Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Jan 1 2012
A column without a heading
SUAT KINIKLIOÄ?LU
This country makes me schizophrenic. It is often difficult to
ascertain whether one should be content or upset with ongoing
developments.
If you have a conscience and follow what is going on in this country,
you surely have reason to be troubled. Time and again we have proven
incapable or unwilling to solve our major problems through political
compromise. In my wish list for 2012 I listed Turkey's major issues
that need to be tackled sooner rather than later: the Constitution,
the Kurdish issue, the reckoning with history, finding a reasonable
equilibrium between politics and religion, etc. The list can go on and
on.
When the Armenian issue again resurfaced in France and calls for a
re-examination of the events of 1915 were articulated, a friend of
mine tweeted: `Dersim, the Armenian issue¦ were all of these
historical problems waiting for the AK Party government in order to be
confronted?' Indeed, they have. The Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) is the outcome of a distinct republican historical process. It
is the product of the inability of the political system to offer
change in the 1990s.
The AK Party has by and large tackled (not necessarily completed) the
major issues that were confronting Turkey at the beginning of the last
decade.
Turkey is less corrupt and illegal mafia-type organizations hampering
normal activity in big cities have largely been eradicated. There are
more normal relations between the military and the political class.
Important strides have been made on the Kurdish issue. As a result of
a number of liberalizing policies Turkey is now an open and dynamic
country. That said, Turkey still has daunting challenges confronting
it.
The Kurdish issue is staring into our face on a daily basis, with few
ideas left to be pursued. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) remains a
fundamental challenge to the security and stability of this country.
We still have an insincere double-speak on some important historical
issues, including Dersim, Ã?orum, KahramanmaraÅ?, the Armenian issue and
Sivas.
Our neighborhood is going up in smokes. From Syria to Iraq, from
Russia to Iran there is little reason to be optimistic. The relative
stagnation and predictability of the dictators has subsided and we are
confronted by the ghosts of the post-World War I order in the region.
The outlook for our southern dimension looks bad. Syria is destined
for civil war, Iraq faces the potential of disintegrating; the rest of
the region does not look less depressing. We have to brace ourselves
for some very turbulent scenarios in the Middle East. The Turkish
economy also may experience problems emanating from the severe crisis
in the European Union. Turkish exporters will see lesser demand from
Euro-economies and the traditional escape from misery in Europe -- the
Middle East -- is now preoccupied with cutting each other's throat. A
friend who is exporting textiles to the whole Arabian Peninsula could
only express gloom when talking about demand from his traditional
customers.
So, should we harbor hope for 2012 that things will get better? Maybe
the constitutional process will pick up in the early months of next
year? Maybe the whispers in Ankara about a new democratization package
will offer a new opening? I would not bet on it. I see more pessimism
emerging than the other way around. The issue of succession to the AK
Party leadership is causing immense tension. One can feel it
everywhere in this city. It adds even more drama to the ongoing issues
of concern listed above. There is no doubt that much will depend on
the constitution, what kind of presidency is envisioned in the new
constitution and what that means for the regime as well as the
governing party. I have a feeling I will be writing columns with very
strong headings in 2012. Happy New Year!
From: A. Papazian
Jan 1 2012
A column without a heading
SUAT KINIKLIOÄ?LU
This country makes me schizophrenic. It is often difficult to
ascertain whether one should be content or upset with ongoing
developments.
If you have a conscience and follow what is going on in this country,
you surely have reason to be troubled. Time and again we have proven
incapable or unwilling to solve our major problems through political
compromise. In my wish list for 2012 I listed Turkey's major issues
that need to be tackled sooner rather than later: the Constitution,
the Kurdish issue, the reckoning with history, finding a reasonable
equilibrium between politics and religion, etc. The list can go on and
on.
When the Armenian issue again resurfaced in France and calls for a
re-examination of the events of 1915 were articulated, a friend of
mine tweeted: `Dersim, the Armenian issue¦ were all of these
historical problems waiting for the AK Party government in order to be
confronted?' Indeed, they have. The Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) is the outcome of a distinct republican historical process. It
is the product of the inability of the political system to offer
change in the 1990s.
The AK Party has by and large tackled (not necessarily completed) the
major issues that were confronting Turkey at the beginning of the last
decade.
Turkey is less corrupt and illegal mafia-type organizations hampering
normal activity in big cities have largely been eradicated. There are
more normal relations between the military and the political class.
Important strides have been made on the Kurdish issue. As a result of
a number of liberalizing policies Turkey is now an open and dynamic
country. That said, Turkey still has daunting challenges confronting
it.
The Kurdish issue is staring into our face on a daily basis, with few
ideas left to be pursued. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) remains a
fundamental challenge to the security and stability of this country.
We still have an insincere double-speak on some important historical
issues, including Dersim, Ã?orum, KahramanmaraÅ?, the Armenian issue and
Sivas.
Our neighborhood is going up in smokes. From Syria to Iraq, from
Russia to Iran there is little reason to be optimistic. The relative
stagnation and predictability of the dictators has subsided and we are
confronted by the ghosts of the post-World War I order in the region.
The outlook for our southern dimension looks bad. Syria is destined
for civil war, Iraq faces the potential of disintegrating; the rest of
the region does not look less depressing. We have to brace ourselves
for some very turbulent scenarios in the Middle East. The Turkish
economy also may experience problems emanating from the severe crisis
in the European Union. Turkish exporters will see lesser demand from
Euro-economies and the traditional escape from misery in Europe -- the
Middle East -- is now preoccupied with cutting each other's throat. A
friend who is exporting textiles to the whole Arabian Peninsula could
only express gloom when talking about demand from his traditional
customers.
So, should we harbor hope for 2012 that things will get better? Maybe
the constitutional process will pick up in the early months of next
year? Maybe the whispers in Ankara about a new democratization package
will offer a new opening? I would not bet on it. I see more pessimism
emerging than the other way around. The issue of succession to the AK
Party leadership is causing immense tension. One can feel it
everywhere in this city. It adds even more drama to the ongoing issues
of concern listed above. There is no doubt that much will depend on
the constitution, what kind of presidency is envisioned in the new
constitution and what that means for the regime as well as the
governing party. I have a feeling I will be writing columns with very
strong headings in 2012. Happy New Year!
From: A. Papazian