Many thanks for the invitation. Many thanks for giving me the chance to speak here, even though the topic you have chosen for today’s discussion is a real challenge for me. It is a challenge because we – in contemporary Europe – live in an era of limited freedom to express non-mainstream, non-politically correct views.

I consider myself a friend of Turkey, or perhaps Türkiye. I am, however, not an expert on Turkey, nor an authentic connoisseur of the country. I have been there only on formal state visits or as a speaker at conferences, never as a tourist. Never more than two-three days. I don’t know the countryside, I don’t know the Antalya beaches and I haven’t had a chance to look at Ararat from the West as the Turks see it.

I love Istanbul with all its historical monuments, with its famous bazaar, with its permanent traffic jams, with its crowded but colourful streets full of friendly people, with the ever-present sea, with its steamboats, ferries, etc. When I am there, I feel like being in the friendly Orient. And, what is not less important, I have found many friends and rational, its own country-loving politicians there.

As an economist I have always been interested in the mysteries of the Turkish economy, in its fast economic growth and rapidly rising living standards, as well as in its unusually high rate of inflation which still remains incomprehensible to me. Inflation was the subject of my doctoral dissertation more than 65 years ago, but I have to admit that to understand the Turkish inflation I have to learn much more. The Turks seem to be able to live with it.  

I don’t follow the details of daily political life in Turkey. It is mainly not because I’m busy with other topics. In my case there is – I am convinced – another reason, another explanation. I so strongly emphasise the importance of a sovereign and independent nation state as the fundamental basis of meaningful and democratic political arrangements that I do respect domestic policies of any country provided they don’t endanger either other countries or explicitly, directly and openly the citizens of their own country.

I, therefore, resist giving advice or recommendations. It is difficult to judge any country from the outside, but I do trust my basic instincts and judgements based on my already rather long political experience. Nevertheless, I would like to say clearly that I am on the side of those who succeeded in defending democracy and standard political institutions in Turkey eight years ago and who resolutely rejected attempts to destabilize the country. I am extremely cautious and a priori suspicious when there are symptoms of heavy influence from abroad. Last year’s elections proved that the citizens of Turkey support the current government and president. That is the most persuasive argument for me.

Turkey has recently become a strong, powerful and widely respected player in the field of international politics. Its geopolitical role is irreplaceable. We see this both in the Ukraine war and in the Gaza tragedy now. In both cases, we are waiting for the beginning of meaningful negotiations. Any destabilization of Turkey would be a step backwards in this respect and would undermine the stability of the whole world and, in particular, of the Middle East.

As I said in Istanbul at the Marmara Forum this February: “Your country shouldn’t wait for the activity of the superpowers. They don’t belong to this region and don’t significantly feel and understand it. They advocate their own solutions, their own priorities, their own interests. I wish your country success in your foreign policy activities.” I still believe it is relevant to use this argument again and again.

Many of us are pleased to have good contacts with the Turkish representatives in our country and especially with Ambassador Bagis who is trying – and, I dare say, successfully – to build friendly, productive and mutually beneficial relations between our two countries. Today’s gathering is a good example of this.

Mr. Ambassador, ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude by expressing my strong belief in the future positive development of Türkiye. 

Václav Klaus, The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, the ceremony with the title „The Unforgettable Night of Turkish Democracy“, July 15, 2024