Voice of OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ATATÜRK SOCIETY OF AMERICA | SPRING 2008 April 23 “ National Sovereignty and Children’s Day” Mustafa Kemal Atatürk “Atatürk and the nature of Political Leadership” Prof. Arnold Ludwig’s lecture at ASA’s May 19 event Atatürk Memorials around the world Franklin D. Roosevelt Charles De Gaulle John F. Kennedy Mikhail Gorbachev discusses Atatürk’s influence Ronald Reagan David Ben-Gurion Winston Churchill The Atatürk Society Voice of of America 4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW CONTENTS Washington DC 20016 Phone 202 362 7173 Fax 202 363 4075 E-mail Atatürk [email protected] 03 CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS www.Atatürk society.org Atatürk’s Exemplary Foreign Policy Executive Board based on Independence, President Westernization, and Realism Timur Edib Hudai Yavalar Vice President Filiz Odabas-Geldiay PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS 05 Treasurer Members Timur Edib Mirat Yavalar Bulent Atalay Secretary Serkan Karamete ASA NEWS 06 Ilknur Boray Tijen Arik The Audience gets to Grade Atatürk 06 Board of Trustees By Bulent Atalay, PhD Hudai Yavalar, Chairman, Founding President 19th of May is a very special day Adm. William J.Crowe Jr., Former Trustee 08 Prof. Ali Dogramaci By Deniz Ozkan Prof. Talat Halman Prof. Suna Kili 09 The Establishment of The Grand Hon. Greg Laughlin National Assembly and Atatürk’s Dr. Andrew Mango Orhan Tarhan, Past President Gift to Nation’s Children Prof. Behram Kursunoglu, Former Trustee Prof. Arnold Ludwig 10 Atatürk Dünya Lideri Recipients of Atatürk Awards The Atatürk Memorials 12 Peace & Democracy Award Senator Robert C. Byrd Atatürk as a Transformational 12 14 Richard Holbrooke Leader Adm. William J. Crowe Jr. Prof. Refik Çulpan Secularism & Democracy Award The Turkish General Staff 18 AN INTERVIEW WITH Orhan Tarhan MIKHAEL GORBACHEV Science is Guidance Award “Atatürk allowed no room for Prof. Behram Kursunoglu Universality of Civilization & Peace Award dogmas” Prof. Bernard Lewis Dr. Andrew Mango Atatürk stamps from 24 Education & Modernization Award around the world Prof. Turkan Saylan Leadership Award Senator Chuck Hagel 18 Speaker Newt Gingrich Magazine Design by Sitki Kazanci Published by the Atatürk Society of America, 4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016. ISSN 1544-0966 POSTMASTER: The Atatürk Society of America, 4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016 Application to Mail at Periodical Postage Rates is Pending at Washington DC and addititonal mailing offices. Articles related to Atatürk or his priciples are welcome and should be accompanied by the name, address, and resume of the author (not to be published). Articles are accepted only in an electronic | 2 VOICE OF ATATÜRK SPRING’08 format. Copyright 2008 by ASA. Printed in the U.S.A. CHAIRMAn’S COMMENTS Atatürk’s Exemplary Foreign Policy based on Independence, Westernization, and Realism hen contemplating Atatürk’s foreign policy, one adage comes to mind; “peace at home, peace in the world.” Having liberated Turkish lands from foreign occupation, Atatürk was not interested in territorial expansion. He knew that in order to reach the goals he envisioned for his country, moder- Wnity, economic success, independence, and secularism, he had to concentrate on develop- ments within the country. Atatürk pursued realistic policies. While adamant about the necessity to strengthen and Hudai Yavalar modernize the Turkish state, Atatürk never aimed to unite the Turks living outside of Tur- Chairman, Founding President key. “We know our limitations. We are not worldly minded. There are many of our co- religionists who are groaning under the afflictions of slavery. It is one of our greatest wishes that they too will acquire independence and will attempt to achieve prosperity and progress for their countries through complete independence.” Mustafa Kemal’s main goal was the establishment of a completely independent Turkey, free of all foreign intervention and interferences. He rejected all suggestions of being under the mandate of a great state, and was very mindful of the dangers of imperialism. While the Bolsheviks were very helpful to Atatürk during the War of Independence, he did not embrace communism. He opined “Communism is a social matter. The current situation of our country, its social conditions, and the strength of its religious and na- tional traditions confirm the opinion that Communism, as practiced in Russia, could not be put into practice in our country.” Turkey’s western-inclined foreign policy went hand in hand with its attempts to mod- ernize itself. Atatürk equated modernization with westernization. At the end of the War of liberation in 1923 he stated: “All of our efforts are directed toward the establishment of a modern, therefore western, government. Has there been a nation which has desired to be civilized, but which has not turned towards the West.?” He added “In keeping with our policies, our traditions, and our interests, we are inclined to the establishment of a European Turkey, or to be more precise, a Turkey inclined toward the West.” Turkey established normal political relations with the west in the 1930s. This normaliza- tion of relations formed the basis of the military and political cooperation following World War II, such as the Council of Europe, the OECD, and NATO. Having fought a brutal war of independence, Atatürk sympathized with colonized coun- tries, and wanted Turkey to serve as a role model. Indeed, Mohammed Ali Jinnah of Paki- stan, Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, and Sir Abdurrahim, President of the Indian Parliament all cited Atatürk’s character and accomplishments as an inspiration for their own national struggles. An avid reader, Atatürk was keenly aware of international developments, and kept in mind national and international realities, which helped to preserve the country’s indepen- dence. After independence, Turkey found itself to be surrounded by powerful countries such as the Soviet Union, England (because of its mandate in Iraq), France (because of continued on page 4 SPRING’08 | VOICE OF ATATÜRK 3 continued from page 3 its mandate in Syria),and Italy (which occupied the Dode- ghanistan and Iraq. This was a pact of friendship and solidar- canese.) In addition, modern Turkey bordered Bulgaria and ity, not a military alliance which called for non-interference Greece. While developing friendly relations with its powerful in internal affairs of participating states, respect for common neighbors, and previous enemies, Turkey joined the League boundaries, and mutual guarantees of non-aggression. of Nations to benefit from a system of mutual defense, and Thus with good relations with Western nations through sign agreements with its neighbors, rejecting all forms of ad- the Balkan Pact, and Eastern neighbors through the Saada- venturism. bad Pact, Turkey sent a clear message that she had no interest US Ambassador to Turkey, Charles H Sherrill, who knew in claiming former Ottoman territories. This decision to be the President well, remarked “Mustafa Kemal has no supe- content with established borders allowed Turkey to live the rior in the field of statesmanship anywhere.” He called Ata- longest period of peace in her history. For over 80 years Tur- turk a “liberator, a regenerator, a national hero, and world’s key had been one of the few countries in the world which has statesman.” Even Prime Minister Venizelos of Greece, shortly not been involved in a major war. Given Turkey’s strategic after meeting with Mustafa Kemal, stated “He is a very great location and neighbors, this accomplishment is even more man. I have never encountered a general who was so broad- meaningful; and possible only because of the peaceful foreign minded or had such knowledge of government.” policy initiated by Atatürk and continued by his successors. Turkey demonstrated allegiance to A further gift to his nation was the rule of law. On August 27.1928, Atatürk’s geopolitical vision which Turkey signed the Kellogg-Briand Atatürk is a very far saw a new war in Europe as Pact which renounced the use of war great man. I have shared with Douglas MacArthur as an instrument of foreign policy. when the General visited him on Turkey was the first country after the never encountered a 1932. Atatürk indicated during this United States to ratify this pact. “ visit that the war would be incred- Atatürk believed in the impor- general who was so ibly destructive and at its end Ger- tance of relations based on equality broad-minded or had many would lose. With his unpar- with the Balkan and Near Eastern alleled appreciation for the dynam- states which once were in the Otto- such knowledge of ics of the relationships of countries man Empire. Atatürk stated that the in Europe and the middle east he formation of a federation among the government.” wisely guided Turkey toward a Balkan states should be one of Turk- ----- Prime Minister Venizelos of Greece neutral stance in the tradition of ish foreign policy’s main aims. Switzerland which was adhered to Turkey’s relations with Arab states even after his death. Thus, Tur- and other Muslim states suffered giv- key avoided the great upheavals of en Atatürk’s abolition of the Caliphate, emphasis on secular- World War II through Atatürk’s wise policies which prevent- ism, and emphasis on westernization. ed a possible reversal of his revolutionary changes in Turkish In addition to friendship pacts signed with Afghanistan politics and society. during the War of Liberation, similar pacts were signed with Upon his death, Donald Webster, an American who stud- Iran and Afghanistan in 1926 and 1928. Shah Reza Pahlavi’s ied Turkey and the Atatürk period first hand, concluded: visit to Turkey in 1934 began a new phase in Turkish-Iranian “The greatest Turk of recent centuries, if not of all time- relations. However, there were no concrete disputes such as possibly the most dynamic leader of the contemporary disputed borders, conflicts, or economic and political inter- world died November 10, 1938.