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Zaman Online, Turkey
June 12 2005
New Strategic Relations with the US
ERHAN BASYURT
06.12.2005 Sunday - ISTANBUL 16:14
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's contacts in Washington
are clear signs that the crisis atmosphere between the two countries
will be resolved. The meeting that lasted nearly one hour between
Erdogan and U.S. President George W. Bush at the Oval Office, in
which several issues were discussed, is of paramount importance.
Bush said in a press release after the meeting, "Turkey and the U.S.
have an important strategic relationship." The _expression "strategic
partnership" had been used to describe bilateral relations before the
Iraq crisis. Bush's remarks confirm there is a slowdown in the crisis
process, that began with the March 1 deployment motion. Still, it
signifies that both parties need bilateral relations "strategically"
and believe that cooperation will bring mutual benefits.
It is not right to put all the blame on the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) for the deterioration in relations. Michael Rubin, who
served at the Pentagon during the said period, analyzes this
situation quite well in one of his articles entitled, "A Comedy of
Errors," in the recent edition of the Turkish Political Quarterly
that is published by the Ari Group. He refers to the [Massoud]
Barzani factor, the U.S. diplomatic aloofness and the military
operation launched by CENTCOM, which is alien to the Turkish army, to
show what they have done to hurt relations.
On the other side, another crucial factor is the US indifference to
the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist
organization in Northern Iraq. The fight against terrorism plays an
important role for Turkey in developing its relations with both
Israel and the US. The tolerance shown towards the PKK, inevitably
forced Turkey to adopt a definite stance on the issue, and the US
took immediate against Ansar al-Islam in Northern Iraq after Saddam
was toppled. However, it did not act against the PKK. Today, it might
be difficult for the US to take such action due to the ongoing
insurgence; however, there was no such insurgence at that time.
Furthermore, the "Sack Operation" also took place.
Remarks on possible factors that have caused a deterioration in
relations, and which side has made more mistakes, are meaningless
from now on. What is important is that both parties give strategic
importance to the continuation and development of relations. As a
matter of fact, the US made a significant gesture by puncturing the
air embargo and sending Congressmen to the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The support the US gives to Turkey on this
issue might play a balancing role regarding the unilateral pressures
from the European Union (EU). Bush also backed Turkey's proposal for
a "joint commission of historians" to deal with the so-called
Armenian "genocide" allegations. Now, these gestures need to be
strengthened with concrete cooperation against the PKK. In this
respect, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reassured Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul one more time. Any steps taken by the US
against the PKK will contribute to restoring confidence.
Meanwhile, Turkey's opening the Incirlik Base for logistic support;
the positive roles, both civilian and military, it has played in
Afghanistan, are also other issues. Turkey also supports the U.S.
Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative. Bush thanked Turkey
for this support and emphasized once again that Turkish democracy
represents a "model," during his announcement at the Oval Office.
Within the framework of the Broader Middle East initiative, Turkey is
co-chairman of the "Democracy Assistance Dialogue" group together
with Italy and Yemen. It is conducting studies on strengthening
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Islamic countries and also on
increasing women's role in public life. Turkey will host an
international conference on women's position in public life within
the framework of the Broader Middle East Initiative in the upcoming
days.
It seems that the "strategic partnership," that was established
during the First Gulf War and damaged by the Second Gulf War, has
given way to "strategic relations." Erdogan's visit is important in
terms of overcoming the bottleneck in bilateral relations; however,
this does not mean that relations will return to their pre-crisis
levels. Reciprocal steps that will be taken in the months ahead will
determine how much the crisis has been resolved.
June 12 2005
New Strategic Relations with the US
ERHAN BASYURT
06.12.2005 Sunday - ISTANBUL 16:14
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's contacts in Washington
are clear signs that the crisis atmosphere between the two countries
will be resolved. The meeting that lasted nearly one hour between
Erdogan and U.S. President George W. Bush at the Oval Office, in
which several issues were discussed, is of paramount importance.
Bush said in a press release after the meeting, "Turkey and the U.S.
have an important strategic relationship." The _expression "strategic
partnership" had been used to describe bilateral relations before the
Iraq crisis. Bush's remarks confirm there is a slowdown in the crisis
process, that began with the March 1 deployment motion. Still, it
signifies that both parties need bilateral relations "strategically"
and believe that cooperation will bring mutual benefits.
It is not right to put all the blame on the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) for the deterioration in relations. Michael Rubin, who
served at the Pentagon during the said period, analyzes this
situation quite well in one of his articles entitled, "A Comedy of
Errors," in the recent edition of the Turkish Political Quarterly
that is published by the Ari Group. He refers to the [Massoud]
Barzani factor, the U.S. diplomatic aloofness and the military
operation launched by CENTCOM, which is alien to the Turkish army, to
show what they have done to hurt relations.
On the other side, another crucial factor is the US indifference to
the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist
organization in Northern Iraq. The fight against terrorism plays an
important role for Turkey in developing its relations with both
Israel and the US. The tolerance shown towards the PKK, inevitably
forced Turkey to adopt a definite stance on the issue, and the US
took immediate against Ansar al-Islam in Northern Iraq after Saddam
was toppled. However, it did not act against the PKK. Today, it might
be difficult for the US to take such action due to the ongoing
insurgence; however, there was no such insurgence at that time.
Furthermore, the "Sack Operation" also took place.
Remarks on possible factors that have caused a deterioration in
relations, and which side has made more mistakes, are meaningless
from now on. What is important is that both parties give strategic
importance to the continuation and development of relations. As a
matter of fact, the US made a significant gesture by puncturing the
air embargo and sending Congressmen to the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The support the US gives to Turkey on this
issue might play a balancing role regarding the unilateral pressures
from the European Union (EU). Bush also backed Turkey's proposal for
a "joint commission of historians" to deal with the so-called
Armenian "genocide" allegations. Now, these gestures need to be
strengthened with concrete cooperation against the PKK. In this
respect, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reassured Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul one more time. Any steps taken by the US
against the PKK will contribute to restoring confidence.
Meanwhile, Turkey's opening the Incirlik Base for logistic support;
the positive roles, both civilian and military, it has played in
Afghanistan, are also other issues. Turkey also supports the U.S.
Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative. Bush thanked Turkey
for this support and emphasized once again that Turkish democracy
represents a "model," during his announcement at the Oval Office.
Within the framework of the Broader Middle East initiative, Turkey is
co-chairman of the "Democracy Assistance Dialogue" group together
with Italy and Yemen. It is conducting studies on strengthening
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Islamic countries and also on
increasing women's role in public life. Turkey will host an
international conference on women's position in public life within
the framework of the Broader Middle East Initiative in the upcoming
days.
It seems that the "strategic partnership," that was established
during the First Gulf War and damaged by the Second Gulf War, has
given way to "strategic relations." Erdogan's visit is important in
terms of overcoming the bottleneck in bilateral relations; however,
this does not mean that relations will return to their pre-crisis
levels. Reciprocal steps that will be taken in the months ahead will
determine how much the crisis has been resolved.