The conference, organized by Yevm el-Seba -- a newspaper published by the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) -- was attended by a great number of journalists and academics, including Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Hüseyin Avni Botsalı, SDE President Yasin Aktay, Osman Gazi University Professor Ahmet Uysal, Cairo University Professor Mustafa el-Feki and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) former Deputy Zeynep Dağı.
Yevm el-Seba Editor-in-Chief Velid Mustafa delivered the opening speech, reminding the Egyptian people to never forget that Turkey was the first country to support the revolution in Egypt and that Egypt should benefit from Turkey's experience in democratic and economic success. Mustafa noted that “many Egyptian intellectuals think Egypt's transition to democracy should follow Turkey's model. That's why we thought it would be best to hold a conference on the analysis and comparison of Turkey and Egypt.”
El-Feki drew attention to the issue of differences between the two countries. He noted that practicing religion has been an essential part of Egyptians' lives since the time of the pharaohs and is an inalienable right, whereas Turkey turned into a secular country following Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's reforms. El-Feki pointed out that the intellectuals who see Turkey as a role model for Egypt should consider the differences between the two countries instead of idealizing Turkey blindly and understand that every country is shaped differently.
Aktay discussed the democratic experiences Turkey has had and gave a brief historical and political background of the country in general. Comparing Turkey's past with current attempts to reform the Arab world, Aktay noted that while Turkey responded in the same, supportive way to the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, it has taken a different attitude towards Libya. The reason for this, Aktay explained, is that in Libya there was still a chance for reconciliation between the parties involved, and reconciliation is always preferable.
Ambassador Botsalı pointed out that no one should expect Egypt to achieve democracy in a day. “Egypt has a long way to go, but the important thing is that it has finally started this journey. Turkey's objective is not to tell Egypt what to do. Egypt will find its own way, I am sure. We only want to help them [in] finding it,” said Botsalı.
(24 October 2011, TODAY'S ZAMAN )