Turkey should be accorded due recognition

I AM writing in regard to the article "Erdogan's continuing power spells trouble - Sunday's poll on restructuring Turkey's political system will affect Turkey's relations with the EU and the US" by Mohammed Ayoob, first published in YaleGlobal Online and reprinted in BT on April 13.

I wish to point out that I cannot agree with the opinions expressed by the author as they rest on a blatantly skewed view of the realities in my country. With this mindset, the author presented the outcome of last Sunday's referendum in Turkey as a development that will impact the relations of Turkey with other nations, including the United States. In reality, my countries' relations with any state are dictated by national interests, ties of alliance and the mutual realisation of responsibilities.

Furthermore, in the article, the referendum in Turkey is not depicted for what a referendum is - a hallmark of democracy - but is instead used as a reference point for so-called "dictatorial behaviour" by President Erdogan. I believe that any impartial observer will fail to see how there can be a referendum where there is such alleged behaviour.