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THE CHANGES IN PARIS AND ATHENS ARE NO GOOD FOR US
by Mehmet Ali Birand
Hurriyet Daily News
May 9 2012
Turkey
The recent elections in France and Greece should be a lesson for all
of us. The economic crisis has caused the people to take revenge on
the politicians. The reason Sarkozy lost with a margin of 3 per cent
is the anger of voters at becoming poor, nothing else. The situation
is no different in Greece.
All of the politicians in office were badly beaten.
What's more, the confusion in both countries is likely to continue for
a long time. They may be due for new elections and new fluctuations.
How will these changes affect Turkey? Let's take a look.
The only positive side of the change in France is that Hollande was
elected, a leader who does not have an anti-Turkey obsession like
Sarkozy's. But don't count on that. Hollande is not against Turkey's
full membership in the EU in principle. He does not question Turkey's
European-ness like Sarkozy does.
However, he does place the condition of the acceptance of the
"Armenian Genocide" on Turkey's membership, and this stance is not
one that can be overcome easily. In short, this change in Paris will
not make a significant difference to Turkey's relations with the EU.
Hollande's presidency is likely to end and not continue at the end
of his 5-year term.
The situation is more complicated in Athens. The beating the
politicians got was as bad as the one our leaders took in our 2002
elections. In Greece, a coalition period has started and the economic
chaos looks as though will not be solved easily. Also, there is talk
of holding early elections next June. In other words, there is an
impasse. This situation bothers me.
I fear that the rising militarist and extreme-right parties in Greece
will turn towards Turkey after a while.
I wonder, to overcome the frustration they are immersed in, whether
they will begin focusing on Turkey? Will they make Turkey their
"joint enemy"? This is possible and there is such a risk. However,
the Greeks have so many problems nowadays that it looks as if they
will not turn towards us.
by Mehmet Ali Birand
Hurriyet Daily News
May 9 2012
Turkey
The recent elections in France and Greece should be a lesson for all
of us. The economic crisis has caused the people to take revenge on
the politicians. The reason Sarkozy lost with a margin of 3 per cent
is the anger of voters at becoming poor, nothing else. The situation
is no different in Greece.
All of the politicians in office were badly beaten.
What's more, the confusion in both countries is likely to continue for
a long time. They may be due for new elections and new fluctuations.
How will these changes affect Turkey? Let's take a look.
The only positive side of the change in France is that Hollande was
elected, a leader who does not have an anti-Turkey obsession like
Sarkozy's. But don't count on that. Hollande is not against Turkey's
full membership in the EU in principle. He does not question Turkey's
European-ness like Sarkozy does.
However, he does place the condition of the acceptance of the
"Armenian Genocide" on Turkey's membership, and this stance is not
one that can be overcome easily. In short, this change in Paris will
not make a significant difference to Turkey's relations with the EU.
Hollande's presidency is likely to end and not continue at the end
of his 5-year term.
The situation is more complicated in Athens. The beating the
politicians got was as bad as the one our leaders took in our 2002
elections. In Greece, a coalition period has started and the economic
chaos looks as though will not be solved easily. Also, there is talk
of holding early elections next June. In other words, there is an
impasse. This situation bothers me.
I fear that the rising militarist and extreme-right parties in Greece
will turn towards Turkey after a while.
I wonder, to overcome the frustration they are immersed in, whether
they will begin focusing on Turkey? Will they make Turkey their
"joint enemy"? This is possible and there is such a risk. However,
the Greeks have so many problems nowadays that it looks as if they
will not turn towards us.