CopperLIne wrote: The Turkish army, current and retired officers are major economic forces in the Turkish economy. The econmic effect of army expenditure, army contracting, army-founded economic enterprises are huge and the effect on economic activity as a result of army decision and interests in spatial/zonal planning is dramatic. It is for these reasons amongst others that the army should be subject to proper democratic control and accountabiity.
What you mentioned above is actually the influence of the Turkish army and it’s extend to be part of the so called deep state. Which of course you are right, it HAS an impact on economy.
The question is: Is this impact a possitive push to the economy or a negative one? I mean can we account the improvement of the Turkish economy that BigOZ described before to the economic activities of the Turkish army and it’s penetrating into the deep state? From what you said:
A) retired officers doing business activities. Ok I knew about that but why do you account them in the Turkish army. They ARE retired.
B)Army expenditure, army contracting… Yes they may have huge effect but they are all spending. Spending does not push economies forward! It pushes them backwards. It just makes some people rich on the expense of the rest.
C)Army founded economic enterprises. For this I would like to receive more information. What enterprises are they, are they profitable, do they re-direct their profits in the army, what?
D)I also heard the Turkish Army is also involved in the drug producing/exporting business, if that’s true then I canot deny the Turkish Army activities are indeed a major contributor to the Turkish economy.
wrote: The above being the case - which I broadly agree with you - how do you facilitate change ? You can stand at the side lines constantly griping at the abuses perpetrated by the Turkish army against Cyprus and Turks (there are millions of Turks who have suffered tragically at the hands of the army), or you can help work out ways by which the anti-democratic and hostile power of the army is curtailed and controlled.
Fine but do you think the GCs can do anything? And if yes what’s that? Also what can the TCs do?
wrote: I agree that controlling the army and further democratising government - and I don't just mean holding and respecting elections - is a seriously difficult and often dis-spiriting struggle. But unless you are going to resign and say 'no change ever' - the consequences of which extend to Cyprus - then you have got to join in solidarity with Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and other democratic forces to institute real and permanent change.
Obviously the words of a man who deals with law and the broad sense of justice like you, has a lot of weight and value. I completely agree with you, in fact Birkibrisli said something similar before, like joining forces with the TCs. I admit I personally gave up, call me pessimistic if you like. But I am ready to jump up if I am convinced we can do it. How can we do it, I mean look around you in this forum, the vast majority of the TCs consider the Turkish Army their guardian angels.
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