President Abdullah Gül delivered an address to the Military Academy Command just 13 days following a delivery in the same location by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
President Gül, who also delivered a conference at the Military Academy Command's War Games and Culture Center in 2010, was greeted with a military ceremony by Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel, National Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz and Military Academies Commander General Arslan Güner. Gül's conference to army officers lasted approximately one hour, and the following are a number of pertinent topics touched upon by the president.
We are witnessing an era which will lead the way to a new restricting of the international system in terms of politics, economy and the military. We are currently experiencing a period of time in which the balance of power between continents and countries is transforming and where the flow of history is accelerating. During times like this there are just as many serious risks as there are enormous opportunities.
The most important development in terms of change is the public uprisings experienced in the Middle East and North Africa. The Arab Spring, which I correlate to the 1848 and 1989 revolutions in Europe, has actually begun an overdue however extremely powerful era from which there is no turning back. This period will be a source of inspiration for a number of nations longing for justice and liberty throughout the world, especially in the Middle East. This era will continue to transform the world in the years to come.
A WARNING OF APARTHEID
In the new political climate, Israel is the nation that needs to be followed and analyzed the closest. If Israel does not allow the creation of an independent Palestinian state, then within 50 years time the country will have turned into an apartheid regime.
It is not possible for a large population governed under democracy to be led forever by a smaller minority. Therefore, Turkey has always called on Israel to end its strategic myopia, carefully analyze the situation and take steps for peace that will truly ensure security.
This is a translation of an article originally written by Hasan Ay.