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Envoys to discuss what went wrong in Turkish foreign policy
BARÇIN YÄ°NANÇ
[email protected]
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/envoys-to-discuss-what-went-wrong-in-turkish-foreign-policy.aspx?pageID=449&nID=38085&NewsCatID=412
The first highly exciting foreign policy event of 2013 will be the
Turkish envoys' annual meeting, which will take place this week in
Ankara and Ä°zmir. Will they gather to discuss what went wrong in
Turkish foreign policy in 2012? Ideally yes. After all they should not
come together to tell each other how great Turkey is.
It is an absolute must for Turkey's top diplomats to enter a
brainstorming session among themselves. Yet Turkey's foreign policy
has never been shaped so single-handedly by one person, and that being
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu.
I would rather wish that instead of just making the opening statement
and giving a main vision to the diplomats, the minister does some
listening as well.
Alas, as is the case with all the previous ministers, who became
immune to criticism by gaining overconfidence after sitting in that
position for a couple of years, DavutoÄ?lu does look to have his ears
genuinely open to criticism.
Could they say for instance:
¦The more Turkey distances itself from the EU the less influence it
will have in the Middle East, if not now then in the future;
¦It's great to say `one minute,' here and there. But look how Turks
behave in traffic. They honk, they swear, they give you the finger;
but when the other person attempts to get out of the car with the real
intention of having a fight, they'll hit the gas. So let's not cross
the line from soft power to hard power unless our vital interests are
at stake.
I don't think they can voice their critical reflections to DavutoÄ?lu,
who has found the easy way to immediately label all criticism as lack
of conscience.
Therefore they probably won't be able to tell him:
¦Foreign policy based on moral values, humanitarian diplomacy, being a
virtuous power. All these are good and though you might not accept it;
they were always present here and there in Turkey's past foreign
policy principles. But an overdose of idealism can risk your ability
to even safeguard your own interests, let alone others' well being.
¦We just cannot be the goalkeeper, striker, midfielder, defender,
winger and the fans all at the same time. We can't be everything to
everyone at all times.
¦You have recently given the great news that Turkey will become an
observer member of the Arctic Council and that Turkey will be informed
even when a `leaf moves' in any corner of the world. It's important to
be connected, but it is equally important what you do with that
information. There is a need to be selective and to focus. Let's not
get strategically overextended, which, as Paul Kennedy has argued, has
led to the fall of empires.
Let's hope that the meeting does not become a beauty contest with many
willing to go on the catwalk.
But one final ` personal ` wish. I hope there will be someone who will
raise the question of why the number of females who entered the
ministry in last year's intake remained under a double-digit number at
a time when the ministry is accepting a record number of candidates.
January/01/2013
BARÇIN YÄ°NANÇ
[email protected]
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/envoys-to-discuss-what-went-wrong-in-turkish-foreign-policy.aspx?pageID=449&nID=38085&NewsCatID=412
The first highly exciting foreign policy event of 2013 will be the
Turkish envoys' annual meeting, which will take place this week in
Ankara and Ä°zmir. Will they gather to discuss what went wrong in
Turkish foreign policy in 2012? Ideally yes. After all they should not
come together to tell each other how great Turkey is.
It is an absolute must for Turkey's top diplomats to enter a
brainstorming session among themselves. Yet Turkey's foreign policy
has never been shaped so single-handedly by one person, and that being
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu.
I would rather wish that instead of just making the opening statement
and giving a main vision to the diplomats, the minister does some
listening as well.
Alas, as is the case with all the previous ministers, who became
immune to criticism by gaining overconfidence after sitting in that
position for a couple of years, DavutoÄ?lu does look to have his ears
genuinely open to criticism.
Could they say for instance:
¦The more Turkey distances itself from the EU the less influence it
will have in the Middle East, if not now then in the future;
¦It's great to say `one minute,' here and there. But look how Turks
behave in traffic. They honk, they swear, they give you the finger;
but when the other person attempts to get out of the car with the real
intention of having a fight, they'll hit the gas. So let's not cross
the line from soft power to hard power unless our vital interests are
at stake.
I don't think they can voice their critical reflections to DavutoÄ?lu,
who has found the easy way to immediately label all criticism as lack
of conscience.
Therefore they probably won't be able to tell him:
¦Foreign policy based on moral values, humanitarian diplomacy, being a
virtuous power. All these are good and though you might not accept it;
they were always present here and there in Turkey's past foreign
policy principles. But an overdose of idealism can risk your ability
to even safeguard your own interests, let alone others' well being.
¦We just cannot be the goalkeeper, striker, midfielder, defender,
winger and the fans all at the same time. We can't be everything to
everyone at all times.
¦You have recently given the great news that Turkey will become an
observer member of the Arctic Council and that Turkey will be informed
even when a `leaf moves' in any corner of the world. It's important to
be connected, but it is equally important what you do with that
information. There is a need to be selective and to focus. Let's not
get strategically overextended, which, as Paul Kennedy has argued, has
led to the fall of empires.
Let's hope that the meeting does not become a beauty contest with many
willing to go on the catwalk.
But one final ` personal ` wish. I hope there will be someone who will
raise the question of why the number of females who entered the
ministry in last year's intake remained under a double-digit number at
a time when the ministry is accepting a record number of candidates.
January/01/2013