The crisis in Egypt is a test on democracy for the West, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said this morning, 24 hours after the Egyptian military launched a bloody crackdown on Islamist supporters.
“These people will sooner or later win their struggle for democracy. The West has to understand this if they want to pass the democracy test. If the West does not take sincere steps, democracy will be questioned throughout the world,” Erdoğan said at Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport before departing for a visit to Turkmenistan.
“Putschists not only undermined the national will in Egypt but also massacred their own people,” he said. “Those who remain silent and indifferent before the massacre in Egypt are among the culprits. … Those who committed this massacre should stand trial for their actions in a fair and transparent way.”
Erdoğan said he had talked to world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama,Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron and French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the situation in Egypt.
Erdoğan said some had criticized Turkey’s reaction to the coup in Egypt on the grounds that it was tantamount to an intervention into the internal affairs of the country but noted that they had not chided Ankara for its stance on Syria.
“Why did you seek Turkey’s support over Syria? … You praised Turkey’s stance [in Syria] and said that you wanted to cooperate with Turkey. But you should know that Egypt is also our neighbor,” said Erdoğan, referring to the historical and cultural ties between Egypt and Turkey.
Erdoğan also said his health was good following speculation that he has been suffering from an affliction.
