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ISLAMIC FACTOR IN THE FOREIGN POLICY OF TURKEY
http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6544
14.06.2012
http://facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6544
Artashes Ter-Harutyunyan
Recently the intelligence service of Israel - Mossad - presented to the
cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu a report on the situation and possible
developments in Syria. According to the Israeli sources one of the main
conclusions was that due to the active measures taken by the western
governments alongside with continuous weakening of Bashar al-Assad's
regime, the strengthening and expansion of Islamist network in Syria was
taking place and that in case of such developments the Islamist would the
most probable become the substitute of the al-Assads.
However, the Mossad analysts advice to pay attention also to the fact that
the main supporter and sponsor of the Islamist network in Syria is Turkey's
intelligence service - MIT - which is followed by intelligence services of
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. The Israeli intelligence concludes that the
decision of the political leadership of Turkey to render assistance in
strengthening of Islamist network in Syria reflects an important shift in
the considerations of Ankara strategists. After the events in Egypt, when
alongside with overthrowing of the Mubarak regime Turkey set active
connection with the local Islamist movements first of all by rendering them
financial assistance, Turkey's actions in Syria come to prove that the
Islamist factor becomes one of the main tools of the foreign policy of
Turkey. At the same time, in Mossad they draw to the conclusion that in the
foreseeable future the influence of this factor in the foreign policy of
Turkey will only rise, taking into consideration claims of Ankara on
becoming a leader of the Muslim world.
Rebranding of the Islamist Factor on the International Scene
It is characteristic that over the recent period revaluation of Islamist
factor in the international policy has been proceeding. If over the last
several decades it had been marginal and then it had been associated with
world terrorism, today the western information and diplomatic efforts are
directed to the rebranding of the Islamist factor.
This is very important alternation and if we take into consideration the
volume of those changes (e.g. the number of the states where despite the
elites, which have been ruling for decades, the Islamists manage to pave
their way; the financial, information and human resources they have at
their disposal), probably it would be possible to state that this factor is
acquiring geopolitical significance.
Probably, the main result of the `Arab spring' should be considered in this
context. We can see that in consequence of Arab revolutions in Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, Yemen (it is expected in Syria and even in the countries
where it was repressed, such as Algeria, Morocco, Jordan) first of all
Islamists get access to power.
Turkey's New Approach to the World
The decision of Turkey to position itself by means of a new strategy, based
on an Islamist factor, is not a novelty. But it is interesting with what
new proposals Turkey will come forward in the nearest future. How far is
Ankara ready to go in implementing their Islamic agenda as it is clear that
the current transformation of Turkish strategy is still on the initial
stage, so one can expect new initiatives of Ankara in both domestic and
foreign policies?
There are three factors which caused Ankara's shift to the new strategy.
First one is that after the end of the Cold War the American-Turkish
relations underwent considerable changes. Even some contradictions around
some issues on regional and international policy aroused and they are still
vibrant. At the same time Turkey failed the process of Euro integration.
The process of integration into the EU which has been lasting for several
decades, most probably, can be considered to be over and even Turkish
leaders do not avoid speaking about it.
As a second factor the financial and economic growth of Turkey which has
been observed for recent 20 years is mentioned. The continuing economic and
financial growth of Turkey not only turned Turkey into a country which has
a weight in the world economy, but also created serious resources for
Ankara to come forward with regional and even global political initiatives.
The third factor is the arising of the conditions in the neighboring
regions which promote expansionist moods. Collapse of the Soviet Union
promoted such a possibility in the Balkans, Black Sea region, Caucasus,
Caspian region and Central Asia. Overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, Hosni
Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi regimes, increasing American pressure on Iran
and financial and economic crisis in Greece create such an opportunity in
the Middle East, eastern part of the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Here we speak about the regions which not so long ago were part of the
Ottoman Empire or were under the Ottoman influence. And the Islamist factor
here plays crucial role because from the point of view of ideology, as a
matter of fact, it is a factor which can substantiate Turkish policy in
those regions.
Situational Review
In order to show that Turkey is the number one and most influential
protector of the Muslim nations in the aforementioned regions, it has
recently initiated a number of image-building measures. Those measures are
well-known - from protecting the rights of Muslim Uyghurs in the west of
China and starting a public argument with official Beijing(July 2009), to
establishment of special flotilla for delivering humanitarian aid to the
Palestinians and deliberate deterioration of the relations with Israel
after the incident connected with that flotilla (May 2010).
But over the recent years Turkey has been applying more extra force to
expand its influence in the Islamic networks and organizations,
particularly in the neighboring regions. This is not a part of public
policy and media do not speak much about these Turkish initiatives, but
Israeli and American security experts, presenting some episodes, position
it as an important indicator proving new Turkish foreign policy.
During the panel session of Turkey's intelligence service, where president
Gul and prime-minister Erdogan were present, the director of the service
Hakan Fidan, while speaking about the programmes of the MIT, stated that
`in the next few years Turkish National Intelligence Service will become
world class intelligence organization'. Western experts, making reference
to Fidan's words, conclude that Ankara tends to shift its presence in the
regions it is interested in and especially in the neighboring countries to
a new more substantial level. It is mentioned that changes in the way the
Turkish intelligence works are observed. If previously it was directed to
the operational intelligence collection and reaction to it, today
preferences are acquiring mid-term and long-term character - thus their aim
is to create networks of influence. The American and Israeli experts
connect those changes with the shift in the foreign policy of Ankara.
At the end of April Iraq, which is third trade partner of Turkey after
Germany and Russia (last year bilateral turnover was about $12 billion),
stated that it halted oil transit through the territory of Turkey (Iraq
transits through Turkey up to 500 thousand barrels per day). The reason is
the situation round the Sunnite vice-president Tariq al-Hashemi. Since last
December Hashemi has been under the accusation of organizing terrorist
actions in Iraq. He repels accusations stating that the aim of the Shiite
elite of Iraq is to weaken Sunnites. In this story the fact that Iraq's
Shiite prime-minster Nuri al-Maliki's office accused Turkish special
services of organizing al-Hashemi's escape first to Qatar and then to
Turkey catches the eye. Things came to such a pitch that the prime-minister
al-Maliki called Turkey `enemy state' which constantly interfered into the
domestic affairs of Iraq. In response, the prime-minister of Turkey Recep
Tayyip Erdogan stated that they could not leave Iraqi Sunnites without
support.
Turkish president Abdullah Gul was the first among the leaders of the
countries who visited Cairo after overthrowing of Mubarak's regime in March
2011. And Erdogan was the first among the leaders of the Muslim countries
who pled Mubarak to leave. In consequence of the parliamentary elections in
Egypt held at the end of last year and in January-February 2012 more than a
half of the seats in Lower and Upper chambers were taken by the Islamists.
Their opponents stated that financial and information support received from
Saudi Arabia and Turkey played a big role in their victory. The statement
made by Tariq Ramadan - one of the influential Islamists in Egypt and
grandson of the founder of `Muslim Brothers' organization - that Turkey
could make a `road map' for Egypt on how to combine Islam, democracy and
strong economy is remarkable. Ramadan made this statement after the
elections and today when many in Egypt and on the West consider which model
can work in the Arab countries under the new conditions, in the first
instance remember the example of Turkey.
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6544
14.06.2012
http://facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6544
Artashes Ter-Harutyunyan
Recently the intelligence service of Israel - Mossad - presented to the
cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu a report on the situation and possible
developments in Syria. According to the Israeli sources one of the main
conclusions was that due to the active measures taken by the western
governments alongside with continuous weakening of Bashar al-Assad's
regime, the strengthening and expansion of Islamist network in Syria was
taking place and that in case of such developments the Islamist would the
most probable become the substitute of the al-Assads.
However, the Mossad analysts advice to pay attention also to the fact that
the main supporter and sponsor of the Islamist network in Syria is Turkey's
intelligence service - MIT - which is followed by intelligence services of
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. The Israeli intelligence concludes that the
decision of the political leadership of Turkey to render assistance in
strengthening of Islamist network in Syria reflects an important shift in
the considerations of Ankara strategists. After the events in Egypt, when
alongside with overthrowing of the Mubarak regime Turkey set active
connection with the local Islamist movements first of all by rendering them
financial assistance, Turkey's actions in Syria come to prove that the
Islamist factor becomes one of the main tools of the foreign policy of
Turkey. At the same time, in Mossad they draw to the conclusion that in the
foreseeable future the influence of this factor in the foreign policy of
Turkey will only rise, taking into consideration claims of Ankara on
becoming a leader of the Muslim world.
Rebranding of the Islamist Factor on the International Scene
It is characteristic that over the recent period revaluation of Islamist
factor in the international policy has been proceeding. If over the last
several decades it had been marginal and then it had been associated with
world terrorism, today the western information and diplomatic efforts are
directed to the rebranding of the Islamist factor.
This is very important alternation and if we take into consideration the
volume of those changes (e.g. the number of the states where despite the
elites, which have been ruling for decades, the Islamists manage to pave
their way; the financial, information and human resources they have at
their disposal), probably it would be possible to state that this factor is
acquiring geopolitical significance.
Probably, the main result of the `Arab spring' should be considered in this
context. We can see that in consequence of Arab revolutions in Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, Yemen (it is expected in Syria and even in the countries
where it was repressed, such as Algeria, Morocco, Jordan) first of all
Islamists get access to power.
Turkey's New Approach to the World
The decision of Turkey to position itself by means of a new strategy, based
on an Islamist factor, is not a novelty. But it is interesting with what
new proposals Turkey will come forward in the nearest future. How far is
Ankara ready to go in implementing their Islamic agenda as it is clear that
the current transformation of Turkish strategy is still on the initial
stage, so one can expect new initiatives of Ankara in both domestic and
foreign policies?
There are three factors which caused Ankara's shift to the new strategy.
First one is that after the end of the Cold War the American-Turkish
relations underwent considerable changes. Even some contradictions around
some issues on regional and international policy aroused and they are still
vibrant. At the same time Turkey failed the process of Euro integration.
The process of integration into the EU which has been lasting for several
decades, most probably, can be considered to be over and even Turkish
leaders do not avoid speaking about it.
As a second factor the financial and economic growth of Turkey which has
been observed for recent 20 years is mentioned. The continuing economic and
financial growth of Turkey not only turned Turkey into a country which has
a weight in the world economy, but also created serious resources for
Ankara to come forward with regional and even global political initiatives.
The third factor is the arising of the conditions in the neighboring
regions which promote expansionist moods. Collapse of the Soviet Union
promoted such a possibility in the Balkans, Black Sea region, Caucasus,
Caspian region and Central Asia. Overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, Hosni
Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi regimes, increasing American pressure on Iran
and financial and economic crisis in Greece create such an opportunity in
the Middle East, eastern part of the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Here we speak about the regions which not so long ago were part of the
Ottoman Empire or were under the Ottoman influence. And the Islamist factor
here plays crucial role because from the point of view of ideology, as a
matter of fact, it is a factor which can substantiate Turkish policy in
those regions.
Situational Review
In order to show that Turkey is the number one and most influential
protector of the Muslim nations in the aforementioned regions, it has
recently initiated a number of image-building measures. Those measures are
well-known - from protecting the rights of Muslim Uyghurs in the west of
China and starting a public argument with official Beijing(July 2009), to
establishment of special flotilla for delivering humanitarian aid to the
Palestinians and deliberate deterioration of the relations with Israel
after the incident connected with that flotilla (May 2010).
But over the recent years Turkey has been applying more extra force to
expand its influence in the Islamic networks and organizations,
particularly in the neighboring regions. This is not a part of public
policy and media do not speak much about these Turkish initiatives, but
Israeli and American security experts, presenting some episodes, position
it as an important indicator proving new Turkish foreign policy.
During the panel session of Turkey's intelligence service, where president
Gul and prime-minister Erdogan were present, the director of the service
Hakan Fidan, while speaking about the programmes of the MIT, stated that
`in the next few years Turkish National Intelligence Service will become
world class intelligence organization'. Western experts, making reference
to Fidan's words, conclude that Ankara tends to shift its presence in the
regions it is interested in and especially in the neighboring countries to
a new more substantial level. It is mentioned that changes in the way the
Turkish intelligence works are observed. If previously it was directed to
the operational intelligence collection and reaction to it, today
preferences are acquiring mid-term and long-term character - thus their aim
is to create networks of influence. The American and Israeli experts
connect those changes with the shift in the foreign policy of Ankara.
At the end of April Iraq, which is third trade partner of Turkey after
Germany and Russia (last year bilateral turnover was about $12 billion),
stated that it halted oil transit through the territory of Turkey (Iraq
transits through Turkey up to 500 thousand barrels per day). The reason is
the situation round the Sunnite vice-president Tariq al-Hashemi. Since last
December Hashemi has been under the accusation of organizing terrorist
actions in Iraq. He repels accusations stating that the aim of the Shiite
elite of Iraq is to weaken Sunnites. In this story the fact that Iraq's
Shiite prime-minster Nuri al-Maliki's office accused Turkish special
services of organizing al-Hashemi's escape first to Qatar and then to
Turkey catches the eye. Things came to such a pitch that the prime-minister
al-Maliki called Turkey `enemy state' which constantly interfered into the
domestic affairs of Iraq. In response, the prime-minister of Turkey Recep
Tayyip Erdogan stated that they could not leave Iraqi Sunnites without
support.
Turkish president Abdullah Gul was the first among the leaders of the
countries who visited Cairo after overthrowing of Mubarak's regime in March
2011. And Erdogan was the first among the leaders of the Muslim countries
who pled Mubarak to leave. In consequence of the parliamentary elections in
Egypt held at the end of last year and in January-February 2012 more than a
half of the seats in Lower and Upper chambers were taken by the Islamists.
Their opponents stated that financial and information support received from
Saudi Arabia and Turkey played a big role in their victory. The statement
made by Tariq Ramadan - one of the influential Islamists in Egypt and
grandson of the founder of `Muslim Brothers' organization - that Turkey
could make a `road map' for Egypt on how to combine Islam, democracy and
strong economy is remarkable. Ramadan made this statement after the
elections and today when many in Egypt and on the West consider which model
can work in the Arab countries under the new conditions, in the first
instance remember the example of Turkey.
From: Baghdasarian