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ANKARA: Turkey Risks Credibility In Washington-Analyst

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  • ANKARA: Turkey Risks Credibility In Washington-Analyst

    TURKEY RISKS CREDIBILITY IN WASHINGTON-ANALYST

    Hurriyet
    Jan 19 2009
    Turkey

    ANKARA-Turkey moves far from the transatlantic consensus on how to
    deal with Hamas and loses credibility as an interlocutor, according to
    an American analyst. The prime minister's vocabulary in his criticism
    over Israel leads to concern , he says

    The choice of vocabulary employed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
    Erdogan in his criticism over Israel's Gaza offensive, as well as the
    ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP's, relationship with
    Hamas have led to serious concerns in Washington, warned a senior
    American analyst.

    "The risk is that Turkey moves far from the transatlantic consensus
    on how to deal with Hamas and loses credibility as an interlocutor,"
    Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund said in an interview with the
    Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Friday.

    Praising Turkey's active engagement in Middle East politics as
    important, Lesser said Ankara's relations with Syria and Iran should
    not be put in the same basket with the issue of relations with
    Hamas. "The relationship with Syria has been useful. Maybe even
    the relationship with Iran is sort of understandable. But when it
    comes to Hamas, it is more problematic... The biggest concern from
    an American perspective is that Turkey loses its ability to play a
    useful role between Israel and its neighbors. Geopolitically this
    would have consequences," Lesser said.

    Public reaction According to Lesser, American policy-makers in
    Washington understand the Turkish public's reaction toward Israel and
    the AKP government's consideration of that public opinion, however,
    it is the tone that raises eyebrows in Washington. "In the long-term
    this could affect Turkish public opinion negatively not only in
    relations with Israel but also with the United States," he said.

    The state of play between Turkey and the United States under
    President Barack Obama will depend heavily on Ankara's perception
    of the transatlantic alliance, Lesser added. While pointing to
    Turkey's temporary seat at the United Nation's Security Council as
    an important asset in transatlantic cooperation, he implied that
    possible developments in Iran would serve as a litmus test for
    Turkey's direction.

    "There will be serious questions of what Turkey will do on major
    security issues and the most important one is Iran. If there is a
    Security Council action on Iran's nuclear program then Turkey will
    have to make tough choices. I am not sure it will be a problem but
    Turkey and the US will have to work much closer," he said. The second
    major issue for Turkey during Obama's term will be the future of Iraq,
    Lesser added. Despite the common tendency to link this with the fight
    against the terrorist PKK organization, Lesser said Turkey's interest
    should be assessed in a wider, longer-term perspective in relation
    to U.S. disengagement.

    "Certainly on the PKK issue, I do not think Turkey will have any
    problem with the Obama administration, I think there is a good
    recognition of Turkey's problems. I do not really expect any problems,"
    Lesser said.

    Lesser did not completely rule out the potential danger of the
    1915 events turning into a crisis between Ankara and Washington
    under Obama's rule, however, he left room for optimism. He said,
    "I think this issue will be critical but it will not be the first
    time. We have had many experiences like this. Resolutions have
    not been very successful in the past. I do not think this will be
    any different. Smart, effective political people around Obama will
    understand its meaning for Turkey."

    Relations with Armenia He also said the relations between Turkey and
    Armenia as well as the changing Turkish discourse on the issue would be
    seriously considered in Washington. "These issues will all be second
    considerations for Obama given the obsession with the economy. This
    is valid for congress too," he added. As Obama will take over the
    ship with the huge burden of the worsening economic situation, the
    events of 1915 will be among the secondary considerations, he said.

    While admitting that for an outsider it is extremely difficult to
    understand what has actually happened in the Ergenekon saga, Lesser
    reacted to efforts to link the Ergenekon plot with the US. "It is
    just not true to think that somehow it is an American creation or
    there is an American involvement in this. People are not even sure
    what it is. I think it is part of this increasing pattern in Turkish
    society in recent years that reflects that a lot of suspicion about
    the United States," he said.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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