The Washington Post: AKP mustn't be bannedMay 5, 2008 - 15:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Washington Post called on the Bush administration to prevent banning of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)."In many countries where elections and Islam overlap, religious political parties are suspected - often rightly - of trying to use the democratic system to advance an illiberal agenda. Turkey, the most advanced democracy in the Muslim world, has the opposite problem. Its mildly religious ruling party has led the way in introducing progressive political and economic reforms and preparing the country for membership in the European Union. Its secular opposition, meanwhile, has repeatedly resorted to antidemocratic tactics," the editorial says. "The administration ought to make it plain that banning the AKP would cause serious damage to U.S.-Turkish relations. The United States has a vital interest in the success of Turkish democracy - and of the moderate Islamic party that now leads it." In March 2008, the Turkish Constitutional Court said it will consider a request to ban the ruling political party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The chief prosecutor for the Turkish Court of Appeals, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, handed the court an indictment charging the ruling Justice and Development Party, known by its Turkish initials AKP, with stoking an "Islamist-inspired" system of government. Yalcinkaya called for a total ban on AKP, which has roots in the religious community, and a five year political ban on Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and former parliamentary speaker Bulent Arinc. Erdogan countered the charges, suggesting the allegations were meant to "create social unrest." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |