The effect of ‘soft power' on Turkey's rapid development

Bülent Keneş

While every country in the world has its own sources of soft power, only some are really aware of these sources. As for Turkey -- which possesses a vital geopolitical position and military strength, a deep-rooted history and a rich culture and sees the future of economic and socio-political development as being intertwined with such universal values as basic human rights and freedoms, the superiority of justice and a liberal economy -- it is a country with extremely rich sources of soft power.

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Is it freedom of expression or a hate crime?

Bülent Keneş *

Let me be clear at the beginning so that no one gets confused: No provocation or instigation could justify or legitimize the killing of innocent people.

From this perspective, the murder of an American envoy and three diplomats who had nothing to do with the incidents in Benghazi of Libya cannot be tolerated, even if it was carried out in response to a heinous movie insulting our Prophet Muhammad. It is my hope that this massacre, which violated the inviolability of the right to life and the immunity of diplomats, is expeditiously investigated, and that those who committed this horrible crime receive the punishment they deserve.

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