This year had its share of memorable historical moments, and quite extravagantly so, as many of the most important events deciding Turkey’s fate -- such as this year’s presidential election and the historic majority vote for the current government in the general elections -- all took place this year. Writers in the Turkish media shared their evaluations of the passing year.Bugün’s Gülay Göktürk started out her column by saying that although it is very difficult to draw a conclusion as to whether 2007 was overall a “good” or a “bad” year, everybody agreed that it has been a most important one. “We are all aware that it is a milestone year, just like 1950,” she said, recalling the first time the Republic of Turkey had multi-party elections. However she noted that analysts seem to have varying opinions on Turkey’s course. “For some of us, 2007 is a year of disaster, when our country turned toward a dark future with leaping steps; for some others it is a wonderful year in which we finally saw the face of comfort after rough times.” She said 2007 has been a year of “settling accounts” between the civilian powers and the military bureaucracy. She wrote that Turkey has undergone impressive transformation in terms of lessening the influence of the powerful military throughout the year; adding that the society was actively involved in shaping this democratic tendency at every minute. In conclusion, she said 2007 was a good year in her opinion, and the fact that a majority of the people played a role in this critical process was what made it a beautiful year.
Sabah’s Mahmut Övür most certainly agreed with Göktürk in that 2007 has been one of the most critical years Turkish politics has seen. “One would not be exaggerating if he said 2007 was about ‘witnessing history,’” he wrote to strongly emphasize his point. According to him, the presidential election process was the year’s highlight, as it was where the showdown between the people and the powerful military was most conspicuous. He said the killing of ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink by “dark powers,” political tension and discussions about the anti-free speech penal code Article 301 were remarkably important events showing that Turkey was finally at a juncture. He said the opposition “failed a test” when they did not support the government and that the people gave the best response to them at the ballot box. The AK Party’s stance in the face of the military memorandum was also courageous. He concluded by saying that 2007 would be a very important year for young people studying political history.
Unlike, Göktürk and Övür, Radikal’s İsmet Berkan did not think 2007 was a good year. “This foul year is over,” he titled his article. He said the killing of Dink was an awful way to start off a new year, with what’s worse being that the man who incited the hit-man who shot Dink was a police informant. Other than that, the economy is slowing down, the fundamental political problems of the country have been suspended, none of the discussions we have had led anywhere, he said, adding: “In short, 2007 has been a disgusting year. I am really happy that it is over and I hope the newcomer [2008] will not make us miss this one.”
Milliyet’s Mehmet Barlas had a more pragmatic view of the year. “A new year is only the change of numbers of the dates on the calendar. It is as if on the night of Dec. 31 the curtain will close, and then when it opens a new play will start. Is it possible to see the old play once again? However, we know that the play is always the same one. The curtains that open and close are only our imagination.”
