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ANKARA: Common History, Common Destiny And Common Future

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  • ANKARA: Common History, Common Destiny And Common Future

    COMMON HISTORY, COMMON DESTINY AND COMMON FUTURE

    Today's Zaman
    http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-19033 0-103-common-history-common-destiny-and-common-fut ure.html
    Oct 19 2009
    Turkey

    With its "zero problems with neighbors" policy, Turkey's efforts
    inside the country and out are continuing at dazzling speed. I asked
    a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) executive the reason why
    the initiatives were introduced in such a rapid fashion with one
    following the next. The executive responded, "I connect it to the
    delay in overcoming the effects of the Cold War period."

    Just 10 years ago, it was unimaginable for Syria and Turkey, which
    were on the brink of war, to set sail toward "unlimited" friendship.

    Iraq, which had become a nest of terrorism, was a country that was
    far from being a friend. It is for this reason that during the US-led
    invasion of Iraq, Turkey almost became a partner in crime. But by
    rejecting the March 1 motion, Parliament duly represented the national
    will. Now Turkey has reached a point where it is contemplating removing
    restrictions against Iraq. Signing protocols with Armenia and agreeing
    to open the border was previously unlikely to happen. But it has
    happened. The process began not with the language of cold diplomacy
    but with a warm conversation over sports. The establishment of a free
    trade zone with Iran is another item that is on the agenda.

    Bridges have already been built with Nakhchivan and Georgia, and
    relations have improved to the highest level. However, my same friend
    said, "There is more distance to be traveled en route to building
    friendships with neighbors."

    The AK Party executive, who linked the success of these initiatives to
    the escape from "deep" structures left over from the Cold War, asked,
    "Could these steps have been taken if a structure that generated chaos
    to create an atmosphere fit for a coup continued its activities?" The
    executive noted that Turkish officials would return a visit paid by
    George Papandreou, who traveled to Turkey on his fifth day in office
    after being elected prime minister of Greece. The Greek leader had
    shared a peace-building award with Ä°smail Cem during his tenure as
    foreign minister. The senior AK Party official also said that with
    the closure of the crisis chapter with Bulgaria, relations between the
    two countries will be significantly improved. Foreign Minister Ahmet
    Davutuoglu's emphasis on "a common history, a common fate and a common
    future" includes the message that Turkey will grow with its neighbors.

    A friend of mine who is a foreign policy expert said the slogan
    "A common history, a common fate and a common future" was crafted
    deliberately. "For example, it's no coincidence that there is no
    reference to a common culture. We share a common culture with neighbors
    with which we have a common history, but that kind of expression
    would have been limiting. As for the reference to a common fate, it
    encompasses everyone in the region. The emphasis on a common future
    expresses that it would be easier to build a high-quality future if
    it is done together. We can extend this partnership to our neighbors
    that have a coast on the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. We are
    evaluating every opportunity for peace and friendship, including
    soccer and provocations," he added.

    Asked what he meant by provocations, my friend went on to explain: "In
    the first week of September 2007, Israeli jets used Turkish airspace
    to attack a military building in Syria. This attempt, which could have
    ruined relations with Turkey, had the complete opposite effect. The two
    countries did not fall into that trap." Speaking of Israel, I asked,
    "Why was the problem with Israel deepened when 'zero problems with
    neighbors' initiatives were being launched one after the other?"

    He said the exclusion of Israel from the Anatolian Eagle military
    drill was a step toward solving the problem. Noting that they wanted
    to help Israel face the Gaza massacre it carried out at the start of
    the year, my friend said: "You are going to kill innocent people and
    then act like nothing happened. Is there a more diplomatic way that
    could have been used to explain that that era has now passed?"
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