Turkey can be 'inspiration' for Arabs: Erdogan

Turkey has shown that Islam and democracy can co-exist and could serve as an inspiration in the wake of the popular uprisings sweeping Arab countries, according to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In an exclusive interview with AFP, the Turkish premier also predicted that Moamer Kadhafi's beleaguered regime in Tripoli would soon face up to "reality" while making clear his opposition to sanctions on Libya. Many observers have pointed at secular Turkey as a model for the rest of the Muslim world following uprisings that have swept the Middle East and north Africa, toppling the long-time presidents of Tunisia and Egypt. While he rejected the status of role model, Erdogan said lessons could be learned from Turkey. "We are not seeking to be a model or whatsoever, but we can be a source of inspiration since Turkey has shown that Islam and democracy can co-exist perfectly," Erdogan said in an interview late Wednesday. "Having religious beliefs does not prevent one from having a democracy and democracy does not prevent one from having religious beliefs. And in this country, we have had both for years." The Islamist-rooted Turkish leader, a hero of the Arab street with his frequent outbursts against Israel, had lent vocal support to anti-regime protests in Egypt that forced Hosni Mobarak to step down earlier this month. And on Tuesday, Erdogan urged Libya against making the "mistake" of ignoring its people's demands for freedom and warned "ruthless interventions against those who voice democratic demands will increase the spiral of violence." But in the interview, Erdogan said that Turkey is opposed to sanctions against Libya over its bloody crackdown on anti-regime protests as they are likely to hurt the country's already impoverished people. "It is wrong to act hastily in such situations. And it is not right at present to impose sanctions on Libya since such measures punish the people," Erdogan said. The prime minister described the turmoil as "very worrying" but added he was "convinced that those who govern Libya will eventually see the realities." "We are not supposed to meddle in Libya's affairs... and it is up to the Libyan people to decide their own fate," he said. Turkey has notable economic interests in Libya, where about 200 Turkish companies are involved in construction projects amounting to more than $15 billion (11 billion euros). Since the weekend, Turkey has scrambled to repatriate thousands of nationals from the North African country, where about 25,000 Turks are based, mostly as employees of construction sites. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), the moderate offshoot of a banned Islamist movement, remains under fire at home for moves seen as efforts to undermine Turkey's secular system, control the judiciary and bully the opposition press. But Erdogan insisted that he was fully committed to democracy. "We are happy to be what we are... We want an advanced democracy," he said, adding the AKP would seek a fresh constitutional reform after general elections in June, in which it will seek a third straight term in power.