Adress by Her Majesty the Queen at the dinner on the occasion of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Turkey, mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and mrs. Sezer to the Netherlands, April 3rd, 2001
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Mr President,
It gives my husband and me great pleasure to welcome you and Mrs Sezer to the Netherlands. We greatly appreciate the fact that your first visit to a member state of the European Union is to òur country. Remarkably enough, this is also the first State visit ever to take place between our countries. Of course, this does not mean that our relations have only recently begun. On the contrary, they date back almost four hundred years.
The struggle then against our common foe, the Spanish Hapsburgs, made us allies as well as fellows in adversity at an early stage. The leader of the Dutch revolt, William of Orange, sought contact with the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, then one of the greatest of the European powers. His offer of cooperation was favourably received and diplomatic relations between the young Republic and the Sublime Porte officially started almost four centuries ago. In all those years, our relations have never been interrupted by war, something that is almost unique in the history of our continent, so often torn apart by conflicts.
The Dutch interest in Turkey was based not only on political but also on commercial motives. The Ottoman Empire was flourishing both economically and culturally. The sophistication of Turkish culture was expressed in unique buildings, art collections and other products of artistic endeavour. Many Dutch paintings from our Golden Age show how prosperous citizens in this country indulged themselves in Turkish coffee and tobacco and decorated their houses with Oriental rugs. Furthermore, Dutch ambassadors in Istanbul discovered the beauty of Ottoman manuscripts. A number of these found a home in Dutch libraries, as you yourself will be able to see during your visit to Leiden University.
The most colourful and most enduring feature of our commercial exchanges was undoubtedly the tulip trade. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the cultivation of this flower became a true passion in both our countries. The tulip, originally imported from Turkey, later became a symbol of the Dutch identity that is now known throughout the world.
At that time, the Ottoman Empire was a model of tolerance and cultural diversity, certainly in comparison with Europe in this period. Persecuted minorities from other countries found a home there and the Empire's own minorities enjoyed considerable freedom. This illustrated the high moral standards of Ottoman civilisation. Our country, that also took in refugees from elsewhere and upheld tolerance and religious freedom, greatly valued these aspects of Turkish society. The many-talented Dutch writer and thinker [Dirck Volckertszoon] Coornhert, one of the great advocates of religious tolerance, pointed out that in contrast to other peoples, the Turks respected the beliefs of the Christians they defeated in battle. The crescent moon, portrayed on the Turkish flag, was adopted by Dutch Protestants as a symbol of their struggle for religious freedom. Economic and personal ties between our two countries also continued after this period. In the nineteenth century they received new impetus when a large number of Dutch people saw opportunities in the field of trade and agriculture in Turkey and settled there permanently. The twentieth century saw great changes. After the founding of the Republic in nineteen twenty-three, Turkey chose with conviction for a European future. New legislation, particularly in the area of civil law, bore clear witness to this. The course directed towards Europe was confirmed after the Second World War by your country's accession to the Council of Europe, the OECD and above all, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. For almost fifty years Turkey has provided, from its key position geographically, an indispensable contribution to the common effort to secure the freedom of Western Europe.
The Association Agreement with the European Community and later the Customs Union paved the way for ever closer cooperation. The Netherlands welcomes your country's orientation towards Europe and is greatly in favour of closer rapprochement with the European Union. That many problems still require a solution is clear. Preparation for membership of the EU is a far-reaching process. It demands not only adjustments but also fundamental changes. All the candidate states have to meet the criteria laid down by the Union regarding the rule of law, human rights and economic reforms. This is a wide-ranging and complex task. Turkey has made an encouraging start in fulfilling this responsibility. The Netherlands will be happy to cooperate with your country in this matter.
Postwar Atlantic and European cooperation has substantially strengthened the ties between our two nations. However, they also grew stronger with the coming of many of your compatriots to the Netherlands. These, mostly young men, fulfilled the demand for labour that arose here as a result of our rapid industrialisation. They therefore made an important contribution to economic prosperity in this country. Though they initially came as temporary labour, an increasing number of these 'guest workers', as they were known, decided to stay and their families joined them. So today, the Turkish community in the Netherlands looks very different from forty years ago. Children of Turkish origin now attend Dutch schools in large numbers and many young Turkish people study at Dutch universities. The conservatory in Rotterdam, which is twinned with Istanbul, offers a course in Turkish music. The Turkish community has its own media and organisations focusing on social and cultural development within Dutch society. Dutch citizens of Turkish origin have set up their own businesses and their voices are heard in school boards, local councils and, last but not least, in the Dutch Parliament. There are of course problems, but in general what has been achieved in the integration of Turkish immigrants can be regarded as a remarkable success.
In recent years many Dutch people have discovered Turkey as a holiday destination and have become acquainted with its wealth of cultural treasures. This has led to a deeper understanding between the Dutch and the Turks and a better knowledge of each other. The expressions of sincere sympathy in our country movingly reflected this after the tragedy of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey almost two years ago. We observed with admiration the dignity with which the Turkish population endured this ordeal and the vitality and resilience that marked their response.
Mr President,
Justice and the rule of law are essential themes of your presidency. The democratic reforms in your country are taking place, in your words, "not because the outside world so demands but because the people deserve it." In this you represent the hopes and wishes of your citizens. You are therefore all the more a very welcome guest in our country.
May I invite all those present to raise their glasses with me and drink to your health, Mr President, to that of Mrs Sezer, and to a bright future for the Turkish people, with whom we have such long-standing and richly varied ties.