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The Guelph Mercury (Ontario, Canada)
May 31, 2013 Friday
First Edition
Turkey: A strategic beacon for Canada?
by D'Arcy McGee
EDITORIAL; Pg. A6
Canadians generally know little about modern Turkey. Many see it as a
poor country, exotic perhaps, but far away and of little relevance to
Canada.
Take a closer look. You may be surprised to find a modern emerging
economic power of some 76 million people, the vast majority Muslim. A
democratic, secular republic with a fast-growing economy - the fastest
growth among the 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) industrialized member states. It now ranks 16th in
the world. By 2023, it should be among the world's 10 largest
economies.
Situated at the strategic crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle
East, Turkey has become a pillar of political stability,
diplomatically engaged in a region not known for stability.
It should be a country of focus for Canada as we attempt to develop
closer ties with emerging economies, creating links that should be
political, social and cultural, as well as economic. But it is not.
Turkey's ambassador to Canada, Dr. Tuncay Babali, spoke recently to a
small group of students and other invitees at the Balsillie School of
International Affairs in Waterloo, which I was fortunate to have
attended. His comments were informative and refreshingly frank,
reflecting his profound knowledge of international affairs.
He characterized his country's geographic location as both a blessing
and a curse. On the one hand, geography defines the Turkish nation, a
source of pride, facilitating its success in expanding and
diversifying trade links, and strengthening its role as a mediator and
facilitator, particularly in the volatile Middle East. On the other
hand, its location also exposes it to threats arising from conflicts
outside its borders, highlighted by the civil war in Syria. Turkey
also remains concerned about continuing instability in Iraq.
The Syrian situation is currently the major preoccupation for Turkey.
Syria has an 850-kilometre border with Turkey, and there are currently
some 300,000 Syrian refugees in the country. Turks have been killed by
military incursions from Syria. Ambassador Babali believes the West,
including Canada, is not doing enough to end the bloodshed.
I was pleased that Babali alluded to some of the dark pages of
Turkey's past. Although the country has a very rich cultural heritage,
Turks today recognize this is "a new century," and reject being
trapped in the past. He claimed there is a changing mentality toward
neighbours such as Armenia and also Bulgaria, where the ambassador's
own ancestors originated. He underlined the courage of the current
government in opening negotiations with the Kurdish PKK movement. That
"takes guts" and it must be given a chance, he said.
Babali's presentation emphasized a very positive message of economic
success, dating from the administrations of former prime minister
Turgut Ozal in the 1980s, who initiated the transformation of the
Turkish economy to one more market-based, and began the process of
opening Turkey internationally. Under the current government of Recep
Tayyip Erdogan this process continues.
Turkey is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of the
OECD, NATO, and the G-20, among others. It is a candidate for
membership in the European Union.
The following are some highlights of Babali's remarks:
Turkey is the third most populous country in Europe after Russia and
Germany, and will be larger than Germany by 2020.
Turkey's population is young (half of it is under 30) and well-educated.
It is a major tourist destination - more than 26 million tourist visits in 2012.
It has a huge construction industry - second only to China - and major
investments throughout the Middle East and Africa.
In the past decade, foreign direct investment in Turkey has increased
by nine times its growth in the previous 80 years.
Despite differences, Canada and Turkey have much to offer each other.
In a recent presentation to the Canadian Senate committee on foreign
affairs and international trade, Mike Ward, Canada's former senior
trade commissioner in Turkey, outlined the vast potential trade and
investment opportunities Turkey offers. More needs to be done to
realize these. Opportunities for political, cultural and educational
links also abound.
Turkey is changing rapidly. The U.S. Commerce Department lists it as
one of five countries of focus, the others being China, Brazil, India
and Saudi Arabia. Canada needs a wake-up call.
From: Baghdasarian
May 31, 2013 Friday
First Edition
Turkey: A strategic beacon for Canada?
by D'Arcy McGee
EDITORIAL; Pg. A6
Canadians generally know little about modern Turkey. Many see it as a
poor country, exotic perhaps, but far away and of little relevance to
Canada.
Take a closer look. You may be surprised to find a modern emerging
economic power of some 76 million people, the vast majority Muslim. A
democratic, secular republic with a fast-growing economy - the fastest
growth among the 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) industrialized member states. It now ranks 16th in
the world. By 2023, it should be among the world's 10 largest
economies.
Situated at the strategic crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle
East, Turkey has become a pillar of political stability,
diplomatically engaged in a region not known for stability.
It should be a country of focus for Canada as we attempt to develop
closer ties with emerging economies, creating links that should be
political, social and cultural, as well as economic. But it is not.
Turkey's ambassador to Canada, Dr. Tuncay Babali, spoke recently to a
small group of students and other invitees at the Balsillie School of
International Affairs in Waterloo, which I was fortunate to have
attended. His comments were informative and refreshingly frank,
reflecting his profound knowledge of international affairs.
He characterized his country's geographic location as both a blessing
and a curse. On the one hand, geography defines the Turkish nation, a
source of pride, facilitating its success in expanding and
diversifying trade links, and strengthening its role as a mediator and
facilitator, particularly in the volatile Middle East. On the other
hand, its location also exposes it to threats arising from conflicts
outside its borders, highlighted by the civil war in Syria. Turkey
also remains concerned about continuing instability in Iraq.
The Syrian situation is currently the major preoccupation for Turkey.
Syria has an 850-kilometre border with Turkey, and there are currently
some 300,000 Syrian refugees in the country. Turks have been killed by
military incursions from Syria. Ambassador Babali believes the West,
including Canada, is not doing enough to end the bloodshed.
I was pleased that Babali alluded to some of the dark pages of
Turkey's past. Although the country has a very rich cultural heritage,
Turks today recognize this is "a new century," and reject being
trapped in the past. He claimed there is a changing mentality toward
neighbours such as Armenia and also Bulgaria, where the ambassador's
own ancestors originated. He underlined the courage of the current
government in opening negotiations with the Kurdish PKK movement. That
"takes guts" and it must be given a chance, he said.
Babali's presentation emphasized a very positive message of economic
success, dating from the administrations of former prime minister
Turgut Ozal in the 1980s, who initiated the transformation of the
Turkish economy to one more market-based, and began the process of
opening Turkey internationally. Under the current government of Recep
Tayyip Erdogan this process continues.
Turkey is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of the
OECD, NATO, and the G-20, among others. It is a candidate for
membership in the European Union.
The following are some highlights of Babali's remarks:
Turkey is the third most populous country in Europe after Russia and
Germany, and will be larger than Germany by 2020.
Turkey's population is young (half of it is under 30) and well-educated.
It is a major tourist destination - more than 26 million tourist visits in 2012.
It has a huge construction industry - second only to China - and major
investments throughout the Middle East and Africa.
In the past decade, foreign direct investment in Turkey has increased
by nine times its growth in the previous 80 years.
Despite differences, Canada and Turkey have much to offer each other.
In a recent presentation to the Canadian Senate committee on foreign
affairs and international trade, Mike Ward, Canada's former senior
trade commissioner in Turkey, outlined the vast potential trade and
investment opportunities Turkey offers. More needs to be done to
realize these. Opportunities for political, cultural and educational
links also abound.
Turkey is changing rapidly. The U.S. Commerce Department lists it as
one of five countries of focus, the others being China, Brazil, India
and Saudi Arabia. Canada needs a wake-up call.
From: Baghdasarian