Tweet
A CHANCE TO REVISIT THE 'ZERO PROBLEMS' POLICY
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2013
There appears to be a consensus among diplomats I have talked to
over the past few days that Israel's apology over the Mavi Marmara
raid, and its acceptance by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
"on behalf of the Turkish nation," as he put it, has provided Turkey
with an opportunity to regain some of the regional influence it lost,
particularly in terms of the Middle East peace process.
This, however, is contingent on government officials staying away from
the "we brought Israel to heel" narrative currently prevalent among
Turkey's Islamists. Otherwise, it is clear that efforts to normalize
ties between the two countries will not stand much of a chance.
There are those who believe that Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu have a negative ideological fixation on Israel which will
surface again and block any progress in ties. It is obvious that if
this process is to succeed, Erdogan in particular is going to have
to tone down his anti-Israeli rhetoric.
There are, nevertheless, those who believe that if Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not gotten solid assurances from U.S.
President Barack Obama, who brokered the deal between Israel and
Turkey, he would have never apologized. Whatever the truth may be,
it remains to be seen if Erdogan and Davutoglu will consider Turkey's
long-term interests or whether their ideological fixations will
prevail in the end.
But the general belief, not just among diplomats but also among
analysts, is that should efforts to normalize ties with Israel be
blocked again, this will mean that Turkey's influence in the region
will be even less than today. Not only will Turkey not have a place
in any efforts at securing a Middle East peace, but Ankara will not
be able to take back some of the roles that Egypt took on as Ankara's
regional influence waned after its breakup with Israel.
It is also being assumed generally that Turkey's influence in
Washington also increased after Erdogan accepted Netanyahu's apology.
If Turkish-Israeli relations were to go into a tailspin once again,
this will obviously butter the bread of the anti-Turkish lobbyists
in Washington who are still active today.
There is also the potential for cooperation in the energy field that
has arisen now that Turkish-Israeli ties have been put on the right
track. It is clear to industry sources that such cooperation will
not only benefit the two countries but the whole of the eastern
Mediterranean, contributing to security in this turbulent part of
the world.
If the means could be found to factor in Cyprus also into this equation
this is all the better according to these sources. But if ties with
Israel go wrong again it is clear that Ankara will face a completely
different situation in the region with respect to the energy issue.
Developments with Israel have in fact placed Turkey in a good light
again, providing Ankara with a chance to revisit its failed "zero
problems with neighbors" policy. Erdogan and Davutoglu must see that
this potential exists now and should therefore engage in new diplomatic
initiatives, which is Turkey's soft-power.
These should include an effort to try once again to resolve age-old
problems, starting off with the Cyprus problem. Any progress in Cyprus
will obviously benefit Turkish-EU ties also. Another file Turkey can
bring down from the shelf where it has been gathering dust involves
relations with neighboring Armenia.
Of course, there is the Azerbaijan factor here that Ankara can not
overlook. But Baku could be made to understand that a Turkey, which
has normal ties with Armenia, could play a role in trying to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem too, especially if it has resolved its
own Cyprus problem in the interim.
Davutoglu is said to be a "visionary." However, his vision has
given scant results thus far. He too must see, however, that a new
opportunity has arisen for him to realize his vision and for Turkey
to display its soft power. It remains to be seen how he will use
this opportunity.
April/02/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/a-chance-to-revisit-the-zero-problems-policy.aspx?pageID=449&nID=44052&NewsCatID=416
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2013
There appears to be a consensus among diplomats I have talked to
over the past few days that Israel's apology over the Mavi Marmara
raid, and its acceptance by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
"on behalf of the Turkish nation," as he put it, has provided Turkey
with an opportunity to regain some of the regional influence it lost,
particularly in terms of the Middle East peace process.
This, however, is contingent on government officials staying away from
the "we brought Israel to heel" narrative currently prevalent among
Turkey's Islamists. Otherwise, it is clear that efforts to normalize
ties between the two countries will not stand much of a chance.
There are those who believe that Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu have a negative ideological fixation on Israel which will
surface again and block any progress in ties. It is obvious that if
this process is to succeed, Erdogan in particular is going to have
to tone down his anti-Israeli rhetoric.
There are, nevertheless, those who believe that if Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not gotten solid assurances from U.S.
President Barack Obama, who brokered the deal between Israel and
Turkey, he would have never apologized. Whatever the truth may be,
it remains to be seen if Erdogan and Davutoglu will consider Turkey's
long-term interests or whether their ideological fixations will
prevail in the end.
But the general belief, not just among diplomats but also among
analysts, is that should efforts to normalize ties with Israel be
blocked again, this will mean that Turkey's influence in the region
will be even less than today. Not only will Turkey not have a place
in any efforts at securing a Middle East peace, but Ankara will not
be able to take back some of the roles that Egypt took on as Ankara's
regional influence waned after its breakup with Israel.
It is also being assumed generally that Turkey's influence in
Washington also increased after Erdogan accepted Netanyahu's apology.
If Turkish-Israeli relations were to go into a tailspin once again,
this will obviously butter the bread of the anti-Turkish lobbyists
in Washington who are still active today.
There is also the potential for cooperation in the energy field that
has arisen now that Turkish-Israeli ties have been put on the right
track. It is clear to industry sources that such cooperation will
not only benefit the two countries but the whole of the eastern
Mediterranean, contributing to security in this turbulent part of
the world.
If the means could be found to factor in Cyprus also into this equation
this is all the better according to these sources. But if ties with
Israel go wrong again it is clear that Ankara will face a completely
different situation in the region with respect to the energy issue.
Developments with Israel have in fact placed Turkey in a good light
again, providing Ankara with a chance to revisit its failed "zero
problems with neighbors" policy. Erdogan and Davutoglu must see that
this potential exists now and should therefore engage in new diplomatic
initiatives, which is Turkey's soft-power.
These should include an effort to try once again to resolve age-old
problems, starting off with the Cyprus problem. Any progress in Cyprus
will obviously benefit Turkish-EU ties also. Another file Turkey can
bring down from the shelf where it has been gathering dust involves
relations with neighboring Armenia.
Of course, there is the Azerbaijan factor here that Ankara can not
overlook. But Baku could be made to understand that a Turkey, which
has normal ties with Armenia, could play a role in trying to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem too, especially if it has resolved its
own Cyprus problem in the interim.
Davutoglu is said to be a "visionary." However, his vision has
given scant results thus far. He too must see, however, that a new
opportunity has arisen for him to realize his vision and for Turkey
to display its soft power. It remains to be seen how he will use
this opportunity.
April/02/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/a-chance-to-revisit-the-zero-problems-policy.aspx?pageID=449&nID=44052&NewsCatID=416
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress