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TURKISH AMBASSADOR ADMONISHES PRES. OBAMA ON ARMENIAN ISSUES
By Harut Sassounian
AZG Armenian Daily
27/11/2008
Armenian Genocide; Turkey-USA
Turkish officials are getting increasingly apprehensive about the
announced position of the incoming Obama administration on Armenian
issues. Consequently, they are trying to win over President-elect
Barack Obama and his inner circle by using high-priced lobbying
firms, dispatching delegations of senior diplomats, Prime Minister
Recep Erdogan meeting with Obama's representatives in Washington,
and Pres. Abdullah Gul speaking with him by phone.
Even retired Turkish diplomats are getting into the act. Faruk
Logoglu, a former Turkish Ambassador to Washington, recently wrote a
lengthy "Open Letter" to Pres.-elect Obama, consisting of 23 points,
touching upon various aspects of U.S.-Turkish relations. The letter
was published in the Autumn 2008 edition of Private View, a publication
of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).
Amb. Logoglu has served as President of the Eurasian Strategic Studies
Center (ASAM), an influential Turkish think tank specializing in
international relations. More importantly, he is a member of the
board of the Strategic Studies Center of the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. His letter to Pres. Obama, titled "Win Turkey as a
Key Partner," provides unique insights into the thinking and agenda
of the Turkish foreign policy establishment.
The Turkish Ambassador begins his letter with a vain attempt to
find similarities between the United States and Turkey. He falsely
claims that the two countries share "common values and converging
national interests" such as "democracy, the rule of law, human rights,
fundamental freedoms and market economy." Amb. Logoglu concludes that
the agendas, priorities and needs of the U.S. and Turkey overlap.
Not surprisingly, the Ambassador makes several references to Armenian
issues. In point 2 of his letter, he states that U.S.-Turkish relations
have improved after "the halting of the Armenian Genocide resolution
in Congress last year."
Amb. Logoglu's letter, written in a patronizing tone, repeatedly tells
Pres. Obama what to do once in office. In point 6 of his letter,
the Ambassador demands that Pres. Obama, as one of the first tasks
of his administration, "implement a broad public diplomacy strategy
to win the hearts of the Turkish public," in view of the fact that
"surveys consistently indicate a very unfavorable opinion of the
U.S. in Turkey." In Logoglu's twisted logic, since most Turks hate
Americans, it is Pres. Obama's solemn obligation to take immediate
steps to make Turks like Americans!
In point 7 of his letter, Amb. Logoglu, treating Pres. Obama as
his junior clerk, orders him to "render harmless ... the efforts of
the Armenian and other anti-Turkish lobbies to take our relationship
hostage. ...You need to convince the Turkish public that you are being
fair and not giving in to the demands of special interest groups,
especially when those demands are at least questionable."
In point 8, Amb. Logoglu indicates that the Armenian Genocide
resolution and the fight against the Kurdish PKK are two concrete
issues that would require Obama's attention in the early days of his
Presidency. These issues, the Ambassador warns, "literally constitute
the red buttons in the control deck of our relations. Any resolution
in Congress supporting Armenian claims would do substantial, if not
irreparable, damage to your standing in Turkey and upset the entire
chemistry of our relationship. Moreover, it would not help resolve
the problem and reverse the positive trends now in the making between
Turkey and Armenia. Instead, you should encourage the recent positive
trends between the two neighboring states in the direction of dialogue
and conciliation."
In point 12, Amb. Logoglu asserts that Turkey wants to become an
"energy hub" in order to "counter-balance Russian dominance in this
domain and provide alternative outlets to producer nations." This
statement exposes the Turkish government's fake gestures of friendship
with Russia. Furthermore, this is the continuation of long-standing
Ottoman policy of pitting one great power against another, claiming
to be an ally to both, while exploiting both countries for its own
self-interest. In point 22 of his letter, the Turkish Ambassador
contradicts himself by urging Pres. Obama to keep "Turkey's special
position" in mind when dealing with Russia, given Turkey's substantial
relations with Moscow in terms of "trade, investments, tourism and
[ventures] in the field of energy. Our national interest dictates
that we maintain positive relations with Russia."
Finally, Amb. Logoglu invites Pres. Obama to visit Turkey at his
"earliest opportunity," so that the schmoozing can continue in a
warmer atmosphere!
Most probably, neither Pres. Obama nor any of his aides would have the
time to read this lengthy polemical letter. However, the Ambassador's
words provide a window into the Turkish mindset and show how alarmed
Ankara is by Obama's campaign promises and their likely implementation.
By Harut Sassounian
AZG Armenian Daily
27/11/2008
Armenian Genocide; Turkey-USA
Turkish officials are getting increasingly apprehensive about the
announced position of the incoming Obama administration on Armenian
issues. Consequently, they are trying to win over President-elect
Barack Obama and his inner circle by using high-priced lobbying
firms, dispatching delegations of senior diplomats, Prime Minister
Recep Erdogan meeting with Obama's representatives in Washington,
and Pres. Abdullah Gul speaking with him by phone.
Even retired Turkish diplomats are getting into the act. Faruk
Logoglu, a former Turkish Ambassador to Washington, recently wrote a
lengthy "Open Letter" to Pres.-elect Obama, consisting of 23 points,
touching upon various aspects of U.S.-Turkish relations. The letter
was published in the Autumn 2008 edition of Private View, a publication
of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).
Amb. Logoglu has served as President of the Eurasian Strategic Studies
Center (ASAM), an influential Turkish think tank specializing in
international relations. More importantly, he is a member of the
board of the Strategic Studies Center of the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. His letter to Pres. Obama, titled "Win Turkey as a
Key Partner," provides unique insights into the thinking and agenda
of the Turkish foreign policy establishment.
The Turkish Ambassador begins his letter with a vain attempt to
find similarities between the United States and Turkey. He falsely
claims that the two countries share "common values and converging
national interests" such as "democracy, the rule of law, human rights,
fundamental freedoms and market economy." Amb. Logoglu concludes that
the agendas, priorities and needs of the U.S. and Turkey overlap.
Not surprisingly, the Ambassador makes several references to Armenian
issues. In point 2 of his letter, he states that U.S.-Turkish relations
have improved after "the halting of the Armenian Genocide resolution
in Congress last year."
Amb. Logoglu's letter, written in a patronizing tone, repeatedly tells
Pres. Obama what to do once in office. In point 6 of his letter,
the Ambassador demands that Pres. Obama, as one of the first tasks
of his administration, "implement a broad public diplomacy strategy
to win the hearts of the Turkish public," in view of the fact that
"surveys consistently indicate a very unfavorable opinion of the
U.S. in Turkey." In Logoglu's twisted logic, since most Turks hate
Americans, it is Pres. Obama's solemn obligation to take immediate
steps to make Turks like Americans!
In point 7 of his letter, Amb. Logoglu, treating Pres. Obama as
his junior clerk, orders him to "render harmless ... the efforts of
the Armenian and other anti-Turkish lobbies to take our relationship
hostage. ...You need to convince the Turkish public that you are being
fair and not giving in to the demands of special interest groups,
especially when those demands are at least questionable."
In point 8, Amb. Logoglu indicates that the Armenian Genocide
resolution and the fight against the Kurdish PKK are two concrete
issues that would require Obama's attention in the early days of his
Presidency. These issues, the Ambassador warns, "literally constitute
the red buttons in the control deck of our relations. Any resolution
in Congress supporting Armenian claims would do substantial, if not
irreparable, damage to your standing in Turkey and upset the entire
chemistry of our relationship. Moreover, it would not help resolve
the problem and reverse the positive trends now in the making between
Turkey and Armenia. Instead, you should encourage the recent positive
trends between the two neighboring states in the direction of dialogue
and conciliation."
In point 12, Amb. Logoglu asserts that Turkey wants to become an
"energy hub" in order to "counter-balance Russian dominance in this
domain and provide alternative outlets to producer nations." This
statement exposes the Turkish government's fake gestures of friendship
with Russia. Furthermore, this is the continuation of long-standing
Ottoman policy of pitting one great power against another, claiming
to be an ally to both, while exploiting both countries for its own
self-interest. In point 22 of his letter, the Turkish Ambassador
contradicts himself by urging Pres. Obama to keep "Turkey's special
position" in mind when dealing with Russia, given Turkey's substantial
relations with Moscow in terms of "trade, investments, tourism and
[ventures] in the field of energy. Our national interest dictates
that we maintain positive relations with Russia."
Finally, Amb. Logoglu invites Pres. Obama to visit Turkey at his
"earliest opportunity," so that the schmoozing can continue in a
warmer atmosphere!
Most probably, neither Pres. Obama nor any of his aides would have the
time to read this lengthy polemical letter. However, the Ambassador's
words provide a window into the Turkish mindset and show how alarmed
Ankara is by Obama's campaign promises and their likely implementation.