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SHAKY LOGIC: AFTER A HORRIFIC EARTHQUAKE, TURKEY MUST ACCEPT AID FROM ITS FRIENDS
The Times
October 25, 2011 Tuesday
London
Every earthquake brings stories of miracles. The child found alive
under a door after two days, the woman pulled from the rubble after a
week. Yet these stories are considered miraculous precisely because
they are so rare. The hours after any earthquake are a race against
time. There are never enough rescuers, and they are never fast enough.
On Sunday, eastern Turkey was struck by a quake of 7.2 magnitude. In
cities made of unsupported concrete and mudbrick, the death toll
is rising by the hour. The Turkish Government's decision to refuse
outside aid is senseless and cruel.
It was not ever thus. When a devastating earthquake struck in and
around the Turkish city of Izmit in August 1999, killing tens of
thousands, the Greek Government offered aid in a matter of hours.
Reeling from the scale of the disaster, the Turkish authorities
accepted. Greek citizens sent money, clothing and blood, and Turkish
citizens noticed. The Mayor of Athens made a visit. Two countries,
feuding since time immemorial, began to both behave, and feel, like
neighbours. When another huge earthquake struck Athens a month later,
albeit with far lower casualties, the Turks reciprocated in kind.
History offers other examples of disaster diplomacy, but none so
heartwarming as this.
Turkey today has refused aid not only from Greece, but also from
Israel and Armenia; the latter with which it has a traumatic history
and the former with which it has a traumatic present.
Certainly Turkey is a more modern, confident and prosperous place
than it was a decade ago, but no country is so modern and developed
as to comfortably handle an earthquake alone. Greece has experience of
handling earthquakes to rival Turkey's own, and facilities far better.
Israel excels at complex and technical aspects of disaster management.
Both could, and would, save lives.
The Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has its reasons, but they are
not good ones. The cities of Ercis and Van lie in a sensitive part
of the country, close to the borders with Iran and Iraq and with a
population that is predominantly Kurdish. Last Wednesday, Kurdish
militants killed 24 soldiers nearby - the worst attack in 18 years -
prompting a heavy Turkish response on both sides of the border with
Iraq. In normal circumstances, Turkey would not welcome an influx of
outside agencies. These, though, are not normal circumstances.
Since Mr Erdogan came to power in 2003 Turkey has looked less towards
Europe as its natural home, and more towards its region of the Middle
East, occasionally collaborating with Iran and adopting a paternalistic
pose towards the wobbling giant that is Egypt. Its relations with
Israel have deteriorated, markedly. After a decade of prosperity
unrivalled in its history, Turkey has clear and understandable
ambitions towards regional dominance. The refusal of outside aid
contains an implicit boast that Turkey is no longer the sort of
country that requires it.
But it is. After a disaster such as this, any country would be.
Turkish pride must not be built on the blood and crushed bones of the
dead who otherwise would have lived. Regional stability is built on
friendship, and Turkey is surrounded by nations offering just that. It
should accept.
The Times
October 25, 2011 Tuesday
London
Every earthquake brings stories of miracles. The child found alive
under a door after two days, the woman pulled from the rubble after a
week. Yet these stories are considered miraculous precisely because
they are so rare. The hours after any earthquake are a race against
time. There are never enough rescuers, and they are never fast enough.
On Sunday, eastern Turkey was struck by a quake of 7.2 magnitude. In
cities made of unsupported concrete and mudbrick, the death toll
is rising by the hour. The Turkish Government's decision to refuse
outside aid is senseless and cruel.
It was not ever thus. When a devastating earthquake struck in and
around the Turkish city of Izmit in August 1999, killing tens of
thousands, the Greek Government offered aid in a matter of hours.
Reeling from the scale of the disaster, the Turkish authorities
accepted. Greek citizens sent money, clothing and blood, and Turkish
citizens noticed. The Mayor of Athens made a visit. Two countries,
feuding since time immemorial, began to both behave, and feel, like
neighbours. When another huge earthquake struck Athens a month later,
albeit with far lower casualties, the Turks reciprocated in kind.
History offers other examples of disaster diplomacy, but none so
heartwarming as this.
Turkey today has refused aid not only from Greece, but also from
Israel and Armenia; the latter with which it has a traumatic history
and the former with which it has a traumatic present.
Certainly Turkey is a more modern, confident and prosperous place
than it was a decade ago, but no country is so modern and developed
as to comfortably handle an earthquake alone. Greece has experience of
handling earthquakes to rival Turkey's own, and facilities far better.
Israel excels at complex and technical aspects of disaster management.
Both could, and would, save lives.
The Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has its reasons, but they are
not good ones. The cities of Ercis and Van lie in a sensitive part
of the country, close to the borders with Iran and Iraq and with a
population that is predominantly Kurdish. Last Wednesday, Kurdish
militants killed 24 soldiers nearby - the worst attack in 18 years -
prompting a heavy Turkish response on both sides of the border with
Iraq. In normal circumstances, Turkey would not welcome an influx of
outside agencies. These, though, are not normal circumstances.
Since Mr Erdogan came to power in 2003 Turkey has looked less towards
Europe as its natural home, and more towards its region of the Middle
East, occasionally collaborating with Iran and adopting a paternalistic
pose towards the wobbling giant that is Egypt. Its relations with
Israel have deteriorated, markedly. After a decade of prosperity
unrivalled in its history, Turkey has clear and understandable
ambitions towards regional dominance. The refusal of outside aid
contains an implicit boast that Turkey is no longer the sort of
country that requires it.
But it is. After a disaster such as this, any country would be.
Turkish pride must not be built on the blood and crushed bones of the
dead who otherwise would have lived. Regional stability is built on
friendship, and Turkey is surrounded by nations offering just that. It
should accept.