, representing its civilisation and ethnic structure, is the key to
regional stability and peace. In its current state, the Middle East,
together with the African continent, is Western Europe's vegetable and
fruit garden, its granary, its source of minerals and raw materials, the
source of cheap labour that European industry needs, and the market
for the goods produced by that industry.
It is in a favourable market position. Peace and stability in the Middle
East is a prerequisite for world peace. This region has been of interest
to the Western world since ancient times. Before the Second World
War, it was largely under British and French control. After the Second
World War, these states, which were members of the NATO alliance,
came under the control of the United States. However, due to the
changing naval strategy of the Soviets and the reaction among Arabs
caused by the Israeli-Arab conflict, the influence and control of Soviet
Russia began in Egypt, Syria and Iraq.
began to grow in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq.
In the Middle East conflict, Turkey, due to its geographical
structure, has a strategic view of all the roads leading to and from the
region.

310
TEJNET VIEWS

It was in a dominant position. The Ottoman Empire, established and


operating as a unified Central European, Balkan, Middle Eastern and
North African state, had brought peace, tranquillity and significant
development to the region. It had harmoniously governed diverse and
conflicting nations and peoples, allowing them to live without
oppression and achieving prosperity. In the face of the Soviet attack
and threats that emerged at the end of the Second World War, the
United States and the Western world chose to take advantage of
Turkey's protective cover and defensive power. By bringing Turkey
and Greece into the NATO alliance, they sought to secure their
interests in the Middle East with the help of these two states. At this
time, with the help of the British and Americans, the State of Israel was
established in Palestine.

The State of Israel and the Middle East

The establishment of the State of Israel was met with fierce


opposition from the Arabs. The bringing of Jewish immigrants from all
corners of the world to Palestine ( ), which had been an Arab homeland for
two thousand years, and their settlement there, the establishment of a new
state, the displacement of the Arabs living there and their flight to other
countries, the Middle East...
It stirred up the East and caused great upheavals. Faced with this
situation, the Arabs took up arms to eliminate the new State of Israel.
However, their lack of a coordinated command structure, their lack of
proper training
and their lack of modern weaponry meant they were unable to succeed.
3/I
FOREIGN POLICY

. Nevertheless, in these wars, the Arabs always expected help from


Turkey. They even wanted Turkey to intervene with its military forces.
The Turkish nation, which is deeply connected to the Arabs through
religion, culture, history and geography, and which loves the Arab people
with a sincere affection, was very hurt by the Arabs' failure to honour
their religious brotherhood during the First World War and their
collaboration with non-Muslim foreigners against the Turks. This
incident was a great disappointment for the Turkish nation.
Within its borders, it maintained an independent and peaceful stance, and
the reasons for this also constituted a policy of staying away from external
events. The dispute between the Arabs and Israel has been going on for
nearly 30 years. Today, "the State of Israel has taken its place as a reality in
the Middle East
It is supported and protected by the entire Jewish world. The Arabs have
not yet developed in science, technology, and social fields. Sufficient
unity and coordination have not been established among the Arabs. In
this situation, it is not right for them to engage in bloody wars and
continue them under the influence of the great powers. There is a need to
educate and train people, advance in science and technology,
industrialise, and achieve economic development
require time and a planned approach to conflict. Finding a solution for a
peace agreement with Israel that protects the honour and interests of both
sides
would be highly beneficial both for the Arabs and for the peace and
stability of the Middle East and the world.
Turkey's strength and duty

Turkey's position in the Middle East is of paramount importance


and superior to that of any other country. Its coastlines on both the
Black Sea and the Mediterranean, its possession of the straits between
the two seas, its position as a Caucasian state to the east and a Balkan
and European state to the west, and the fact that the sources and
reservoirs of the rivers that give life to the surrounding countries are
located in Turkey make Turkey influential in every respect. The
diversity of climates within its territory, its vastness and depth, which
give it the character of a small continent, and its coastline, which is
impassable and covered with high and rugged mountains, also make it
very strong militarily. Taking into account the qualities and
characteristics of the Turkish people who make up the country's
population, Turkey's political and military weight and influence can
be further appreciated. With the exception of neighbouring Russia and
Iran, the territories of Turkey's other neighbours cannot be considered
militarily significant unless they are considered together with Turkey.
For example, if we take the territory of Greece, part of this territory
consists of narrow and steep islands in the middle of the sea, while the
non-island parts consist of narrow and inhospitable peninsulas and
long, narrow coastal strips. Establishing bases on these territories and
utilising them during wartime is impossible without cooperation with
Turkey. Concealing, hiding, and protecting military bases on Greek
territory is extremely difficult. This is true both for the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea.
FOREIGN POLICY

In order to carry out a successful operation towards the Persian Gulf and
the Suez Canal, it is essential to keep Turkey under control and cooperate
with it in order to be able to move from the Caucasus and Russia or from
the Balkans. Neither Greek nor Syrian territory can provide these
extensive opportunities on their own. The same applies to the territories of
all other neighbouring countries.

Considering Turkey's situation and importance in light of the brief


points outlined above, it becomes easier to understand the various events
we have encountered in recent years. The great powers engaged in such a
struggle
.D., the Soviet Union, Western Europe) wish to keep Turkey under their
control. To this end, they resort to secret, extremely strict measures. The
Soviets have organised extensive activities to remove Turkey, a NATO
member and ally of the West, from this position and bring it into the
Soviet bloc. The goal of the communist anarchy that has emerged in our
country is to turn Turkey into an Iron Curtain country that will withdraw
from NATO. The intense propaganda, street movements, and armed
activities that have been launched are all attempts aimed at this goal.

The necessary actions for Turkey Turkey has a very energetic

and proactive policy.


It must be prepared to take swift action by monitoring the situation and
making rapid decisions. Our world is undergoing rapid changes and
developments.
BASIC VIEW

. The recent rapid rapprochement between the United States, Western


European countries and the Soviet Union will also have an impact on
other political relations. The nature, direction and extent of the
commercial and economic relations that are developing daily between the
Soviet Union and the aforementioned Western countries clearly indicate
the political objectives and intentions of these states.
the nature, direction and extent of the warming commercial and economic
relations clearly indicate the political goals and intentions of these states.
In the new negotiations and exchanges of interests that are being
undertaken,
it is imperative to prepare new plans and engage in multilateral efforts to
prevent games being played at Turkey's expense.
Turkey must closely monitor foreign propaganda centres and
establish close ties with them. Efforts should be made to ensure that these
centres engage in activities that are not harmful to Turkey. Furthermore,
active diplomatic efforts should be undertaken. . It should
establish friendly relations with both allied and neighbouring countries
and with states
outside the pacts, friendly relations, cooperation
and propaganda activities should be carried out with both allies and
neighbouring countries, as well as with states outside the pacts.
Information should be gathered on internal organisations that exert
influence and pressure on the governments of all nations, particularly the
United States, and steps should be taken to eliminate them.
To be successful in foreign policy, Turkey must have complete
unity and solidarity within its borders and possess strong, modern armed
forces. To this end, it is essential to establish and operate institutions in
harmony with the nation. Turkey is the most influential force in the order
and peace of the Middle East. It has fulfilled its role and duties to date,
despite the missteps of various governments.
81S
It has not been able to do so due to its evaluations and inactivity. In order
for it to be able to do so, it is necessary to initiate planning and
preparation. In particular, the Turkish Armed Forces must be equipped
with the latest weapons and equipment in every respect and be trained to
be ready for duty at any moment.
It is very important to maintain air power. It should be noted that air
power is of vital importance in the defence of nations. Recently, the
foundations established to strengthen both our Air Force and our Navy
have been very beneficial and appropriate moves. However, it is not
possible to meet the needs of our national defence and, in particular, to
establish a war industry solely through "Strengthening Foundations".
Unless the governments succeed in industrialising Turkey extensively and
rapidly in the civilian sphere, our national defence capabilities will
continue to face significant difficulties. Unless heavy industry, the motor
industry, and other industrial sectors that are inseparable parts of these are
established in our country, our war industry will remain unfounded,
unsupported, and deprived of the opportunity for development. Therefore,
to grasp the issue in broad strokes, it is necessary to consider this, first
and foremost, as a government and state duty encompassing the entire life
of the nation. Turkey has the potential to accomplish these tasks in a short
time.
We believe that, thanks to the high capabilities and
virtues, as well as its common sense, will ensure that Turkey's unity and
solidarity remain firmly intact despite all provocations. Turkey will
continue to rise and develop. Turkey's strengthening and advancement
will be beneficial both for the Middle East and for global peace and
harmony.

316
FOREIGN TURKS THE ISSUE

What should we do about the Turks outside today's Turkish


borders? Until now, those who have governed our nation have always
considered it harmful to concern ourselves with the Turks abroad. This is
a mistaken view. Wherever there are Turks in the world,
it is the duty of Turkish nationalists to care for them. We consider it the
duty of Turkish nationalists to do whatever they can for Turks abroad.
However, we have certain conditions. conditions. The main
condition is that Turkey must not be endangered. Because the liberation
of all Turks abroad depends on the existence of Turkey.
Wanting to save the Turks abroad is not imperialism, as the press
claims. Imperialism is the occupation of foreign states. Wanting the
salvation and freedom of the Turks abroad is our legitimate right. And
this right is protected by the United Nations Organisation.
In our era, cultural dissemination and friendship initiatives are
widely practised in international relations. Every state strives to spread its
culture as widely as possible. This makes it easier to secure significant
economic, strategic, and political benefits. We too have the opportunity

317
FOREIGN POLICY

We must focus on this issue to the extent that we can. The first area of
this is to support and strengthen communities linked to Turkish culture
and to maintain close relations with them. In return, we must be cautious
and methodical in our approach to the spread of foreign cultures in our
country.
In this context, we would like to emphasise the importance of
equipping TRT with stronger and newer facilities. As things stand today,
TRT broadcasts are listened to with great interest in some regions of our
country, and our broadcasts are being replaced by foreign broadcasts with
malicious intent. Our broadcast programmes also need to be organised
more comprehensively. Special and continuous broadcasts should be
given importance for communities outside our borders that are connected
to Turkish culture.

Indifference towards Turks abroad continues. The Turkish

nation, since the earliest ages of history,


Indeed, it is a nation that has never accepted a life of captivity since its
birth, has never bowed to an enemy, and has lived with honour and
dignity.
At the end of the First World War, a large part of my fellow countrymen
were exiled to what are now Bulgaria, Greece and Russia, which were
formerly our lands, under various treaties. Since the first peace
agreements, the torture and mistreatment of these Turkish-Muslim
brothers and sisters, who are not prisoners and cannot be considered
prisoners, has increased with each passing day. In particular, the
inhumane persecution of the Turks of the Rhodopes continues to
increase. More

318
BASIC PRINCIPLES

Fifty to sixty years ago, our population in Western Thrace was 85 per cent,
but today this figure has fallen well below 15 per cent. Under Greek
administration, a policy of erasing our citizens' identity is being pursued. To
this end, they are subjected to days of being kept in water, sexual assault,
cutting off their tongues and noses, and many other unimaginable tortures.
Those who do not change their names are not given diplomas , and
Turkish children cannot receive even a shred of the necessary education. They
are asking us for help, support and trust. The situation has been
communicated to the relevant authorities many times. It is necessary for our
governments to make clear what they think about this issue and for the
Greek government to comply with the "stop" order
or at least refrain from retaliating in any way.
It is an extremely surprising and equally distressing situation. However,
under the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greeks will not seek to settle the Greek
population in these areas. ; the population
ratio would not change, no pressure would be exerted on the Turks, there
would be no interference in their way of life, Turkish would be spoken
freely, and Turkish children would be able to
open, and Turkish would not be hindered.
.
In this situation, all the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne
have been violated. There is a need for nationalist governments to
address the issue.

319
THE CYPRUS ISSUE

Its origin, development, and status

The island of Cyprus came under Turkish rule in 1571 and


remained Turkish until 1914, and legally until the date the 1923
Treaty of Lausanne came into force. We have the statistics from the
census conducted by the British in Cyprus in 1879.
According to this absurd data, the Turkish population was in the
majority in Cyprus at that time. The Greek population was in the
minority. Cyprus, 1877-1878 Os--
.mann - It is an island that was placed under occupation following the
Russo-Turkish War, with permission granted to the British to
"temporarily occupy" it. The reason for our permission to occupy it
w a s to enable the British to come to the aid of the Ottomans from a
nearby base, at close range, should the Turks attack Ottoman territory
in the direction of Alexandretta.
›s› this island was temporarily given to England,
After the British entered, a new British governor was appointed to the
island every two or three years. When he arrived, the Greek spiritual
leader of the island, or the metropolitan archbishop, would go to meet
him and present him with a petition, a request. From 1878 onwards, in
this petition, the priest began to request that Cyprus be given to
Greece, stating that Cyprus was Greek. The Greek government and
the Greek state continued in this direction.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

and maintained contact with the Greeks on the island, sending teachers
and all kinds of assistance from Greece. Cultural relations and cultural
unity were ensured, and affairs were conducted accordingly.
While the Ottoman Empire was reeling from various troubles, it
naturally found no opportunity to deal with these matters. However, even
after the Treaty of Lausanne, we were completely preoccupied with our
own affairs and were unable to actively engage with the Turks there or
with the situation on the island. Under the Treaty of Lausanne, the Turks
on the island were granted a three-year grace period. According to this
permission, those who wished to go to Turkey and live as Turkish citizens
were informed t h a t they had to sell their property and leave, while
those who did not wish to go would become British subjects. In
accordance with the Treaty of Lausanne, Greek immigrants expelled from
Turkey were sent to Cyprus . And were brought to Cyprus .
and settled there. These people came from Anatolia to Cyprus and, by
oppressing the local Greeks, engaged in various acts of hostility,
oppression, and aggression against the Turks at every opportunity. The
Turks of , who were already sensitive and did not like foreign
domination,
They have practically entered into competition with each other over the
use of this base, which has been granted to them.
The
y were practically competing with each other. In the face of the influx of
Greek refugees, the desire to live on the island was fading.
and when Greek refugees arrived on the island, Turkish refugees left the
island and went to Turkey. Today, it is estimated that there are 250-300
thousand people from Jtibr1s in our coastal region from Mersin to Izmir,
including Mersin itself. After this, the Greeks and the Greeks continued
their activities. Finally, from the Second World War
POLITICS

•= and the Greeks have laid claim to the Twelve Islands. During the
war, we were offered occupation, but we did not agree to it. "We will not
give up a single inch of land, nor will we take a single
inch of land." "Please don't go, take this and occupy it." "No, sir,
whatever happens." The Greeks claimed these islands. The Twelve
Islands were given to Greece under the 1947 Paris Agreement, and not a
single word was uttered by the Turkish government. "Gentlemen, whose
property are you giving away? These belong to us. Now you won't listen
to us, I do not accept this treaty, I do not recognise it, I reserve my right to
speak," it was not said. The Twelve Islands went this way, and from then
on, all Greek activities turned towards Cyprus. Now, it is necessary to
briefly review the situation of all the islands along with Cyprus.
.

Greek activities and Cyprus

From the moment Greece gained independence and was born as


a microscopic state, it has been preoccupied with dreams and
ambitions far greater than itself. Very great... But has this been
harmful to itself? Has this course of action been a mistake?
I would like to say that every truth first arises and lives in the hearts
and minds as a mere fantasy.
When Osman Gazi became the leader of the Ottoman Empire,
Istanbul, Rumelia, Syria, and Iraq were just dreams in his mind.
The moment this microscopic state came into being, it...
322
FOUNDATION. PERSPECTIVE ZB

The Byzantine Empire was the heir to the Byzantine Empire and sought
to revive it. The source of these activities, the place where they were
nurtured and administered, was the Greek Church. In Greece, the Greek
Church cannot be separated from Greek politics. The Greek Church
prepared all the revolutions and rebellions, directed and managed them. In
fact, when the Morea rebellion began, the first to rise up for independence,
during the reign of Sultan Mahmud, were managed by a society called
Etràk-i Eterya. The patriarch in Istanbul loved and managed this society.
He was preparing such an assassination that Greek forces in Turkish
military uniforms were being prepared. On the one hand, there would be
the destruction of the Morea, and on the other, they would revolt in
Istanbul. And they would occupy Istanbul. Byzantium would be revived.
Naturally, news of this situation is spreading. These are being suppressed,
and the patriarch, the armies we call the middle gate, are hanging in the air
today, not opening. It is only natural that they are being hanged. Show me
a state where a citizen, a subject of that state, betrays his own state, rebels
against it, and in response, that state says to him, "Well done, you did
well." Is there such a state on earth? Why, then, do they blame the
Ottoman State? Anyone in its place would have acted accordingly.
From then on, this state has always pursued this idea, this dream. And
it must be said with regret that they have largely realised the part of this
dream on the Rumelia side and completely realised the part concerning the
islands in the Aegean Sea. Our negligence, the
incompetence of our state officials, and incompetence,
they have taken advantage of these, and over time time-
FOREIGN POLICY

They achieved this step by step, even attempting to take possession of


part of Anatolia during our War of Independence, thereby establishing it
firmly. Now, when we look at the map, at the mouth of the Dardanelles,
the island of Lesbos, the other islands under Greek occupation, further
down opposite Ayval=k, Burhaniye's Lor=s=, further down Poça, Izmir,
opposite Izmir, Kuadas=, further down Bodrum, Güllük, etc... like this.
The entire Turkish coastline is blocked by islands captured by the Greeks.
What does Turkey have? It has the Aegean coastline, it has the
Mediterranean basin, which is relatively free. Cyprus? Cyprus is in British
hands, in the hands of another state. Now, they have been targeting this
area for a long time. And they say:
"We will take this place and Greece will become a state spanning
three continents. At the same time, we will be both a Balkan country and
a Middle Eastern country," they say. With what? With Cyprus. Many
people are not yet fully aware of Cyprus's importance. In our country, I
attribute it solely to the situation of the 125,000 Turks living there. No,
the presence of Turks there is also a matter for Turkey; the Cyprus issue is
a necessity. bu co;ratl bir mecburiyettir.
Turkey's own existence and security make this imperative. Moreover, the
presence of 125,000 Turks there makes this situation even more important.
Now, as in other matters, Greece has acted very skilfully, methodically and
with foresight in this issue. The Greek propaganda network, spread across
every corner of the world , has worked hand in hand with Greek
diplomatic activities. While they were doing this, we did not do a s i n g l e
thing. They were the first...

324
'I‘EMEI. GÖRÜGMR

They have launched a struggle against the British. Their struggle against
the British is like a staged fight. Because the British have always been
there to support them, protect them, and encourage them.

From Crete to Cyprus

If we look at a historical event up to the present day, it is


possible to better understand and comprehend the Cyprus issue. This
event is the Crete incident. A hundred years ago, Crete was a Turkish
island. And there were at least as many Turks on the island as there
were Greeks. But, like a bug gnawing at a leaf, they began to gnaw
away, and they also set their sights on Crete. In Crete, as in Cyprus,
they began their activities. There too, they first started activities,
and when we sent forces there to protect order, security, and the law
in order to suppress the gangs, they raised a hue and cry, saying, "Oh
no! The Turks are oppressing us, the Turks are massacring the Greeks,
they are slaughtering them, come quickly!" Immediately, the so-called
great powers of the time, England,
- They came from France, together with Russia, landed troops on the island,
occupied it and did the job - it's very similar
in between, I'm saying this—they turned it around,they turned it around,
they said: "Let there be autonomy here..." "So it's still yours, but let all
the people be independent in their own community affairs, their own
communal affairs. And let there be a
Greek governor on the island, your governor, who will report to you..."
Your governor is Greek. Who will it be? Someone from the Greek royal
family, a prince... Thus, the island of Crete became an island governed by
autonomy. That is, Ktbr=shn
FOREIGN POLICY

Like becoming a republic without a king. These are steps. Steps towards
Greece. Now we can better assess the Turkish Empire's men throughout
the middle. What happened happened, Crete became autonomous. A
prince from the Greek royal family was also the Ottoman governor. Who
does he serve? The Ottomans, doesn't he? He serves the Ottomans?! ...
And Crete left one day. We were victorious; we ended it with victory,
with triumph. That was also at the end of the 1887 Turkish-Greek War.
As you know, the 1897 Turkish-Greek War broke out again due to the
Greeks' recklessness and impropriety. They and the Austrians thought that
the Greeks would succeed and defeat the Ottoman army, gaining territory.
But they suffered a crushing defeat, and the Turkish army was on the
verge of entering Athens. The great powers immediately intervened
again: "We will preserve the peace, let peace not be lost, etc.," they said,
stopping us. They came between us and the Greeks. After that, the
island of Crete, which had been ours until then, became part of Greece.
Let us take the example of Cyprus Island. Since 1950: The then
Minister of Foreign Affairs was our esteemed scholar Prof. Fuat Köprülü.
He was asked: "What do you think about the Cyprus issue?" He replied:
"There is no Cyprus issue for Turkey." Some of us remember this. Time
p a s s e d . Perhaps the British encouraged and advised. But the one who
really made a difference here was the late Sedat Simavî Bey. He single-
handedly raised this issue in his newspaper (Hürriyet) bayrak .
"Cyprus is a very important issue for Turkey. Cyprus
TEIv[EL GORÜQIR

belongs to Turkey, it is Turkey's. What does the Deputy Minister say about
this?» he says and launches a campaign against Fuat Kiiprülü. The Minister
of the Interior, Gedat Simavi Bey, takes him to court on charges of insulting
him, etc., and the government also takes up the matter. The government says,
"Cyprus is entirely ours, it belongs to us." Now more iinee Foreign
Affairs Minister "Bisim
We have no problem with %y1e . "This is a matter belonging to
England ." Shortly afterwards, the Prime Minister says, "Cyprus belongs
entirely to us." Not long after that, they say, "Either partition or
independence." Later, they say, "Independent Cyprus." What does the other
side say? They chant, "Enosis, enosis!" They chant nothing else. Very well,
Cyprus will be independent, and then 27 May happens. According to the
agreement, 38% of local government positions will belong to Turks, 62% to
Greeks. The Greeks object to this; "The Turks," they say, "have a ratio of 18
on the island. How can that be? 38 positions will be too many for them?"
A number of problems... The Turks, the Turkish community, resist. They
drag their feet, constantly. Our regiment is waiting in Iskenderun. No
agreement can be reached, and soldiers are not entering Cyprus, . That is
the situation. Contact is immediately made with the community leaders and it
is said, "The main issue is the entry of Turkish soldiers onto the island.
Ensure this. We will resolve the other issues later." The other side is
deliberately dragging its feet. H e is not satisfied with this agreement.
He does not want Turkish soldiers to land on the island. Turkish soldiers
w i l l l a n d on the island. What will happen is clear. For this reason,
certain preparations are also being made. What are these preparations? Now
wearelearning; what have the Greeks done?
FOREIGN SECURITY

Well, we are going down the same path. Time passes, governments
change. Various governments come and go... Here, we analyse and
examine our problems. Individuals are not important to us. Because
whoever they may be, they are citizens of this country. We are all
responsible for each other and we are people who have a duty to protect
each other's existence and welfare. We are the people of this country.
Therefore, we say that we should not dwell on the main illness, the main
shortcomings, and flaws, so that our future activities may be more
accurate. Various governments come and go. The Greeks are bringing
weapons to the island. They are making preparations, and at the same
time, Turkey's internal situation, world politics, are being watched
very closely.
They are monitoring the situation and continuously conducting their
propaganda, engaging in diplomatic activities. What is Turkey doing?
Nothing!
Is it really that difficult to foresee or predict that events in Cyprus
would unfold in this manner? For those who know history and have
experience in these matters, is it impossible to foresee these things if they
think a little deeply and broadly? So why have Turkish governments
remained silent? Why have they not launched a planned propaganda
campaign to counter Greek propaganda? Why have they not engaged in
diplomatic activities to counter Greek diplomatic activities, activities that
would render those diplomatic activities futile?
Finally, the events of 21 December 1963 erupted. Turks were
massacred in many places. The families of Turkish officers stationed
there were raped. They were massacred. The images of our major doctor's
wife and children are still in our eyes.
BASIC VIEWS

It is before you. These events are unfolding. Article 4 of the Zurich and
London Agreements grants the guarantor states, namely Turkey, Greece
and the United Kingdom, the right to intervene in Cyprus. It grants them
the authority to intervene in order to maintain law and order there and to
prevent the disruption of the order established by the agreement. Turkey is
not intervening. Why? They say preparations were needed for
intervention. Why weren't preparations made? Did it never occur to
anyone that one day something might happen on this island and if
intervention were necessary, would I be able to do it or not? If I wanted
to, where would I find the forces, how would I deploy them there, and
how could I intervene? Shouldn't one think about this and make a plan?
We couldn't intervene, I didn't intervene. Could it be done, or couldn't it?
If it were me (this happens, this doesn't happen), if I had a battalion, a
regiment at my disposal anywhere in Turkey, I would send it straight to
the island... While doing this, I would simultaneously send a message to
Greece and England: "My dear friends, law and order has broken down in
Cyprus, and the two communities have begun attacking each other. In
accordance with the agreement, I have sent police forces there to ensure
law and order. However, I believe that my forces are not sufficient to stop
this fighting. I earnestly request and implore you to send police forces
urgently to reinforce me." Because they, too, are guarantor states
responsible for maintaining the situation created by the agreement on the
island and restoring order. But by doing this before them, I could have
gained the opportunity to do what I wanted there until they arrived. What
if things turn out differently? Sir, if America, England, and Russia say,
"Get out of there," I would say, "Gentlemen, I came here with good
intentions. Since s * di-
D+S *iYASET

you are doing, I am doing. But, until you come out!...


Seeing ahead, thinking ahead, being prepared
. Otherwise, living day by day like a caterpillar, like an insect, cannot
guarantee a secure life. Seeing the future, always investigating what
might happen. We have agents in Greece, in Cyprus, we have intelligence;
in Germany, in France, in America,
.they are everywhere... There are various tactics in politics. There are
many rules in politics. One of the rules used in the past is bluffing.
However, this is especially true on the right, where states without great
power engage in political bluffing.
It is not right to go there. No success will be achieved. It will be harmful.
Turkey has experienced this twice in its recent history and suffered great
damage both t i m e s . One of these was in 1957-1958, when the
government of the day took action against Syria. The other was in the
Cyprus issue. Soldiers gathered in Iskenderun, the navy came to Mersin,
came to Iskenderun. There are exercises at Domuz Burnu. We left, we are
leaving. Some friends are coming. They are swearing excitedly. "By God,
tonight, tomorrow..."
We got up early in the morning, we're there. No. And the situation has
become a laughing stock in our countries all over the world.
. If such a thing is to be done, it is kept as secret as possible. The world
only finds out after it has happened. Otherwise, before it happens, they
announce it with drums and pipes, saying, "I have gathered soldiers here,
I am gathering them. I am ready. s *aea;=m, open road,
.defend yourselves, I'm coming!" This is a well-planned operation, organised
and carried out in a decisive manner. After departure, the world will be
informed.
330
BASIC VIEWS

After that, we listened to our statesmen: "I


was going to do this, but so-and-so got in my way and wouldn't let
me." So what are we waiting for? So-and-so will open the doors, pat
us on the back and say, "Come on, let's see you do it!" Would he say
that? If Turkey is a member state of NATO, then Greece is also a
member state. Other states think about their own interests and pursue
policies to secure those interests, while they want to keep both Greece
and Turkey in check. They look for ways to do this. Just as Greece
sent 10,000 people, an army force, from 600 miles away, just as it
armed and organised the local Greeks there, and created a fait
accompli in its favour, just as it did by calculating the situations of
America, Russia, Egypt, and other states and creating conditions
favourable to itself, the duty of Turkish diplomacy and Turkish
statesmen is to make such preparations to secure Turkey's
[Link] creating conditions favourable to itself, then the duty of
Turkish diplomacy and Turkish statesmen is to make such
preparations, create such situations, and secure Turkish interests in
order to protect Turkey's interests. This is not being done, and then "so-
and-so is getting in my way! ..." Yes,
Of course, we must also write about the gesture and its implications. But,
the statesman must foresee this, must calculate it in advance, must know
it. After this comes the coalition, the fourth coalition governments. The
policies they all follow are similar. The "wait and see" policy gains
ground every day.
The Cyprus issue is not a simple matter. Turkey is facing very
important circumstances. These important circumstances, as I mentioned
when explaining certain events at the beginning, may have an impact on
the issue. For this reason, Turkey's
FOREIGN POLICY

It is imperative that the Turkish people remain vigilant. We are


ourselves honest. We are well-intentioned. However, this good faith is
not sufficient to ensure our own security. Above all, we must be
vigilant, respond to these attacks against us, these insidious activities,
and be prepared to resist.
The Cyprus issue is of great importance. I am concerned that this
issue will become a subject of serious conflict, as it is closely related to
Turkey's prestige and security. In addition, as I mentioned earlier, it also
concerns the existence, rights and lives of the 125,000 Turks living there.
Is the Cyprus issue a Turkey-Cyprus issue, or a Turkey-Greece issue?
These two ideas have been debated from time to time in Turkey. Some
statesmen have argued that it is a Turkey- Greece issue and that presenting
it as such is in Turkey's interests. This is a matter of political tactics.
However, especially at the outset, I thought it would be beneficial to treat
the issue as a Cyprus issue, ostensibly a Cyprus issue, and to act
accordingly, believing that this would reduce the conflict. Today, of
course, the issue has become completely widespread. What is the
appropriate solution to the Cyprus issue? I do not consider it appropriate
to explain my thoughts on this matter to those around me. However, it is
useful to outline the main points. In order to reach a favourable solution to
the Cyprus issue, without departing from Turkey's position of peace, it is
absolutely necessary to take practical steps in C y p r u s , following the
methods and approaches used by Greece.
BASIC VIEWS

It was necessary to create a Greek Cypriot entity. And finally, in 1974, a


de facto situation was created.
We have previously stated that Cyprus is a land parcel of great
importance to Turkey. To summarise briefly: Geologically, it is a land
parcel separated from Anatolia. From the Gulf of Iskenderun
It is a section of the Taurus Mountains that extends towards the
Mediterranean Sea and rises above sea level. In terms of geography, it is
also an island that completely controls and influences Turkey's Iskenderun
Bay, Ösel Bay and Antalya Bay. The island also controls the Syrian coast,
the Egyptian coast, the Suez Canal; in short, it has a geopolitical position
that controls the Eastern Mediterranean. However, military aircraft based
in Cyprus could bomb Ankara or Erzurum and return to their base.
However, military aircraft based in Cyprus would be able to bomb
Ankara, Erzurum, or any other location in Turkey and return. In addition
to this military importance, it is also useful to say a few words about the
economic situation of the island of Cyprus. The island of Cyprus is a piece
of land within the integrity of Anatolia. In other words, Cyprus
Unless it is nourished by Anatolia, unless it is reinforced by Anatolia
and added to Anatolia, it cannot be economically self-sufficient and
capable of survival. As long as it remains separate from Anatolia, it
has an impact that creates a deficiency in Turkey's economic life. In all
these respects, the island of Cyprus is a matter of existence or
extinction for Turkey. In terms of Turkey's military defence, Turkey's
economic
DII POLITICS.

From this perspective, it is of vital importance for Turkey. In addition to


this situation, the presence of one hundred and twenty-five thousand
Turks in the island also makes Cyprus a particularly important piece of
land for Turkey. Furthermore, the Turkish nation has historical roots in
Cyprus. Cyprus has never been under Greek rule or become part of
Greece at any point in history.
It lived under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years.
However, with the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey was forced to
relinquish its sovereignty over Cyprus. From this perspective, the Turkish
nation has rights over Cyprus.
. Taking all these factors into consideration,
It is becoming clear that Cyprus is of great importance to Turkey.
It was forcibly seized from Turkey, taken from the Turkish
nation at a difficult time, during a turbulent period, under pressure,
under the guise of "temporary occupation," and then prevented from
being returned to its rightful owner, the Turkish nation. Thus, by
bringing this to light and revealing the change of hands in Eibr1s, it
would be quite reasonable and fair for Turkey to demand that it be
returned to its rightful owner. Unfortunately, the Turkish governments
of the time never took this path. They contented themselves with
stating that Turkey had no Cyprus issue, that Cyprus was an internal
matter belonging to the British, or that we did not have the power to
intervene in Cyprus. This continued until July 1974. On the other
hand, the Greeks have consistently asserted throughout the world that
Cyprus belongs to Greece and that the British are unjustly subjugating
Cyprus.
BASIC VIEWS

They claimed that Cyprus should be given to Greece, that if Britain


needed Cyprus for military reasons, Greece was always ready to give
Britain bases that would meet its military needs, but that the
administration of Cyprus should be given to Greece., and thus
endeavoured for years to influence world public opinion that Cyprus
was Greek and should be given to Greece. These propaganda efforts
were not in vain. From time to time, there were uprisings in Cyprus
and guerrilla warfare against British rule •s› . These
wars were encouraged by Greece and secretly supported by the Greeks.
It was carried out under the command of Greek officers sent by the
local Greeks, who were armed with weapons brought onto the island.
Greece, despite being an ally and partner of England, did not
hesitate to use weapons to achieve its national rights and goals. In
response, Turkey remained silent and passive. This continued until
Britain, thinking, "If I bring Turkey into the picture, I can create a balance
against Greek pressure and Greek demands in the face of Turkey's claim
to rights over the island, and thus maintain my sovereignty over the
island," encouraged the Turkish government to put forward demands.

Our Foreign Ministry and the Cyprus issue

It is so strange that in 1949, when the CHP government was in power,


the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
335
DI YSYYASET

When Neemettin Sadak was travelling to Istanbul, journalists asked him


questions in Haydarpaa. They said: "The Greeks want Cyprus. Turkey
also has rights over Cyprus. What are your thoughts on this?" Sadak
responded to this question by stating, "Turkey has no issue with Cyprus.
This matter belongs entirely to England." Shortly thereafter, there was a
change in government. The DP won the 1950 elections
and came to power. When the same questions were asked of the then
Foreign Minister of the DP, the late Fuat Köprülü, he also stated, "Turkey
has no Cyprus issue."
He claimed that it was not his concern, that it was a matter for England.
The republican governments of that time displayed such cowardly and
senseless behaviour and attitudes, such timidity, on our own soil, which at
that time lay outside the present-day borders. However, emboldened by
the subsequent stance taken by the British, the Turkish government
asserted that Cyprus should not be given to Greece, but rather that Cyprus
should be given to Turkey. Following this, rallies were organised in
favour of giving Cyprus to Turkey. The youth held numerous meetings on
this issue. After this struggle continued for a while, the Turkish
government's stance became uncertain again. This time, the demand for
Cyprus to be annexed to Turkey was abandoned, and instead, a view was
put forward that proposed the partition of Cyprus between Turks and
Greeks with the slogan "Either partition or death".
In response, Greece has maintained its position from the outset.
That position is Enosis. That is, the complete union of Cyprus with Greece.
PINK PERSPECTIVE

It is clear that it belongs to Greece and must be united with Tunanistari.


There have been massacres on the island. Turkey has also
exerted its influence. Ultimately, the London and Zurich agreements were
signed in 1960.

According to these agreements, steps were taken to establish an


independent state on the island. There is no separate nation in Cyprus.
Those living on the island consist of two separate nations living there.
On one side are the Greeks. They consider themselves Greek and
speak Greek. They wish to join Greece. On the other side is the
Turkish community, which is part of the Turkish nation. They also
speak Turkish, consider themselves part of the Turkish nation, do not
want to come under Greek rule, and wish to unite with Turkey and
become part of Turkey.

Turkey's historical rights over Cyprus ( )

Turkey has historical rights over this island.


Cyprus is vital to Turkey's security and economic integrity. There are
many people of Turkish descent living on the island, and over 40 per cent
of the land is owned by Turks. When considering the issue of
population majority, we must not think of the population majority as the
population living on the island of Cyprus. We must consider the
population living within the geography of Anatolia, of which Cyprus is a
part. The vast majority of the population living within the geography of
Anatolia is Turkish. The Greeks are a minority within this overwhelming
majority.

F.: ’23
In most cases, they are a large minority. Therefore, it would be wrong
to think of the island of Cyprus as if it were a separate country from
the Anatolian geography and to conclude that the Greeks constitute
the majority of the population living there and that the Turks are a
minority. The island is part of the Anatolian geography. Therefore, if
the issue of self-determination is to be considered, the Turks should
again have the right to speak.
Therefore, the most equitable solution would be to grant the
entire island to Turkey and to guarantee the existence of the Greeks
by granting them minority rights. The Turks have provided the
broadest human rights to the nations they have allowed to live under
their rule. They have provided them with everything. Today, the
existence of Greece and other Balkan states are living examples that
prove the high qualities of the Turks.
Under current conditions, Turkey's proposed thesis should be a
view that guarantees the presence of Turks in Cyprus, anchors this
guarantee to sound principles, and seeks to establish a just balance that
will bring peace to the Eastern Mediterranean region. Taking into account
the international situation, this view can be realised as follows:
Maintaining a sufficient number of Turkish forces in Cyprus and, with a
new constitution, granting Turks full freedom in their own affairs and
equal authority in the administration of the Cypriot state. ensuring that
they can freely communicate and maintain contact with Turkey,
providing opportunities for joint management and use of sea and air
ports, disarming the armed Greek population, and the involvement of a
United Nations delegation.
J38
BASIC PRINCIPLES

The Cyprus issue after the Greek coup in July 1974

On 15 July 1974, when the coup d'état led by the murderous EOKA
leader Nikos Sampson took place in Cyprus, it became apparent that
Turkey was unprepared and caught off guard. Turkish governments
should always have been prepared to show the necessary reaction against
the Greeks, anticipating that such events would occur on the island. For
example, as soon as the Greek coup took place in Cyprus on 15 July, the
Turkish government should have immediately intervened by sending
military forces to the island.

"In the event of an invasion of the island, or an attack on our


compatriots in Cyprus, or if it is determined that the Greeks have begun to
introduce armed forces into Cyprus," taking into account many such
possibilities , Turkey had to plan its internal affairs in advance and take
action against such situations when they arose. On 15 July, it was seen
that Turkey was again unprepared in the face of the Greek coup.
The coup lasted for six days, from 15 July until the morning of 20 July.
During this period, the Greeks completed their preparations and took up
positions, effectively blocking Turkey's exit.
Prior to this, in December 1963, January 1964, and 1967,
circumstances arose that justified the intervention of our Armed Forces.
But at that time
339
republican governments regretfully failed to capitalise on these
opportunities.

The first operation and criticism

Along with Ges, the Turkish government reacted against the coup
attempt of 15 July and carried out the intervention that the Turkish people
had been waiting for over ten years. In this respect, it has achieved a
commendable success. However, the intervention carried out was not
comprehensive in terms of the forces used. The political objectives
announced by the Ecevit government as the reasons for the intervention
were declared by the Prime Minister as follows: "The constitutional order
established in Cyprus by the London and Zurich agreements has been
destroyed. We are intervening with the aim of re-establishing this
constitutional order. The second reason is to guarantee the security of
our compatriots living in Cyprus. The third reason is to establish peace in
Cyprus, the fourth reason is not to allow the balance achieved in the
Eastern Mediterranean to be disrupted, and the fifth reason is to block the
path to Enosis." Therefore, in order to achieve these political objectives, a
large number of forces must be deployed and a sufficiently large area must
be brought under military control in a short time. We have identified this
major shortcoming in the intervention undertaken by the government. On
the first day, a force of no more than 4-5 thousand was dispatched to the
island, which is a very small number. We have also determined that a
similarly inadequate force was dispatched on the second day.
BASIC OBSERVATIONS

This s >ar=Ian %Ige is only in the Girne region. No landings have been
made in other regions of the island. Finally, at the time the ceasefire was
accepted, the number of our forces, according to foreign agencies, was
only 13 or 15 thousand. The area our forces have brought under control
is a superior terrain measuring 30 km in width and 25 km in depth. This area
is very small.
The military forces deployed in the field are not sufficient to
guarantee the security of our compatriots in Cyprus, prevent Enosis, or re-
establish the constitutional order established in Cyprus by the London and
Zurich agreements. nor are they sufficient to re-establish the balance
established in the Eastern Mediterranean by the Treaty of Lausanne. The
Greeks will be able to bring as many forces, weapons and ammunition as
they want to the island from anywhere in the other parts of the country
whenever they want. They can make the preparations they want in secret.
In that respect, while I welcome this initiative with appreciation, I believe
that this historic opportunity has not been fully exploited in terms of the
amount of force used and the speed and scope of the action taken.
Consequently, I am confident that we will be able to achieve the political
objectives we have set for ourselves in the negotiations we will enter into
in Geneva. Instead of this approach, if sufficient Turkish forces had been
deployed to Cyprus in a short time, reinforced by four infantry divisions
and an armoured brigade, and at least half of the island had been occupied,
that is, if the Girne-Lefkoa - Limassol corridor were completely in
Turkish hands, and the Larnaca and Famagusta regions to the east were
also completely under Turkish occupation, this would be...
The dispute over the Green Line would have provided an advantage. The
security of the Turks would have been largely guaranteed, and a complete
balance would have been established in the Eastern Mediterranean, with
Turkey's security also guaranteed.
Finally, decisive intervention took place after the Geneva
Conference failed to reach an agreement. The heroic Turkish Armed
Forces secured the Green Line.

The definitive solution

It is clear that the Greek Cypriots, who have threatened the


Turkish presence on the island to date and will continue to do so in the
future, will not be able to live in peace unless they are isolated and
rendered harmless to the Turks. Despite all the good intentions of the
Republic of Turkey, if murders and massacres continue on the island
and all kinds of human rights violations against Turks persist, then
there is only one solution left. That is for Turkey to continue its
energetic approach, as it has demonstrated before.
We must accelerate extensive and planned propaganda activities to
enlighten world public opinion and win it over to our side, and in parallel,
we must undertake major and widespread diplomatic efforts.
To legalise the current de facto situation on the island and prevent
potential murders, it is necessary to launch a third operation on the island
and rid it of Greek settlers without leaving a single armed Greek behind.
The foremost measure to be taken is a propaganda campaign that will
neutralise Greek propaganda by exposing it for what it is.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

We must explain the facts and our just cause to world public opinion
through honourable, broad, continuous and sustained propaganda
activities and gain acceptance for them. The economic development of
Cyprus is also one of the most important issues.
Turkey possesses words and measures that will have a very positive
effect on Greece. Cyprus and the Aegean Sea, the continental shelf...
In matters of sovereignty, it is necessary to engage in planned propaganda,
to engage in planned activities, and to engage in planned diplomatic
activity. Indolence and stagnation are not the way forward. The Turkish
nation, the future generations of Turkey, must never forget this. As long as
the Greeks continue to engage in activities against us, as long as their
books contain ideas and writings claiming rights over our lands, and as
long as they continue to instil these ideas in their children, and as long as
the press continues to behave in a manner that is always hostile towards us
and expresses greed and desire for our homeland, the goal of the Turkish
nation is the islands that are part of Thessaloniki, Western Thrace and
Anatolia.
NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY

The happiest ideal is for a nation to live as an independent, free,


strong and prosperous state. Although civilisation has advanced greatly on
earth today, and the United Nations Organisation exists, the life of every
nation depends on the defence and security measures it takes. Our friend
and ally...
The attacks and events that Pakistan, a divided country, has faced in
recent years have demonstrated that every nation must be strong and
ensure its own security in order to protect its national rights and interests.
Otherwise, neither the United Nations Organisation nor the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights can sufficiently protect a state's
independence and territorial integrity. As the Republic of Turkey, we too
are obliged to ensure our own security and national defence. Today, mo-
Weapons, equipment and tools have advanced. They require industrial
power and high scientific and technical capabilities. Since our nation has
not yet advanced in science, technology and industry, we cannot produce
the weapons and equipment necessary for our defence ourselves. We either
have to obtain them from our allies' assistance xml-ph-
0000@[Link] or purchase them.
We cannot produce these weapons, equipment, and tools ourselves. We
must either obtain them through the assistance of our allies or purchase
them with money
347
iszvu A

We must purchase them. Today's advanced modern weapons and


equipment are very expensive. However, a nation's independence and
freedom are above all else. Protecting our state and ensuring the security
of our homeland's integrity is a matter worthy of any sacrifice. For this
reason, Turkey must be superior to all its neighbours in the region, except
for the Soviet Union, in terms of national defence capabilities and must
maintain this superiority. In doing so, it is the duty of the administrators to
find a way to avoid hindering economic and social development.
It is impossible to live in a state of trust, believing in the good
intentions of others. Those who govern Turkey have made serious
mistakes in past years, and Turkey's mil-
They have neglected their own security. Above all, we must rely on our
own armed forces. Possessing military forces superior to those of our
neighbours outside the Soviet Union must be an unchanging national
policy for Turkey. The capabilities of the Turkish nation and the peaceful
stance pursued since the founding of the Republic are useful factors in
enabling Turkey to present itself to other nations.
The Middle East and the Far East are pregnant with surprising and
momentous events. We must put national unity and solidarity above all
else, rise above internal political sensitivities, and make sacrifices, be
patient, anticipate events, and take bold steps to protect our national
existence and integrity.
NATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY

For years, the Turkish nation, which has fallen into a backward
and miserable state as a result of inexplicable neglect, has been facing
internal and external threats that endanger its existence, the integrity
of its state, and its independence. The treacherous movements
originating from outside sources that seek to undermine our country
from within, and the competition between states occurring throughout
the world, especially the Cyprus, Aegean Sea and Middle East issues
that have affected our homeland, have ignited a great awakening in
the Turkish people. Today, we as a nation understand this with
certainty: the Turkish state and Turkish existence cannot survive with
the mindsets and policies that have prevailed until now. Turkey must
make bold and radical moves and leaps forward, remaining faithful to
the spirit of its national culture and history. It must aim to reach the
level of the most advanced nations and states and strive towards this
goal.
In order to achieve this within the required timeframe, we must come
together as a nation, with our politicians, public sector, private sector,
workers and businesspeople, military and press, with sacred enthusiasm
and zeal.
While planning to reach the level of contemporary civilisation
through modern scientific methods, one must not overlook a crucial point:
A mindset that sidelines the Turkish genius, nurtured by diverse cultures
and civilisations, and prioritises imitation and plagiarism cannot foster
creativity, initiative, or proposals that lead to great achievements. Those
who have determined Turkey's destiny to date have chosen this path,
which they saw as easy and effortless, in order to achieve results quickly.
We must swiftly distance ourselves from this mindset, which has been
prevalent for many years and is now driving Turkey into panic. The book
that keeps track of facts, movements, and photographs is the national
conscience. Every development, every discovery springs from human
thought. The silent mind, however, draws its constructive, creative power
from national cultures. It is possible for a person who draws on
cosmopolitan or foreign cultures to understand and assimilate these
cultural values and to make original contributions based on these values.
This is because, in the world order of nations, a person's understanding
and assimilation of their own culture is based on the education they
received from childhood and the national heritage they inherited from
their history.
I believe I have pointed out a fundamental error that has persisted for
many years.
in this way.
Without concern for the fate of the nation and the state; it is
wrong to consider it sufficient and valid to pursue only material gain in a
way that stirs up the envy of the masses. We are bound to each other by
the bonds of shared destiny among the people aboard this ship. If we rise,
we rise together; if we sink, we sink together.
BASIC VIEWS

Today in Turkey, foreign ideological propaganda seeking to steer


the country's main issues in certain directions is rapidly developing. One
of the important aspects of the success of this propaganda is the creation
of a negative perception of the private sector. Propaganda insisting that
free enterprise is to blame for the difficulties Turkey finds itself in is
being persistently pursued by certain centres.

The state must fulfil its duty.

Unfortunately, the development policies implemented to date have


often run counter to our national interests. In the 20th century, the
Turkish State should not engage in textile manufacturing. The public
sector and the private sector must be freed from destructive competition
that harms the national economy. To this end, the areas of activity of both
sectors should be broadly defined and structured to complement and
complete each other. The state should establish and develop strategic
sectors: the basic chemical industry, the heavy machinery and equipment
industry, and the defence industry. The economic policy currently being
implemented, under the name of a mixed economy, consists of a series of
measures that are uncertain and do not inspire confidence. Today, the
state sector operates 150 billion in production capital, unfortunately with
less than $» l in capital productivity. In contrast, the private sector pays 5
billion in taxes to the state from its 10 billion profit with 50 billion in
production capital. Those who pay their taxes honestly, whose goal in
every economic activity is the national interest...
NATIONAL DEFENCE

We believe that honest and courageous businesspeople who pay their


taxes honestly and are conscious that their economic activities are in the
national interest deserve praise and appreciation.
The national industry is a whole. It is pointless to even discuss
giving priority to the war industry. A country's standing at home and
abroad depends on its modern military power. Under current conditions,
in order to meet all the needs of our defence force, it is necessary to
establish and develop the military industry sector of the national industry.
This may require time, along with various factors. However, this time
must be minimised.
requires sacrifice. and every price must be paid
. I am fully confident that the Turkish economy, which has been brought to
a stable and secure environment
, I am fully confident that the Turkish economy can achieve this goal in a
very short time.

We must possess atomic weapons.

Our w o r l d has entered the age of electronic missiles and atomic


weapons. Today, nine states possess atomic weapons
. Greece, Iran and Israel, among others, are also on the path to acquiring
this weapon. Russia and other neighbours possess this
. Turkey's situation
is serious. In order to maintain our existence and independence, we must
seek and find the means to obtain the same capabilities. We must begin-
.g=çta say= tak=m=ndan az da olsa, atom silah=na sahtp Türkiye'nin millî
savunmas= tart=mas=z kabul edile-rektir. Böylece de dünya siyasetinde
eiddî a;=rl=k ifade

352
TSM£I6 VIEWS

We will have achieved an important position. Industrialisation as a whole,


and allocating significant resources to the defence industry for this
purpose, is not the goal for Turkey. Our goal is to reach the level of the
age we live in and to reach the most advanced level. I have mentioned
electronics, missiles and atomic weapons. This should be Turkey's goal.
To this end, all necessary measures must be taken by the state, the private
sector, and the nation. Looking at the situation our country finds itself in
today, it is necessary to be pessimistic.
Based on the views derived from the history and national culture of
the Turkish nation, I believe that it will overcome all obstacles and reach
the level of advanced nations on earth.

The issue of phantom aircraft

The ability of a nation to live freely and independently depends,


above all, on its own strength. Among the various elements that constitute
the power of a state, preserving its independence and territorial integrity is
fundamental. The basis of a nation's national defence forces is its armed
forces. Comprising three main branches—land, air, and sea forces—the
armed forces one day represent the distinction of a society in terms of its
material and moral qualities and capabilities. In our time, science and
technology have advanced considerably. Modern weapons, equipment,
and vehicles are evolving and changing daily.
3s3
F.: 23
NATIONAL DEFENCE

If a nation is advanced in science, technology and civilisation, its


armed forces will also be advanced and powerful. It is impossible for a
society that is backward in civilisation and science to have advanced and
powerful armed forces. This is because it cannot produce the weapons and
equipment based on the advanced technology of the age in which it lives.
It is forced to purchase them from advanced countries with money or to
obtain them through political agreements and exchanges of interests. This
is like trying to turn a mill with water. Therefore, nations that wish to live
freely and independently, that wish to protect their existence, that wish to
realise their national ideals, must rapidly develop in science, technology
and civilisation. Modern weapons and equipment are prohibitively
expensive.
It is expensive. Unless we can produce these items in our own country with
our own factories
and with the knowledge and manual labour of our own people. If we
resort to purchasing them with money, acquiring these very expensive
weapons and equipment will disrupt our country's economic situation and
prosperity. Furthermore, after acquiring a new weapon, become
obsolete due to new inventions. obsolete.
and it must be renewed. In this regard, it would be more appropriate to
prevent conflicts of interest between nations and to ensure this. On the
other hand, science and technology must be rapidly advanced
and industrialisation must be pursued.
Despite the general views outlined above, the preservation,
continuation, and continuous advancement of the Turkish nation's existence
is a matter that supersedes all else. For our independence, the homeland
“ 3S4
BASIC PRINCIPLES

, a movement and sacrifice that cannot be undertaken for the integrity


of our nation and the honourable existence of our people. Turkey is
surrounded by ten different states on land and sea. One of these is Soviet
Russia. The Soviet Union today constitutes one of the five most advanced
superpowers in the world. Soviet Russia possesses the world's largest
military forces. Although Turkey has superior forces in terms of numbers,
it is surrounded by about 15 large nations and states that are hostile to it.
In addition, it is surrounded by hostile nations in the air, at sea, and on
land.
, but it is also bordered by about 15 large nations and states that are hostile
to it. Furthermore, it faces other superpowers in the air, at sea, on land,
and in space. It is obliged to organise and use its superior forces
accordingly. This special-
Considering its size, Turkey can be considered to have forces at its
disposal in the region that can, to a certain extent, balance Turkey's
power.
Turkey is compelled to protect its own existence s •
and must find ways to achieve it. For this reason, it is essential that the
Turkish Armed Forces always possess a deterrent, dissuasive quality,
a spirit, and superiority. Those who govern our state must always keep
the Turkish Armed Forces ready for action. Furthermore, in terms of
national defence capabilities, it is an unchanging policy for us to be
superior to our neighbours, with the exception of Soviet Russia.

The issue of Phantom aircraft has sparked heated debate among our
statesmen. Phantom aircraft are superior air weapons. In a nutshell,
**#
3S5
They are superior to other types of aircraft in terms of the altitude they
can climb, their speed, and the tasks they perform. They are capable of
carrying out bombing, fighter, and reconnaissance missions in all weather
conditions, day and night. They can also drop atomic bombs. Thanks to
modern innovations, they can hit their targets with unerring accuracy
without putting themselves in danger. One of these aircraft is worth 75
million lira of our currency. Experts say that one of these aircraft is worth
thirty of the old aircraft. Our neighbour, the Iranian Air Force, has had
126 of these aircraft, or 7 squadrons, for two years now. It is also known
that the Israeli Air Force has had them for two years and is using them.
Recently, they have also begun to be supplied to our ally Greece.
According to our friend Osman, who flies to and from Athens, Yurian
pilots are being trained in Phantom aircraft belonging to the sixth
squadron at Athens Airport. In addition to these, the armed forces of our
other neighbours also have modern aircraft, weapons and vehicles. The
armed forces of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Romania
It is particularly equipping Bulgarian forces with the most modern
weapons and equipment. Furthermore, in light of recent agreements with
Syria and Iraq, the Soviet Union is supplying these countries with modern
weapons. In view of all these developments, it is clear that Turkey must
maintain superiority in its national defence capabilities.
must maintain superior national defence capabilities. For the Turkish Air
Force, the only way to ensure superiority in the current state of peace is to
possess 200 Phantom aircraft, making it the largest fleet in the world.
356
T •B£BI• GÖRÜ,IWIt

This requires having 10 or 12 fleets. If purchased with money, the


cost would be 200 US dollars per unit, amounting to 15 billion lira. It is
not appropriate for Turkey to incur such an expense, which is detrimental
to its industrialisation and economic development. It is necessary and
possible for various state institutions to meet these needs through political
means. For this, we must be very vigilant and not be swept along by
events. Considering developments in modern strategy and world politics,
negotiations should be conducted with our allies and friends. The strategic
and political plans regarding the Middle East currently pursued by the
United States and our other allied states are inadequate and flawed.
Identifying and explaining this with all the evidence and reasons, and
correcting and changing the stance and course of action is of vital
importance for Turkey.
An excerpt from Alparslan Türke's interrogation in the 1944
"Racism-Turanism" case.

Bâlön= — In the 8th investigation decision, you stated that you had heard the
testimony of the witness. What do you have to say in response to this?
Türheg — Your Honour, I would first like to ask your permission to say a few
words about a point that deeply saddens me. In the final investigation decision, I,
along with the other defendants, have been accused of treason. I vehemently deny
this. I love my nation and my homeland more than anything else on earth. I am, in
the absolute sense of the word, a patriotic, homeland-loving Turkish officer.
Regarding the final investigation decision concerning me:
•It is stated that he is so nationalistic, racist and negative that he
overshadows Ats=s. I wish to present my thoughts on these concepts to you. I
have always believed in the principles accepted by my state and have never
deviated from respecting and obeying them. I am a good nationalist, but I do not
believe in the meaning attributed to it.
I am not a racist. You want to divide the country and create hostility.
I have no idea what might lead to such a situation. I only believe that the
Turkish nation possesses a unique creation on earth and that there is no nation
superior to this nation in terms of greatness. I cite the War of Independence as
the closest example of this. Surrounded on all sides, it was thanks to our
resilience and superior nature that we prevailed against an enemy ten or twenty
times our size in every respect, rescued our independence, raised our flag
that had fallen to the ground, and restored it once more. This stems from our
national character. I am proud of this. To put it briefly in military terms
3ö1
as follows: A Turkish platoon can easily defeat three, five, or even more enemy platoons.
And it has done so...

First, we would like to ask you about this point: We would like to know your
opinion on the idea that there are no people in Turkey who come from a purely
leftist background and are of mixed ethnicity.
TürRe — Today, the principle accepted and implemented by our state is, in
my opinion, the most correct and reasonable principle. That is, while viewing
Turkishness as superior to everything else, non-Turkish elements should also be
represented in a very short time, both culturally and through persuasion... I also
consider this to be correct. As for administration: My personal opinion is that it is
appropriate for important tasks to be carried out by individuals who are either
entirely Turkish, that is, who are represented and consider themselves to be nothing
other than Turkish, or who are of Turkish descent.
Jfâhim — W h a t about mixed races?
Türhe — I have stated, sir, that since it is a Turkish matter, I do not
consider it right to search for it on the grounds that the grandfather or
grandmother was like that.
Prosecutor — Sir, he says he will accept it if it is mixed. Judge — So, he says he
will accept those who say " " is Turkish and " " is Turkish ( ) and will not
accept those who say " " ( ).
:presentation?
Türke[ — Those who have fully embodied Turkishness... Sir, it is not enough
to say they are wrong. Today, a Jew could come and say, "I am Turkish." But his
language is not Turkish, his traditions are not Turkish. Everything is different. He
cannot be called Turkish. What I am saying is that he must be Turkish in his
traditions, language, and everything else.
............................ ..... .
Tlahim — What are your thoughts on Turanism? ? Türke — In
my opinion, the Turkish nation is concerned about everything.
. We must strive to reach the highest level in science, knowledge, industry,
economics, and other fields in our country... Tu-
.ran, that is, Turkish unity is not just those in Asia, but all Turks. That is, in the
scientific sense, other than , all
.Witrklerdlr. The Turkish unity is not limited to those in Asia alone, but also includes
the Bulgarians-
TSS£BI• GÖRÜ,EZR

rtstendakl, a concept that includes Turks in Greece and other regions.


Gâkim — Haz=rLk tahkiWt=n0a: °KasaL nütuslu nations are exposed
to danger. You say, "Therefore, at the first opportunity, all Turks must unite."
Tiirhe[ — Sir, let me explain: These are merely my personal wishes.
Naturally, you are correct in saying that there are many factors that constitute the
strength of a state. One of these is the state's population. This may be one of the
wishes for Turkish unity. I wish to clarify this. Today, our population is small. I did
not say we should immediately march towards a defeated region to increase it. This
is also a matter for the future. And it constitutes a strength for our state.
President Pasha — Well, how can we take advantage of this situation?

Zürke[ — Sir, for example, just as in 1917, a revolution could occur in


Russia in 1965 or 1999. By that time, Turkey will have advanced in terms of its
war industry, science and knowledge. And with Turkey's cooperation, this union
can be achieved. That is the opportunity.
Bagkan Pasha — What will be the borders of the union?
Türke — The unification of Turks under the Turkish flag...
President Pasha — Are we talking about geographical borders?
Türke — Sir, the geographical borders are the places where Turks are
located.
President Pasha — You just said all Turks. There is a certain type in
Bulgaria. Is there one in Iran, in the hands of the British?
Türûe[ — Sir, just as the largest Turkish population is in Russia, Russia is
also our greatest enemy for other reasons, other factors. It is Russia that has
brought us to this state, that has bitten us, that has torn our empire apart. It is also
Russia that, due to our current situation, forces us to wander and struggle. That is
why, in my opinion, our greatest enemy is Russia. Bulgaria is small. Iran is behind
us in every respect. As for the British, they have Cyprus in their hands. And there
are seventy to eighty thousand Turks in Cyprus.

36.3
Alpaislan Türke's radio address announcing the 27 May 1960 coup
as the "27 May National Unity Movement"

The Turkish Armed Forces have taken control of the country's administration
due to the crisis that has engulfed our democracy and the recent violent
incidents, and in order to prevent a civil war. Our armed forces have taken this
action to rescue the parties from the situation they have fallen into and, under the
supervision and arbitration of a neutral administration above the parties, to hold fair
and free elections as soon as possible and to hand over the administration to those
who win the elections, regardless of which side they belong to. and to hand it
over to the w i n n e r s . This undertaking is n o t subject to any conditions or
restrictions. No one shall attempt any act that infringes upon the rights of others, nor
shall any such act be tolerated. Regardless of their beliefs and which party they
belong to, every citizen will be treated according to the principles of law and justice.
All citizens must remember that they are children of the same nation, descended from
the same stock, and must treat each other with respect and understanding, without
animosity. is
essential for the alleviation of our grievances and the preservation of our national
existence. We request that individuals belonging to the opposition seek refuge in the
Turkish Armed Forces. T h e i r safety is guaranteed. To our allies, our
compatriots, and the whole world
We are committed to this. Our goal is full compliance with the United Nations
Charter and the Principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Atatürk's
principle of "Peace at home, peace in the world" is our banner. We are faithful to all
our commitments and obligations. We believe in and are committed to NATO. We
believe in and are committed to CENTO. We repeat our conviction: "Peace at home,
peace in the world."
. 364
's letter to the then President of the Republic, Cemal Gürsel,
stating that if the High Court of Justice sentences Alparslan Türke to
death, the sentence should not be carried out.

New Delhi — India


7 August 1961
General,
I never intended to write. However, today it has become necessary to bring
certain matters to your attention regarding the high interests of the State.
The High Court of Justice will pass judgement on the former members of the
government within a few days. It is imperative not to interfere with the course of
justice and to remain impartial at all times. However, it has been deemed worthy of
further examination when the sentences are carried out in light of the current
situation in the country.
If the sentences handed down by the High Court of Justice include death
sentences, it would be beneficial to reduce these sentences to life imprisonment ( )
and to consider commuting them ( ) ( ) ( ). Because:
a) The execution of death sentences will further increase the unrest that
has arisen in society due to the many missteps taken since 3 November.
b) The implementation of death sentences will provoke reactions against
our nation and state abroad.
ci In the event of the imposition of death penalties, the hatred and animosity
dividing the nation will intensify, and the objective of 27 May will be hindered in its
development of the spirit of unity.
c) In response to the objections listed above, there is no justification
whatsoever for imposing such penalties on the country.
DOCUMENTS

Essentially, the imposition of death penalties for political crimes is


incompatible with today's standards of humanity.
In addition to the considerations listed above, the following points must
also be examined from a legal perspective.
I — The final review of death sentences handed down by the High Court of
Justice was the responsibility of the 27 MAY NATIONAL UNITY COMMITTEE,
which was the sole legitimate legislative body at the time the relevant law came into
force.
II — Today, however, the legislative body is not solely the 13 November
Committee, but the Constituent Assembly, which is formed jointly with the
Assembly of Representatives.
III — According to the Turkish Constitution, the final review of death sentences
is the responsibility of the legislative bodies. Therefore, it is impossible for the death
sentences to be handed down by the High Court of Justice today to be reviewed solely by
the 3 November Committee.
Otherwise, I remind you that you will be held accountable before the nation and
history.
Yours sincerely,
&lparsIan Türkes

366
Alparslan Türke's letter dated 30 March 1962 and published in the
10th issue of Millî Yol regarding the execution of death sentences

Delhi, 19 May
1962

Dear brother .............................................................Sir,


I received your heartfelt and sincere letter dated 14 August 1961. You are
right in your sorrow and indignation. Never lose your faith. Menderes (may
Allah have mercy on him) was wrong, and Inönü, together with his followers,
had plunged the country into chaos and disorder with their intrigues and
corruption. I intervened in this conflict to stop the parties from fighting and,
above all, to protect the country from the CHP's intrigues. Because what really
matters is protecting and saving the Turkish nation, the poor Turkish villagers,
the Turkish people, not parties or factions. After 27 May, I always strove for
impartial and fair administration. However, those who saw me as an obstacle to
their own interests, ambitions, and corruption attempted to assassinate me, and I
was forcibly exiled when my front door was broken down in the middle of the
night. After 27 May, I persuaded Menderes and his friends to go to Switzerland.
However, due to the opposition of Muclp Atakl=, Osman Köksal, Ekrem
Acuner, Gemsl Madano;lu, Gami Eüçük, Flkret Kuytak and ................, who
were agents of the G.£f.P. within the committee and the army, this initiative
failed.
They were scattered and became soulless... and with their discord, I deviated from
my initial decision.
From here, I wrote another letter to them, Yass=aaa
36’7
BELYGL£'1R

I requested that they not consent to the execution of the death sentences to be imposed
on the defendants...
Learning that three people had been executed, I was deeply saddened, just as
you are. May God grant our nation and homeland peace and happiness in the near
future.
I send you my warmest regards and kiss your eyes. I await news of your health
and wellbeing.
Alparslan Türkes
Alparslan Türke's defence in the 20/21 May events trial

14 August 1963

(This defence was made orally and is reproduced below exactly as it was
recorded in the court minutes.)
It is now crystal clear that we had no connection to the events of 20/21 May
and that we have been unjustly, unfairly and deliberately implicated in this case.
Why were we implicated in this case? Yes, there was indeed a major incident in the
country on 20/21 May. And, of course, the country's legitimate government was
responsible for responding to it. But what are the reasons that prevent us from being
involved in this case? I will now summarise this before you, , . I, , and
As is well known, we were among those who organised the 27 May movement, and
in the period following 27 May, we also took on responsibilities in the service of the
country for a time. We never described the 27 May movement as a revolution. We
called this movement a security movement or the White Revolution. Indeed, after 27
May, we called the book we prepared and published on this subject at the Prime
Ministry the White Revolution. 27 May was not a revolution; it was not prepared as
a revolution. We are therefore people who participated in 27 May. Before 27 May,
our identity was that of modest officers serving in the Turkish Army. These services
were always appreciated during my time in the army, and I performed them in the
army's high ranks. Until 27 May, there was nothing in our lives that would invite
anyone's suspicion. 27 May is a public holiday by law.
DOCUMENTS

It is a holiday that has been established and is one of the national holidays.
Therefore, protesting on 27 May and then taking up a position in the civil service
cannot be a crime... So why were we sent abroad on 13 November? No one can
hold us responsible for 13 November. Essentially, 13 November has caused us
injustice, and being sent abroad and assigned duties has been in accordance with
the current May 7th Agreement. I will not dwell on this any further...
My duty is also evident abroad. Wherever we were sent, we always worked
for the happiness and welfare of our country and nation. After 13 November, a
group called the 14s emerged. We did not establish the 24s. The 14s discussed
many national issues at their last meeting in Brussels on 2 August 1962Afterwards,
the 14s discussed the fact that they were not and could not be a group, and
ultimately decided that the former officers known as the 14s should henceforth live
their lives independently as citizens within the country, according to their own
convictions. This decision was communicated to the domestic and foreign press.
This decision was published in various newspapers on 3 August 1962
and announced to the general public. The 14 had not, in fact, taken collective
action before this. Therefore, there is nothing to suggest that we bear any
responsibility in this regard.
After that, some of our Peyderpex friends returned home. I arrived here at the
end of February 1963. From the moment I set foot on Turkish soil in Edirne, I was
welcomed with great affection, even though I was not affiliated with any political
party. This was a manifestation of the people's love for us, as well as their
expectation of service. Even before returning to the country, I had decided to serve
the nation within the framework of the Constitution and the laws. And I was
certain that I would be of no benefit to the country. Twenty days passed after my
arrival in the country until the events of 21 May. And at the end of those twenty
days, we were thrown into prison. Were my actions suspicious during this time?
These two months and 20 days passed under the watchful eye of the security
forces. My home was always under the supervision of four security officers. My
travels were monitored by the security forces.

f70
TEMEE GÖRI/,LER

We have rejected the proposals. The statement we made at that time is also
clear. I have declared that all our activities will be within the framework of the
Constitution and laws.
The activities I have undertaken are within the rights granted by the Constitution
and
consisted of establishing a legitimate organisation. Separately, I have made repeated
statements to strengthen the democratic order in the country. For example, in my
statement published in the Yeni Gün newspaper on 16 March, I clearly stated that a
coup in the country would be a disaster, and that even contemplating a coup would
be treason. After that, a coup is not carried out every day, every year. I stated that
this would cause great harm to the country. So, given that these things are so clear,
why are my friends and I implicated in the events of 20/21 May? Now, it will be
possible to deduce the reason from the points I will present in order . Before
addressing these incidents, the prosecution, in its opinion on the main charge,
demonstrated a sense of justice by requesting my acquittal, as it did not consider
the allegations in the final indictment to be valid. I am grateful for this. However,
the investigation decision
contains unfounded and baseless accusations. The High Court, in its decision dated
24 July, has taken into account the offence described in Article 151 of the Turkish
Penal Code, and we have prepared our defence accordingly. To date, I
have endeavoured to speak as much as possible. The reason for this is that, as much
as considering the high interests of the state, we have also strived not to offend
those who might be offended by our statements. Because I believe in the principle
that, instead of chasing after the past and wasting human resources, those who have
understood their mistakes should be rewarded and utilised for the benefit o f the
country. However, this restraint of ours has led certain circles to harbour erroneous
thoughts and misinterpret historical events. Because we have encountered words
and events that indicate this, both the activities of the National Unity Committee
and the misconceptions that have arisen about 27 May
To clarify my thoughts and opinions, I found it useful to make some brief
explanations and offer certain corrections:
Among those most deeply saddened by the events engulfing the country
today are the members of the . Had the 27 May movement been carried out
according to the plans of those who orchestrated it, the country would have been
spared these sufferings...

471
DOCUMENTS

MBR's Liberation: MBR was founded one evening in 1958 in Gençlik Park.
Its founders were nine or ten young men. Even before this, many patriotic officers
within the army had gathered in groups around certain ideas. However, the
establishment of such an organisation under this name took place on 14 August
1958, as I mentioned earlier. Following the establishment of the MBK, the then
Commander of the Land Forces, General Gemal Gürsel, was also appointed to the
Committee. The Committee ensured unity in its preparations and work; it did not
make any distinctions between senior officers, junior officers, generals, or petty
officers, but rather considered it essential to prevent any deviation from the chosen
course of action. The planning of 27 May has sometimes given rise to rumours in
various circles that there was no real plan, that it was poorly executed. These are the
words of those who do not know the truth, the inner workings of the preparations.
The 27 May movement was planned in a very beautiful and exemplary manner. That
is why, on the morning of 27 May, the armed forces took control of the entire
administration in just 3.5 hours. The fact that the armed forces accomplished this
without harming a single citizen earned them great admiration both at home and
abroad and led to the armed forces being p r a i s e d .
The aim of 27 May, in summary, was to put an end to the situation that had
arisen at that time, to end the civil strife, to establish national unity and to ensure a
non-partisan administration. Meanwhile, as we mentioned during the investigation,
two views emerged. S o m e of our colleagues advocated bringing the CHP to
power immediately. This view was deemed problematic from our perspective for the
following reasons:
Such an attitude was considered detrimental to the army. Because in that case,
the army would have missed the party, joined forces with it, and stood against part of
the nation. This was contrary to national unity and the concept of armed forces. On
the other hand, it was also detrimental to democracy. Because such an attitude would
destroy democracy in the country and pave the way for a single-party dictatorship.
On the other hand, it was unacceptable to us because its existence in the country
would be detrimental and fatal to the parties that were the foundation of the
democratic regime and to the CHP. Ultimately, this movement would run its course.
Subsequently, this party-
BASIC PRINCIPLES

So, you provoked the army because you couldn't take power through elections,
through legal means. It would be said that you came to power by force. Thus, these
accusations would become the decision of this party, leading to the party's
withdrawal from life. This was my firm belief, and it was also accepted by the
majority of our comrades, and it was decided that a joint administration would be
established.
One of the goals of the National Unity Committee was to bring the Turkish
nation to a state of unity. For us, it has been 163 years since Selim I began the
process of modernisation and Westernisation. Japan then embarked on
Westernisation in 1860. It succeeded in this endeavour within forty-five years,
achieving great success in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. We, on the other hand,
have been striving for 163 years to achieve success in our attempts at
modernisation and development. We considered these points while preparing for 27
May and came to the following conclusion. It is not enough to merely adopt the
outward appearance of the West. We must understand Western science and
knowledge, their principles and methods, and make them our own.
We also addressed the issue of putting an end to the disrespect and disregard
shown towards the Turkish Armed Forces. I will not dwell on this point. Soldiers
know what this means.
Our objectives included implementing a major agricultural reform and
establishing a social welfare institution that would serve all citizens. In our
country, individuals are independent and self-reliant. Such institutions exist in
other countries. No citizen is left without assistance. This required a broad social
welfare system. It was also necessary to mobilise internally. According to official
statistics, our people are productive for six months of the year, while the remaining
eight months are idle. Evaluating this and resolving this issue was among our
programme's objectives. - To enlighten our people through the fine arts and
literature, to achieve national unity and national awakening, to mobilise the people
for economic development, to activate the energy of the people, to increase
[Link] main goals, which were also part of our plan, were to establish a
truly democratic order. To this end, we immediately convened a Constituent
Assembly and prepared a Constitution.
DOCUMENTS

The primary objective was to adapt existing laws to the National Unity
Committee. During this period, the membership of National Unity Committee
members in a political party or their withdrawal from such a party was also among
the matters planned prior to 27 May. The claim that 27 May was based on a political
party is incorrect. 27 May was not based on a party. Neither before nor during the
27 May events were any retired officers included in the organisation of the
National Unity Committee or in 27 May. No retired officers participated in the 27
May operation ( *). The statements that the period after 27 March was not planned
are inaccurate. To summarise these points:
It is possible to put it. After 27 May, many activities were prepared in advance
and carried out according to plan from 1960 to 1961. In this context, the State
Planning Organisation was established and began operations. On the morning of
27 May, all martial law restrictions in the country were lifted. Prisons were opened.
Political prisoners were released. The following day, the British Ambassador said
the following during his visit to the Head of State: "In every country, military
intervention always leads to the restriction of freedoms. Eight hours after the
coup, you lifted all restrictions. You emptied the prisons and released political
prisoners. This is something astonishing and admirable." In addition, with the
amendments made to the Reserve Officers Act, the national education campaign was
attempted to be resolved, and this issue was considered as a remedy, which was also
beneficial. Furthermore, the Intellectual Workers Law, the Army Mutual Aid
Association, the movement to rejuvenate the army, the socialisation of medicine, and
the establishment of the Turkish Cultural Association all took place during this
period. Work on democratic institutions such as the bicameral parliament and the
Constitutional Court also took place during this period. The abolition of
administrative councils saved the state 100 million. Sending newspapers to the
barracks and the matters mentioned above were the first tasks implemented and
completed within the first six months. This was the situation after 27 May. The first
thing we did to achieve success on 27 May was to bind ourselves to the Constitution
with the law we named Law No. 1. No other country has ever seen such a thing in a
military intervention. However, the architects of 27 May immediately drafted the
Constitution ( geçici Anayasay= naz=rlam=lar, buna tabi olmulard=r.
After 27 May , the main problems we encountered were as follows
: Some administrators at the head of the CHP were rushing to form a
government. In contrast, at that time
3?EMEI• GORÜÇMR

administrators of the existing People's Party were arguing that an early election should
not be held because their illnesses and preparations were not complete. Meanwhile,
many citizens from many circles were being subjected to incitement, provocation and
denunciations. We tried not to pay attention to these. We did not pay attention to the
proposals to close the DP. This was because we desired the continuation of the
democratic system with all parties existing in the country. The DP was dissolved
following a complaint filed with the court. It was dissolved by court order because it
had not held a congress for two years.
We had considered deporting some members of the former regime from the
country. However, the authorities did not allow this. We tried to prevent the recent
riots. Our efforts to prevent them led to comments against us. We did not take sides and
were trying to protect all citizens. On the one hand, o u r refusal to heed the pressure to
take sides gave rise to rumours that we were on the other side, which were unfair and
unfounded. From time to time, illegal actions were being carried out in various places.
Someone was causing trouble, forcibly taking the seals from the village headmen and
arbitrarily appointing new ones. We were fighting against these things. One day, the
then Minister of Tourism sent two of his associates to me. One of them was this
person's sister. I received them. The woman cried, complaining that her husband was
the Mayor of Uak, but one night, after midnight, the gendarmerie and police had
dragged him out of bed and taken him away. The Deputy Chairman of the Hall Party
was also among the gendarmerie commanders. The woman who was crying was the
sister of the current government's Minister of Press, Publications and Tourism.
Naturally, we intervened in such illegal acts. Our efforts to investigate these matters
worked against us. We were not party members or partisans. We were simply trying to
serve the nation in the spirit that our army had instilled in us.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Assistance, the labour mobilisation, and the
cultural associations were addressed. Cultural associations launched a cultural
campaign in villages with 20 teams. Meanwhile, on the one hand, some politicians
urged us to apply revolutionary methods.
DOCUMENTS

It was recommended that we not engage in long-term projects. "Your task is


complete. You have carried out the coup, hold elections quickly and leave," they
said. In contrast, another group of citizens and organisations said, "Do not go to the
elections yet, as the conditions are not favourable," as I mentioned earlier. They
said, "The National Unity Administration has been accepted. Make the necessary
preparations for a while longer, let the conditions be favourable, and then go to the
elections."
We were considering the necessity of drafting the Constitution and the
dissolution of the courts, caught between these two demands. and
during this period, we were considering the idea of the National Unity Committee
becoming a political party. While we were exerting ourselves with such good
intentions and honesty, it was being claimed that we were deliberately pro-
dictatorship. However, since 7 May, my motto in various speeches and meetings has
been: These words belong to a Hungarian poet. He says: "I would sacrifice my life,
my freedom, for love." Therefore, everywhere and always, I have fundamentally
advocated freedom and democracy. Meanwhile, it was also claimed that I was a
Turkic nationalist. Explaining the internal dynamics of the Turkic nationalist cause
woul
d take too long. I will not take up your time discussing this. I was acquitted of this
case and gave an account of myself. In fact, those who had committed abuses in
connection with this case were brought to trial. These former members of the
regime, who had been brought before the court, were only saved from the clutches
of the law when Menderes came to power and issued an Amnesty Law, saying he
would not pursue the past. Despite this, the incident, which had been settled twenty
years ago, was being spread by word of mouth with false and fabricated stories.
Naturally, this propaganda also had an effect on the committee. At a meeting held in
late October, the committee, with the affirmative vote of President Gürsel, accepted
by a large majority to become a party and made a decision on this matter. A t
t h a t time, the issue of the Natural Senatorate, which had come before the
committee, was also rejected. The reasons for the 13 resignations are clear from the
points I have outlined so far. In summary, the main reasons for the 13th Assembly
are that our decision to become a party greatly alarmed certain circles, the rejection
of the natural senate, and the negative propaganda against us. 13 November was
organised by the army.
'I'ZME6 OPINION

It did not succeed and was not approved by the army.


After we left the country, the propaganda against us continued. The people of
Faltat understood us. This propaganda did not change, but it created a favourable
atmosphere for us.
After 27 May, I took a stand against the idea of revolution. This was the fixed
opinion of my comrades. The reasons for this were as follows: Before 27 May, it
was believed that a military intervention would be the solution to everything, that it
would save the country from the turmoil within. However, the problems we
encountered after 27 May and the resulting reality showed that matters could not be
resolved quickly with such measures. Another point is that frequent revolutions
destroy the country. Real revolutions are carried out by the people. For example,
the French Revolution was carried out by the ruling class, and eighty years later,
real revolutions took place. Revolutions are major events. They are very costly.
When a revolution occurs, the system breaks down and it is very difficult to
establish a new system.
In the days following 27 May, we encountered the following events: The
Istanbul National Unity Committee took this decision, news came that the Izmir MBK
had taken this decision, and groups called MBK were emerging on both the right and
the left. They were preoccupied with this. It was not easy to establish order. Progress
and the establishment of a normal democratic order can only be achieved through peace
and stability. Atatürk's approach was as follows. After making a thorough revolution in
the country, Atatürk ensured the country's progress by establishing order and stability.
In our opinion, there are two main reasons for the current unrest in the country ( ).
One is the lack of regime security. The regime security ( ) must be established in
every respect ( ), the regime ( ) must be guaranteed ( ) in every respect ( ), and
it must be kept under the guarantee ( ) of the state ( ) in such a way that it does not
give rise to suspicion ( ) by those responsible ( ) ( ). Otherwise, statements such
as "if a certain party wins power, the army will not hand over power" or "there will be a
revolution until that time" cause insecurity in the regime and undermine stability. At
this time, everyone and every party must clearly show that they are defenders of
democracy. It must be ensured that everyone will respect the election and its results and
accept them willingly. If they are not sincere in this idea, the matter will not be resolved
through elections, and looting will occur.
The coming to power of the ;grtl cannot be resolved; matters will be resolved
through this method. It is necessary to sincerely convey this and to be fully
committed to it. In my opinion, the country's development will best occur under
a democratic system. In this regard, it is essential that the various parties work
together. Secondly, the administration must be resolute. Life and property must not
be endangered. The main reason for the current unrest is the administration's lack of
resolve and the endangerment of life and property. These require a throne.
Regarding the secret alliance mentioned in Article 171, which was brought up
against u s , our lawyers provided the necessary explanations. And in the court
proceedings, not only was there no evidence against us in this regard, but not even the
slightest indication emerged, and in fact, we never even considered such a thing. The
documents presented as evidence of such an alliance also have no legal validity
whatsoever. The paper in question, which was torn and crumpled, is a piece of paper torn
from a notebook bound with a ring system. The diagram on it is a diagram commonly
used everywhere. It is not specific to the military. Furthermore, a person who has been in
the army for a long time carries out his
activities according to the methods he is accustomed to. As for the other letter, it was
drafted earlier and, as I mentioned, was prepared to prevent foreigners from learning
about communications related to our country from our foreign correspondence. As for the
list of names, I have not seen it. Even if I had seen it, it would not matter. Because I have
long since chosen my path: to serve the country within the framework of the Constitution
and the laws. I am held in great affection and esteem by the people. Therefore, it is
possible for me to obtain every opportunity for the country through legitimate means and
lawful activities. I had previously stated my views on this matter at during the
investigation of our activities at and at .
I will not dwell on this.
I will mention certain points in the introduction to Article 151. We have no
connection whatsoever with the activities of the so-called 22 February group. Like
everyone else, I read about them in the newspapers and heard what was said.
Therefore, it is not a matter of knowing about their movements beforehand and
reporting them. On 20 May, between 6 and 8 p.m.,
J78
BASIC OPINION

, a person came and said, "There will be a revolution tonight or within three days."
However, as I mentioned earlier, this friend said it would happen within three days.
I told my fellow MPs about this.
I. I informed Hakk= Y:t1an1=o;lu and recommended that the parties issue a joint
declaration to reduce tensions. I noted a six-point declaration as a precautionary
measure in this regard.
I said that tomorrow, the four parties should meet in Parliament and issue a
declaration to protect the security of the regime in the country and prevent such
incidents. According to the declaration I mentioned, it is clear that I had no idea
such a thing would happen that night. Furthermore, after the radio announcement
that evening, such a violent incident occurred. declaration
tomorrow, but it is clear that I did not know that such a thing would happen that
night. Furthermore, when I learned of this violent action after the radio
announcement that evening, I became anxious and went to a friend's house. I spent
the night there. This matter is present in the statements made during the initial
investigation. This also shows that, just as I was unaware of the current movement,
I did not expect any negative consequences from such a movement. Because for a
person to be certain of what they know, they must be certain. It is clear that I did
not have any negative consequences in this, but rather that I was anxious.

379
An excerpt from Tekin Erer's book "Ten Years of Struggle"

SBS, YOU'RE A STRANGER TO ME

He approached the governor. He shook the governor's hand and smiled as he


said goodbye. Then he turned to his friends:
"— Bururunus Hasan Bey," he said. The special secretary, Hasan Polatkan,
retired general Tahsin Yas=c=, and a few deputies got into two cars and set off
towards Kütahya. It was semi-dark. But the horizon was slowly beginning to
lighten. There was hardly any conversation in the car, only thoughts... After a
while, the chief of staff asked:
•— Sir, how about turning on the radios? This question went unanswered. They
shuddered as if they were about to hear bad news on the radio. A few seconds later,
Hasan Polatkan said:
•— " 's... let's open it..." he said.
They turned on the Ankara radio. The radio was playing marches. In this
twilight and inside the vehicle travelling at full speed, listening to Mary
had excited them greatly. They had almost forgotten the coup, where they were
going, and why. At that moment, the radio fell silent, and a muffled, deep voice
began to say:
•— From 3 o'clock onwards, the armed land, air and sea forces have taken
control of the country.
"— We must bring this movement to a peaceful conclusion and, as soon as
possible, establish a neutral administration, granting power to whichever side
wins, regardless of who that may be."
Menderes:
TEMRL VIEWS

"— These are lies, my friend. If Ktm wins, they will hand over the administration
to him... This means that in ten years' time, we will still be in power. So why are they
taking control of the country?"
At this point, Tahsin Yaz=c= said, "The voice speaking to me feels foreign.
"•e1miyor•, my friend.
Ractyo continued:
c— This initiative is not directed against any particular person or group. Our aim
is to prevent the spread of rumours. No one will be subjected to personal attacks or
violations, nor will anyone be allowed to engage in such behaviour.
THEY WILL SAVE ME TOO
After every sentence was read, it was repeated once more. Hasan Polatkan, when
this last sentence was said for the second time:
"— We can now rest assured with these words, he said. It is understood that the
army has intervened between the People's Party and the Democratic Party. They will
make a complete break. Any disagreements between the two parties will be resolved in
this manner."
Menderes
e— If they keep their word, we should be grateful to them. They would save
me too. I would be grateful to them. They would also do the country the greatest
favour. Essentially, one should think of this abnormal situation in this way. But I
cannot bring myself to believe these words.
Tahsin Yaz=c= interjected:
— Believe me, sir... It is customary in our army not to interfere in politics. The
late Atatürk and Marshal Çakmak established this tradition. It is not easy to break a 40-
year tradition.
. I am certain that our friends' intervention is entirely well-intentioned and that, after
fulfilling their role as arbitrators between the two parties, our friends in the army
.
Menderes did not respond to Tansin Yaz=c='s words.
However:
"— Could you recognise the voice, sir?" he asked.
"It's a voice I know very well, but I haven't been able to identify it yet."
381
DOCUMENTS

The voice in the recording continues, repeating the sentences:

"Regardless of who they are or which party they belong to, all citizens will
be treated equally, with respect and affection, as members of the same nation, and
all will be protected by the law."
Fasan Polatran:
"— Tahsin Pasha is right. They keep repeating the same words. This action, it
seems, has been carried out in the name of a complete act of treason."
Tahsin Yaz=c=:
"I think I recognise that voice," he said. "That must be the voice of Colonel
Alpaslan Türke. If I am not mistaken, I have found new evidence for you, as I
mentioned a moment ago. Because the People's Party had weathered many storms
during that period. It is impossible for them to act in their favour. It is clear that
this is a dirty trick."
Menderes replied to these words:
"— I know him; I was a restless young man."
Tekin Erer. Ten Years of Struggle.
Istanbul, 1964. p. 15.
Alparslan Türke's 12 October 1969 after the elections,
from a conversation with Abdi Ype*s, Editor-in-Chief of Milliyet
Newspaper

"Sir, if you wish, let us first analyse the election results. How do you interpret
the outcome your party achieved in the elections? And what are your general
thoughts on the election results?"
— Sir, we did not fail to calculate the results we achieved in these elections.
However, we did not foresee the possibility that we would only elect one Member
of Parliament. We believed we could elect more MPs, we were confident. But we
also realised that our calculations might not fully reflect our expectations. We also
thought there was a possibility of facing a deadlock situation, due to the changes in
the electoral law. Therefore, we were not overly surprised by the result. However,
the increase in our votes naturally pleased us. Our votes increased by 35 per cent
compared to the previous elections. This increase was not as rapid as we had
expected. We had anticipated a greater rise in our votes.
o You were expecting more than 35 per cent.
Yes, we were expecting more.
o What are the factors that confirm this expectation?
— Sir, the contacts you made in various places before the elections, the
contacts we made in villages, districts and provinces, the meetings we held,
attracted a great deal of interest. Thousands of citizens welcomed us and saw us
off. Our meetings and rallies attracted a lot of interest. These were signs.
o How do you explain this increase in interest?
— Sir, this increase in interest is due to the citizens' trust in the ruling
party.
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, the ruling party's failure to deliver what citizens expected, and the fact that our
advanced ideas and programme are receiving a great deal of interest from our
compatriots.
Colonel, if I'm not mistaken, these ideas and programmes are not fully
understood by the public. But they do leave an impression. They are
evaluated more concretely, generally speaking...
— Now, there are things the citizen wants and expects. First and
foremost, there are things they want and expect. These are security and safety.
They should be able to travel comfortably. Their honour, their property, their
lives must be constantly protected, guaranteed. Our citizens today are victims of
lawlessness. There are many robberies every day. Incidents occur, as you know.
Secondly, they complain about injustice and unfairness. Thirdly, they complain
that the system is inefficient and ineffective. We see the reason for this in the
weakness of the government. They want strong administration and a strong
government.
These are their complaints. I wanted to focus more on the reasons for your
dissatisfaction...
— Yes, I am trying to list them. After that, I will focus on the living space,
the interior space. Then, the desire to enter into a social assistance and social security
system, which is part of our programme. This is one of the things we have always
promised. I will establish a social assistance and security organisation that
encompasses the entire Turkish people, from Edirne to Kars. To establish a system of
equal opportunity. To eliminate usury, profiteering, and exploitation. And to make it
completely free economically. Our country is under economic slavery. It has been
46-47 years since the War of Independence, but economically, Turkey has not
achieved salvation or progress. We explain this to the people. We explain that
governments have been on the wrong path, that development policies have focused
more on Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and that this path has not served to develop the
Turkish nation. We explain that the Europeanisation process has been ongoing since
the imperial era, and that our plan and policy is to initiate development from
Anatolia, the periphery, and the villages.

384
BASIC PRINCIPLES

We explained to the public that building a closed sports hall costing 95 million lira in
Istanbul and 87 million lira in Izmir, as well as other closed sports halls costing 100
million lira, were actions against the rapid economic development of the country, as
they were entirely contrary to the principles of the current [Link] have
explained to the public that these investments are detrimental to the country's ability to
achieve rapid economic development. Instead, we must postpone these projects and
focus on agricultural and industrial investments that are appropriate and modern,
enabling production.-red in the agricultural sector, as well as in the industrial sector, to
enable modern, appropriate production. We explain that unless this is achieved, the
construction of indoor sports halls or ornate opera houses will not benefit the people's
poverty or the country's development. And for all these reasons, I am putting
forward the ideas we have proposed. We say that those who have governed the country
for 150 years have tried to crudely copy the outward appearance of the advanced
Western countries. They hoped that this copying would bring prosperity to the country.
However, this has not been possible and remains impossible today. For example, since
the Tanzimat, administrators have attempted to implement a caricatured form of the
capitalist, liberal system in Turkey. But this is Turkey's problem.
It is not our jobto solve it. It has not provided stability to Turkey. Today, there are
still those who copy this capitalist system
, and there are also those who argue that the Marxist system is superior. They too
are Marxists, communists. We find both of these approaches to be mistaken. In our
view, Turkey has its own urban realities and its own conditions. It is necessary to
take these realities and conditions into account and, guided by modern science and
technology, establish a wholly national system.

You reject the idea that the system you propose is derived from the West,
and you claim that capitalist, communist, and Marxist systems are a kind
of fascist order. I know that in our numerous conversations, you have
rejected these claims. However, there are some basic arguments used in
these claims. If you agree, let us examine their main points. For now, let
me mention one example that comes to mind.

P.: 25
I believe it was in our election programme and in your language as well.
Your views on trade unionism. You said that there would be a single type
of trade union. There would be one trade union for each workplace, and
membership of these trade unions would be compulsory. Now, if I'm not
mistaken, sir, this was a principle applied in Mussolini's Italy, that is, in a
regime known as fascist. Here, people are acting on this and putting
forward the argument that your views resemble a fascist ideology. This...
— The system applied in Fascist Italy was not this. The system applied in
Fascist Italy was the corporatist system. In that system, employers and workers
were organised together within a corporation, and administration was based on a
council comprising representatives of the corporations. Our views have nothing
to do with this. We do not accept the corporatist system. Our views are aimed at
better protection for workers and meeting all the needs of all workers. In the
current situation, yellow unions are established very quickly and easily. This is
detrimental to the workers. It divides, fragments, and cripples the unions that
truly represent the workers and are beneficial to them. Then...
p So, is your proposal actually to prevent yellow unionism?
— Yes, to prevent yellow unionism.
Doesn't this also mean compulsory unionism? - that compulsory
unionism...
— Now, there are Medical Associations. Every doctor must be a member of
the Medical Association. This system still exists in our country. There are
Chambers of Commerce. Everyone engaged in trade must be a member of the
Chamber of Commerce. Chambers of Industry...

Is there no difference between professional organisations and trade


unions?
between professional organisations and trade unions?
— No. They are very similar.
Well, don't you think free trade unionism not considered contrary to the
principles of a free trade union?
— No. It is not. For example, take a look at construction work today.
construction work
Over 60 door workers are on strike. Unionisation. In fact, this

386
BASIC VIEWS

exceed 60,000. They are middle-class, they are owners. They get injured, they
get sick, they even die during construction. They are left destitute. They cannot
get any help. This is because they are not unionised. If there were a compulsory
union membership requirement, all of them would be union members. And
they would be insured against all kinds of needs, including work accidents.
Considering all this, we defend this view.
Is there no such danger, sir? If the union establishes a relationship with
the employer like a yellow union,
, workers will be deprived of the right to join another union, so the
obstacle you are trying to prevent will emerge even more strongly this
time.

— Yes, Fani, the Union Management Board; if it agrees with the


employers' union, then the workers can change it, dismiss it. After all, they come
with their voices, they elect themselves with their voices.
o The same could be said for the yellow union. The yellow union
leaders could be removed from their duties by the workers.
— It's good, but it causes division. It's difficult for the worker to
understand. The man gives money, takes out five or ten people, gets them to form a
union, gets two unions formed. There will be only one union here. It's highly
unlikely that the Union Management Board will be able to reach an agreement with
the Employers' Unions. Because the Management Board will consist entirely of
people from the employers' side.
They will come with their voices. We see this as a very remote possibility
.
o Sir, there was also the much-discussed issue of the "commandos". As
far as I understand, you established the commandos with the aim of
keeping young people away from bad habits and educating them well.
Indeed, when I look at it from this perspective, I see no problem.
However, when this organisation is linked to a political party, when it is
run by a political party, it is no longer simply a matter of keeping young
people away from bad habits and educating them well, but rather it
becomes a political party working alongside a political party.
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It becomes an active youth organisation. That is when such allegations


can be made. What are your thoughts on this matter?

— Sir, now that political parties have emerged, what do they consider to be
legitimate pressure groups in every country? By collaborating with these legitimate
pressure groups and various powerful organisations, they attempt to pave their way
to power. Until the Nationalist Movement Party came along, other political parties
had been quite active in recent years. They have organised street movements, held
demonstrations, organised rallies, and even caused many riots. In other words, the
Nationalist Movement Party is not the first party to organise youth. Every party
does it, tries to do it, and should do it. However, when organising, they only
thought of using young people as a means to achieve their immediate political
goals. They did not think beyond that, of preparing young people for the future,
making them stronger, more cultured, more alert, and capable of successfully
shouldering responsibilities in the administration of the country. They thought only
of their own short-term goals. Today, there are still such organisations. If they
cannot establish organisations as effective as ours, then naturally t h a t is a
deficiency they must look for within themselves. Like other political parties, we
have established and continue to establish youth organisations. We have various
objectives for this; as you know, young people are mostly exposed to bad habits in
cafes, game rooms, fire halls, discos, gambling dens, and other such places. We aim to
prevent this, provide them with education that will enrich their culture, encourage
them to engage in sports and physical activities to develop their bodies, and at the
same time, organise and mobilise them against communist activities and communist
movements that are spreading throughout the country. At the same time, we are
working to send them to villages during holidays, to familiarise them with the
country and accustom them to helping villagers. And, of course, we are also
considering how to utilise their presence in the activities of our party's youth wing.

388
BASIC OPINION

Like y?
— For example, I will send them to villages, to rural areas. At the same
time, they will promote and introduce our ideology, our beliefs, our programme.
Is there no respect for religion today?
— Sir, today there is disrespect for religion. There is also a lot of exploitation.
There is exploitation of religion. And there has been for a long time. You have seen
various countries, various nations. Every nation has a religion, religious institutions.
They have functions within society. In Turkey, this has been neglected.
What should I do, for example, in your opinion?
— It is necessary to educate enlightened individuals. It is necessary to
educate enlightened individuals and to bring together and unite teachers, imams,
and religious figures with enlightened individuals in other fields. It is not beneficial
for the country f o r these two groups to be in conflict with each other, viewing
each other with hostility. For the sake of the people, it is necessary to bring them
closer together, to make them understand each other, and to make them work hand
in hand.

How can this be achieved, sir?


— This can be achieved through education. It requires the proper training
of both village imams and religious scholars, as well as our teachers, and fostering
cooperation in this regard. Because the people are devoted to religion. They trust
and accept the words of religious scholars more readily. If we enlighten our
religious leaders on the issues facing our country and enlighten our other
intellectuals on religious matters, and bring them closer together, the development
of our country will be easier and faster. And the people and the intellectuals will
become closer to each other. Today, the enlightened and the common people are
separate. They are distrustful of each other. There is a division.
p Can religion bridge this divide?
— To some extent, it can bridge the gap and bring
them closer together.
p Ef enâim, the Turkish Workers' Party's decline in these elections and its
ability to send very few representatives to parliament, as well as the
Justice Party's continued dominance, have sparked a new wave of
enthusiasm among socialist circles.

389
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idea in socialist circles. It is said that progressive parties in Turkey will


never be able to win elections. It is impossible for a socialist party to come
to power through parliamentary elections. Now, is it possible to think of a
parallel for the Nationalist Movement Party , or do you think so?
Dani, you also did not have a cadre capable of coming to power in the short
term based on the election results in parliament. Does the same
hopelessness, that is, parliamentary hopelessness, create a similar sense of
hopelessness towards the election?
— No. We do not want to come to power without developing our young cadre.
We believe that it is very difficult to achieve our goals with our current cadre. Turkey
has major problems. And these major problems require major reforms and major
moves. To achieve this, we need an idealistic, reformist cadre. The reason for the
failure of the 27 May coup was precisely that it did not have such an idealistic
reforming civilian cadre. If we were to become the ruling party today, without such a
cadre, we would be forced to submit to the existing order and its constraints. In this
respect, we are in no hurry to seize power without first training our own cadre.
Secondly, according to our understanding, social events and social development,
especially given the nature of the T u r k i s h nation, cannot be rushed or forced. At
first, it will be very slow. However, as the ranks are filled with straw, it suddenly
accelerates. Then it speeds up to a degree that defies reason. That is why we have not
fallen into despair over today's outcome, this slow pace. We are not hopeless. I am
describing our situation. There is progress. But it is slow progress. However, it is
progress, and we are naturally pursuing it. This slow progress will continue. But as the
teams develop, it will accelerate and suddenly speed up. Then the things we have been
thinking about will happen. We will come to power with the will and consent of the
nation, and we will do what we have been thinking about.
Sir, on 27 May, introduced you to everyone as the leader of a group
that came to power with the intention of carrying out radical reforms.
as the leader of a group that came to power to implement reforms. Your
statements that day could be interpreted as meaning that you changed
your strategy.

390
BASIC PRINCIPLES

— Of course, circumstances compel people to change their views. If people


stubbornly insist on the same views in changing circumstances, they cannot be
successful. The circumstances on 27 May were different. On that day, a strong
wind was blowing across the country. In the first months, 27 May was met with
great enthusiasm and excitement by the Turkish people; it was welcomed with
approval. The circles we were in said, "You did the right thing." They said, "Don't
go." "There are these problems, these issues. We'll sort them out, you'll see," they
said. That's why, in the context of the events of that day, my friends and I wanted
to carry out radical reforms. That's why we were not in favour of rushing to the
polls. We wanted the National Unity Committee to hold power for a period of time
and to carry out the organisational work we considered necessary for the country.
After that, we wanted the National Unity Committee to hold new elections, to
establish a democratic system, and to gradually lead the country towards a
democratic system. As you know, differences arose among our colleagues on this
issue, and we were unable to continue our work.
‘That’s how it was then. That’s how it happened. Then we returned to our homeland. We
looked around and saw that the revolutionarieswere everywhere in the country.
Everyone, regardless of their capacity or situation, was playing a revolutionary game
every day. Of course, we also realised that this was harmful for the country. Because
the survival of a nation depends on stability above all else. It needs security, it needs
order. Anyway, those days passed.

H a v e they passed?
— Those who want to stir up revolutionary sentiment are sitting there. We
see what is written from time to time, we hear what is said.
t How are you managing, sir?
— Sir, I cannot agree. Because, first and foremost, I respect the country's
laws. Revolution is easy to talk about. The personnel who will carry out the
revolution are important. We need very well-trained personnel. On 27 May, I
experienced this first-hand. I was there. I encountered many things. We have not
yet written about our memories and experiences on that subject. God willing, we
will write about them in the future. We will reveal some very interesting things.
When the time comes, it will be revealed. These require very well-trained,
cultured, and knowledgeable personnel. T h o s e personnel

39J
DOCUMENTS

Without it, success cannot be achieved. Take the War of Independence, for example. It
was a struggle at the same time. But according to him, there was a Raârosu. That cadre
led him to success. Despite that, there were many difficulties, many hardships, many
sorrows. The stories continue, they keep going. That is why I do not consider it
appropriate to have such a random revolutionary leader.

Abdi Iretsi. Liâerler says. (Interviews, Art Publications 28.


Istanbul, December 1969. p. 291

392
Alparslan Türke's radio speech dated 27 May 1960

Dear Fellow Citizens,


This evening marks the sixth anniversary of 27 May. Six years ago, our armed
forces felt it necessary to take control of the administration on behalf of the nation
and in the interests of the people. During the events and turmoil preceding 27 May,
two opposing views emerged. One of these was that the action to be taken should
be non-partisan and that the nation should be served with respect, justice and
equality, viewing it as a whole.
•He was knitting. We, that is, the group later known as the 14s, were in the first
group. On the other side, those who wanted to remove the Democratic Party from
power as quickly as possible and hand over the administration to the CHP, led by
Ysmet Ynönü, who was the General Chairman, and bring Ynönü to the presidency,
believed that the CHP was the only party competent to govern the country. In
opposition to these views, we argued that joining forces with the C.H. Party, which
represented less than half of the nation, to take a stand against the rest of the nation
would mean destroying the country, and that Ysmet Ynönü's personality had been
worn down, preventing him from representing National Unity. They argued that
bringing Inönü and the C.H. Party to power would turn the Army into a partisan
force, and worse, that this situation would lead the C .H. Party, unable to win the
C.H. Party through elections, to resort to provoking the Army and resorting to force
, ultimately tarnishing the Army's reputation.(1k a stain on its reputation. This is
why bringing a non-partisan figure to the presidency, a party-
!erüstü bfr no one to the Prime Minister's Office and parties to the mtl-

393
DOCUMENTS

We were considering establishing a 2t btr administration and taking swift action to


uplift the people.
The DP was closed down by an independent court at the request of a DP
lawyer on the grounds that it had not held its congresses. The DP, which
constituted half of my nation and had votes
This majority, whose only crime is to give, is our nation. When party life began, of
course, the individuals who organised them would be found. Gambling with the
fate of the country. A party founded by incompetent people could drag the country
into turmoil. For this reason, patriotic, nationalist and reformist M8K should
prevent such dangers by striking the National Unity Party. Mr Gürsel also
embraced this idea and imposed it on the Committee. Despite the objections of a
few CHP-sympathetic committee members, this proposal was accepted by the
committee. Unfortunately, our exile prevented us from implementing this. The
weak and incompetent leadership of the A.P. has proven how right we were by
bringing the country to these troubled times.
The 27 May operation began in accordance with the views of the 14s. A
neutral president was appointed, not a party-affiliated one. There was no
neither the civilian population nor the state forces raised any objection or
resistance. The Turkish nation welcomed 27 May with great joy and enthusiasm.
Various groups of citizens from all over the country sent letters, telegrams or came
in person to express their congratulations and say, "Let us rule ourselves. Don't
leave it in Ynönü's hands." Meanwhile, the M.B.E. began its work. First, a
constitution was drafted. One article of this constitution stated that individuals
belonging to political parties would not be appointed to the interim government.

>In order to heal the wounds and bring peace to the country, a non-
partisan administration was working and wanted to make major moves to uplift the
nation. With this aim, we had undertaken many tasks. However, the committee
members, who had always held a different view, strongly opposed us and said:
Why are we undertaking these tasks? These are long-term projects. We have
destroyed one enemy, our task is complete. Now let's immediately hold elections.
*Why are we undertaking these long-term projects? We have destroyed a
government; our duty is done. Now let's hold elections immediately. Let the party
that comes to power deal with these matters." The GHP also constantly provoked
this group and
BASIC VIEWS

were in full cooperation. Mr Gürsel, who had seen Enönü at that time, described his
impressions to Rome as follows:
*Sax=n Inönü will enter the arena like a lion eager and passionate for power.
Indeed, in the memoirs of the late Avni Dogan published in the Dünya newspaper, it
was revealed how I n ö n ü wanted t o show his mettle in order to dismantle the
National Unity Committee and render it ineffective, thereby seizing power. Some of our
friends, who were working closely with the CHP, which was against us, were
pressuring us intensely, saying, "Let's hold elections as soon as possible; let's leave the
opposition to Ismet Pasha, and we'll become natural senators." However, the new
constitution had not yet been prepared. The goodwill and enmity among the people
remained as they were, the necessary steps for the country's development had not been
taken, and even the Planning Organisation had not been established. Parallel to their
pressure on the Committee, the G .H.P. had also mobilised all its propaganda
resources to denigrate us. They claimed everywhere that we were protecting people
referred to as "tail-enders" and "lowlifes" and collaborating with them, that we wanted
to establish a dictatorship, and that we were against elections. The Romounts, having
realised that we were nationalist and anti-communist and that there was no hope of
deceiving us, worked a g a i n s t u s in full cooperation with the G .H.P. They
were also trying to turn the people against us by listing many other accusations and lies,
such as t h a t we were fascists, Nazis, and racists. The reason the leaders of the
People's Party were against us was that they realised we were not going to hand over
power to them quickly.
We believed that rushing into elections would plunge the country back into
turmoil. For a time, we believed that governing the state above party politics was
necessary to restore peace and eliminate the hostility that had undermined national
unity. At the same time, we wanted to make radical moves that the parties would not
make due to their concern for votes. When I returned to the country from India, I
summarised these ideas in a statement I published. ,imrli
I will read this statement to you tomorrow evening. The second part of the speech
I will present the second part of the speech tomorrow evening.
The statement is as follows.
•Dear Citizens,
As a man of ideals and faith, I left my homeland two years ago and went far
away. Today, filled with the same determination and faith, and carrying great hopes for
the future of the Turkish nation, I rejoice in being reunited with you once again.
Being one of you and an ordinary citizen is the source of my pride and
excitement.
I would like to reiterate that I consider the secret of the nation's unity, which
is upheld above all else, and the respect and obedience shown to it by everyone, to
be a path to salvation.
On the morning of 27 May 1960, I wrote to you and broadcast it on the radio.
I have always remained faithful to the spirit and essence of that declaration. I see the
peace and progress of the country reflected in the spirit and essence of that
declaration.
Without regard to race, religion or sect, every effort must be made to ensure
the welfare and happiness of citizens and to swiftly establish peace and stability in
the country with a humanistic mindset that values people. As an authorised
person, I find it beneficial to declare that I stand against any kind of ambitious
and selfish attitude that seeks to undermine the goals of 27 May in these blessed
lands of our homeland.

My dear fellow citizens!


The 27 May coup was not directed against any party or group, nor was it
carried out in favour of any individual, group or party. It was carried out in the
interests of the entire Turkish nation and for its benefit.
27 May was not considered a coup d'état, i.e., the removal of a ruling party
from power by force of arms and its replacement with an opposition party. Its roots
lie in the depths of the original sources. To bring the peasantry and masses,
abandoned in misery, deprivation and darkness, to modern civilisation by the
shortest route and with the greatest speed, to make the Turkish state stand on its own
feet.
TEIvIEL VIEWS

It was done with the aim of protecting national unity, which was endangered
by selfish ambitions and personal interests, and of preventing civil strife. It was
done to establish a system of justice and law that is transparent, without causing
the slightest harm to any citizen, and without allowing any difference in treatment
between them. It was done to raise the country's defence capabilities to the highest
level and to rescue the Turkish Armed Forces from the neglect they had been
subjected to since the Second World War. It was done to make landless peasants
landowners, to establish a system of mutual aid encompassing the entire nation,
and to ensure that no citizen was left helpless and ownerless.
The Union of F i n e Arts and Sports was established to rapidly develop the
country by sending intellectuals and young people to villages and rural areas to
promote cultural activities.
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, Turkish Cultural
Associations, and similar institutions were established to ensure vigilance, develop
national culture, and strengthen national unity.
were established to ensure vigilance, develop national culture, and strengthen
national unity. It was done by lighting the torch of 27 May, to rapidly develop and
bring the Turkish nation into the space age in the shortest time possible.
To save Turkey from the spiritual domination of harmful influences and to
make it a nation with national characteristics, a sense of conscience and a sense of
duty.
To achieve this, it has been In short, the Turkish Renaissance...
done!
Magnificent Citizen. With today's attitude and determination, we must
consider how many centuries it will take to achieve the goals set out, and we must
also take into account that modern countries will not wait for us during the coming
centuries. Today, the world has entered the atomic age. Just as the scientific and
technical developments of the 19th century revolutionised social, economic and
political life, the coming atomic and space age will also bring about great changes.
We must make a leap forward, leap over the ages and enter the atomic and space
age.
In our dealings with one another, mutual love, respect, and tolerance should
always prevail. Political parties should be regarded not as a means of domination,
but solely as a means of serving the country and the nation.
Regardless of who they are, loyalty, love and respect for the homeland must
be considered a prerequisite. Accepting their ideas
DOCUMENTS

or with whom we have personal disagreements must be treated within the


framework of human rights and the rule of law. The nation and state must be
organised with a view that places science and technology above all else.
Dear Citizens.
The Turkish Nation, to which I belong, is a nation endowed with great
capabilities and great strength. Our power and will are sufficient to overcome the
difficulties before us and to confront the dangers that have been turned against us.
O great Turkish Nation, born of the great storms of the past, of unparalleled
glory and honour, and destined to reach a happy tomorrow, I salute you with love
and respect.

398
Atparslan Türlse's 27 May 1968 radio
speech.

Today is 27 May 1968. We remember the turmoil and darkness that our beloved
homeland fell into and was plunged into six years ago.
We observe with sorrow how our nation, left behind, neglected, and isolated
from the rest of the world, is struggling with political hatred and resentment in a
rapidly changing world advancing by giant strides.
We have lived through a period in which this enmity has divided our beloved
nation into two hostile factions, spreading to the marketplace, the coffeehouse, the
cemetery, and even within families. To prevent the situation from becoming more
dire and more v i o l e n t , to protect national unity from being further undermined,
to prevent political struggle from becoming a cause for division,
In order to reconcile the Turkish nation, to bring politics within the bounds of a method
that would accelerate development, and to stop the blind violence that had spilled into
the streets, the intervention of the armed forces was necessary.
As a military officer, in a period when all resources were exhausted, I was
one of those who endeavoured to carry out this intervention in the least harmful,
least painful manner possible.

There was a lesson to be learned from all these painful events: measures should
have been taken to prevent the recurrence of these conflicts and necessary interventions.
A balance should be established between benefits and duties , the state's presence
should be strengthened, and issues of rejection should be discussed to achieve stability
and clarity. To this end, the action taken should not have been directed towards finding
the guilty, punishing them, or reducing them to silence, but rather towards establishing
balance, finding solutions, and healing wounds. Our intention
DOCUMENTS

This has been the realistic, fair and comprehensive goal.


Our aim was to save the state, protect the nation, and rebuild it with a character
that would strengthen and elevate it. It was to mobilise all the resources of the nation
and all the capabilities of the people, and to transcend the ages in order to achieve
the greatest Turkey, reaching all the benefits of modern technology in the shortest
possible time.
This goal was the heavy weight in the balance of the day. We would be a state
that maintained peace in the region and lived without begging foreigners.
This remains the only path, the only goal, the only objective. Unfortunately, this
path has been blocked. The administration of the state has fallen into the hands of
ambitious statesmen and political opportunists who prioritise the allure of power over the
allure of work and fame over the allure of fame.
They were ruthless and cruel. They did not consider the state's ships, the
nation's future, or the course of history.
They should refrain from using a great and NATIONAL MOVEMENT as a
tool for their personal ambitions. The Turkish Nation had embarked on a great path,
but it was diverted to personal interests and strayed from its goal. I dedicate this to
those who shared my excitement on that day, 27 May.
The state must be established. 27 May must be restored to its course before 13
November.
The administrative apparatus must be reorganised and freed from being a
cumbersome, expensive mechanism that exhausts civil servants and frustrates
citizens.
We must rid ourselves of a mentality that promotes development that does not
exceed the boundaries of cities and municipalities and increases land speculation.
We must stop Turkey from being a country where public services are only partially
functioning in the largest cities and where municipalities boast about meeting the
most basic needs.
The necessary labour, materials and knowledge exist in Turkey. Only the state
lacks a plan or organisation. Millions of people live openly or secretly unemployed.
No, this is not a way of life. It is merely filling time. Those who hold power and
those who seek power, instead of finding a solution to this, stir up their emotions,
make unrealistic promises, and deceive them.
From Edirne to Ears, in a devastated country, only is rebuilding.
While the labour of millions of people is needed, the labour of six million people is
being wasted. It is imperative to wage a labour war and achieve victory.
A war for national education must be waged, and the plan and purpose of this
war must be made known to the nation and accepted by it.
We must rid ourselves of the current situation where every teacher instils their
own ideas into the children entrusted to them. Schools, which have been sacred
throughout our history and are part of our culture, must be rescued from their current
state.
Teachers must receive the respect they deserve and earn their place in society.
The nation's children should be educated according to their abilities, relying on state
support rather than their parents' means, and should not be deprived of the
opportunities denied to them by poverty.
The establishment of cultural cities should be accelerated!and the homeland
should be enlightened. An organisation for the unity of ideals and culture should be
established. Village, peasant and land relations should be addressed through creative
pauses, rather than through crude provocations, hatred and
creative pauses should be considered a means to an end, and should be pursued with
clear, obvious, transparent accounts.
An insurance system covering all citizens should be established, and they
should be freed from the shameful practices of doctors and pharmacists haggling
over money, like price wars in the market of life.
The Financial Organisation should be restructured, and a fair and simple tax
system should be implemented. The fundamental principle of taxation should be that
the taxpayer is not an oppressed enemy but a friend to be protected.
Foreign policy must be addressed now with a view to the Turkey of the future;
it must be dedicated to renewing material and spiritual relations in all the regions
that constitute our historical and spiritual heritage.

International agreements boyund==ruk attzne gîrmek içizz


but rather burdens that must be borne for security. Like any other burden, the ratio
between its benefits
and burden must always be kept in check.
Our foreign trade must become Turkish. Our foreign trade must not be
controlled by a group of five people whose eyes are abroad, whose hearts are abroad,
whose roots are abroad, and who keep their hands in our pockets. It must shift
towards the hands of Turks who invest domestically and whose roots run deep in
this soil.
DOCUMENTS

These objectives were the tasks we had planned and begun to achieve by 27
May. Unfortunately, they were abandoned and betrayed by those who remained
and the politicians who exploited them.
And the May 27th movement was diverted from its purpose. May 27th failed
to reach its goal. Had the non-partisan, impartial administration we promised and
tried to establish on the morning of May 27th not been destroyed by hasty
elections, a happier, stronger Turkey would have been established that very day.
What is more painful and worse than all these unfinished tasks is that a
communist effort, which has been lying in wait since 1919, living under the radar,
has surfaced and is advancing, using 27 May as a shield, and is also trying to make
every attack against itself appear to be directed at 27 May. -
Like a doctor entering to treat a sick state, the poisonous cold has also
seeped in through the door opened by the 27 May revolution. It should be clearly
understood that this poisonous cold has no connection to that doctor.
My dear nation.
27 May is not, as the reckless rulers of today claim, a movement by a handful
of usurpers to seize control of the state, but rather a movement by the honourable
Turkish Armed Forces to unite the nation, to elevate it, to bring it together. Neither
the Turkish Armed Forces nor the great Turkish nation will ever bow to the will of
a handful of people. May 27 is the work of the Turkish Armed Forces and belongs
to the Turkish nation. My comrades of t h a t day and today, patriotic
intellectuals... my noble and steadfast nation... Beware of those who distort 27
May, those who change its direction, those who divert it from its goal, those who
exploit and abuse 27 May. Embrace 27 May with t h a t spirit and guide it towards
its goal by evaluating it in this way.
My dear fellow citizens.
Today, we are engaged in the struggle to preserve Turkey, which is divided
by various conflicts, and to unite it under the banner of unity and solidarity. Our
flag is the flag of nationalism, the flag of the Republic. I call upon all citizens,
regardless of party affiliation, to gather under this flag to defend the honour of my
nation.
Alparslan TürRe's radio address dated 28 May 1968.

Dear fellow citizens.


Yesterday evening, I gave you some s p e c i f i c information about 27
March. I say specific because it was very brief. It is impossible to cover the essence of
these issues in a time span of ten minutes. We will publish our thoughts on these
matters in detail in the future. Now, I will try to explain the reasons for this evening, 13
November:
The disagreement between members of the National Unity Committee with
differing views was intensifying. The CHP played a major role in this. From
September onwards, the Committee was divided into two hostile factions. To
establish unity, $hensi kurmrk
.and our well-intentioned friends were making great efforts to reach an agreement. To
this end, various meetings were held between the groups. At that time, some friends
from the opposing group, who were in close contact with Ismet Pasha, brought the
committee's proposal for natural senators to the committee. This issue was discussed at
length in late October by the committee convened under the chairmanship of Güçsel
Pasha. During the discussions, eleven members, who were now natural senators,
strongly advocated its acceptance. However, we, the fourteen, who were not
fourteen at the time but more, did not find this right, arguing that it would be a
betrayal of the promise we had made before the people ( to serve without
e x p e c t i n g a n y t h i n g in return reminine betrayal. During the
negotiations, a friend of mine from the FOURTEEN stood up and said in an angry voice,
"This is a political ploy, Ismet Pasha's to take power from us ."
BASIC OPINION

It is an outdated institution, and no modern country has such an institution. It is also


contrary to our principles. We have pledged to serve the nation without expecting
anything in return. Therefore, it is natural that the position of senator cannot be
accepted as a privilege. We have dedicated ourselves to the nation. We must now have
the courage to continue serving.
Most members already share this view and this conviction. Consequently, at
the end of the negotiations, it was decided by a majority of 26 votes to 11 to reject
the Senate. For the same reason, it was proposed that the committee hold a
referendum to obtain approval, that the four remain in power, that their conduct be
investigated and approved, t h a t they be organised as such a party, and that elections
be held accordingly. Ultimately, this proposal was also deemed appropriate and
adopted by a majority of 2G against eleven opponents.
However, 19 of the 26 people who voted in favour had not yet joined this
decision, while the remaining seven had stated that they could join such a party on
condition that they could examine and approve its programme and constitution.
Furthermore, one of the decisions taken at this time was to convene a Constituent
Assembly.
At the beginning of August, I personally submitted a motion requesting the urgent
convening of an assembly called the People's Council. In fact, in our initial plan
made before 27 May, it had been envisaged that such an assembly would be
established if 27 May was successful.
Paliat, due to reasons that would take a long time to explain, this has not
been implemented. However, in the final days of October 1960, the National Unity
Committee deemed it necessary to establish a Constituent Assembly and undertook
the necessary preparations for this purpose.
*He granted this authority to President Cemal Gürsel Pasha. At the meeting held
the following day, the eleven members who had opposed the decisions proposed
that the negotiations be reopened in a conciliatory manner. And they attempted to
overturn the decisions that had been made just one day earlier in the negotiations.
They were unable to reach an agreement. At this point, we learned that Gürsel Pasha
had formed a three-member committee to draft the Constitution of the Constituent
Assembly and establish its structure. The members of this committee were all
members of the Republican People's Party. The views of the Constituent Assembly
that such a committee would prepare
BASIC PRINCIPLES

We were deeply concerned that it would become a partisan body. Even if one
believed that this would not be the case, we thought that the fact that all the people
forming the committee had been selected from the G.H. Party would undermine
confidence and cause certain problems. For this reason, we held a meeting attended
by Pasha Gürsel. However, Pasha Gürsel did not chair the meeting; he sat among
the members. We strongly criticised the fact that the three people selected by Pasha
were also members of the G.H. Party. We pointed out the disadvantages of this.
We proposed that four more members from impartial academics and other parties
join the committee. The meeting dispersed without reaching a conclusion. A few
days later, at another meeting chaired by Kadri Kaplan, the committee discussed
the status of two members who had taken up positions outside the committee. In a
vote, it was decided by a majority that both should immediately return to Rome,
leaving their positions abroad. These events clearly highlighted the positions of the
members, who held two different views, and led to 13 November.
The 13 November Movement is a continuation of the 27 May Movement. It is
also a violation of the constitution. It is a violation of the 27 May Constitution,
which all members of the National Unity accepted, signed and proclaimed. While
on one side, former members of the government were being tried for violating the
constitution on Yass=ada, on the other side, the 13 Novemberists trampled on the
constitution they themselves had made, 27
They have been slaughtering people since May. The CHP and the communists
played a major role in the events of 13 November. After 13 November, the country
was completely under the influence of a partisan administration. Four-fifths of the
members of the constituent assembly were appointed by the CHP. Citizens who
were not members of the People's Party faced increasing pressure and fear.
Thousands of lies and slanders were spread behind our backs to discredit us, and
nothing was left unsaid about us. The betrayal of 27 May in this way and the
immoral accusations levelled against us by the Armed Forces with whom
we worked together and served our country for years and served
our country together for years, and whom we represented on 27 May, deeply
saddened and spurred into action.
A group of opportunists and political profiteers, their friends—

405
TgIÜIX6 GÖRÜSMR

exploited it. As a result, many unfortunate things happened in the country. I will
not dwell on these for now. Let me just say this: 27 May was a wonderful
opportunity to rapidly modernise the country. This opportunity was squandered.
May 27 did not achieve its goal. It deviated from its goal. The main culprits are
Ynönü and, of course, some of the senators. It is very sad that those who killed 27
May are now playing the role of 27 Mayists and appear to be defending 27 May.
What they are doing is not defending 27 May, but exploiting 27 May for their own
interests.
Dear fellow citizens;
I am explaining to you, in a very concise manner, certain events from our
recent past. We had chosen not to discuss these matters publicly until now. I would
still prefer to remain silent and not speak about them. However, the attitudes of
certain opportunists and agitators have forced us to do so. Much has been written
and said about the preparation and structure of the 27 May movement and its
subsequent developments. Most of it is wrong, false and incomplete... In the future,
these will be clarified in the light of the documents. Today, we as a nation are in
need of mutual understanding, love and unity. Yüsii-
We must not always look back to the past. Past events are over. There is no way to
bring them back and change them. We must turn our faces towards the future and
work together, hand in hand, with brotherly feelings, to build a powerful, great
Turkey. You must be careful not to let your pure feelings, your enthusiasm
and compassion, you must be wary of those who seek to manipulate you for votes. We
must unite, putting aside parties, party politics, and all kinds of strife and conflict, and
hold our national unity above all else.
Unite, forgive, be tolerant, speak with one voice. Victory is the fountainhead
of strength.
Victory is the union of many hearts. Greetings to those
whose hearts are united.
To those who grieve in distant lands, greetings to you.

406

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