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Daily Sabah, turkey
April 24 2014
GREAT GOVERNMENT REFLECTION
Ä°hsan AktaÅ? 25 April 2014, Friday
With international headlines yesterday like "For first time in almost
a century," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's statement on sharing
in the Armenians' suffering was a sharp detour from Turkey's existing
policy of ignoring the events that took place in 1915. It has thrown a
curveball ahead of the Turkish presidential election to be held later
this year. The astounding and pleasing announcement cannot be
considered a surprise in the scope of wider policies working toward a
"new Turkey." Primarily, the new Turkey's policy may be summarized as
returning to its old geographic and geopolitical area and taking its
place in the top league among world's countries.
Turkey focused on the establishment of a new state in 1923. It acted
like someone who once lived in a large house and suddenly moved into a
small house. This is what happened to Turkey after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire. This can be comprehended within the context of
external conditions and the environment of a country that was weary of
battle. However, in the following years, Turkey got used to living
with its small agenda.
The narrowed circle turned Turkey into a country that was squashed
between great powers. The vision for the new Turkey, which began with
the AK Party, includes disregarding the recent past and returning to
Turkey's historical mission. While small countries are busy with their
empty internal agendas, great powers solve their problems reasonably.
The AK Party's new Turkey vision is based on the European experience.
With the new Turkey perspective, Turkey is focusing primarily on
solving complicated problems to reflect its great power. It started
with development projects on a massive scale to ensure Turkey's place
among the world's first-class countries, along with a number of
economic reforms by using the European Union membership process as
leverage.
It posed a political perception aiming to break the heavy bureaucratic
influence on citizens. Added to this strategy are the AK Party's
liberal economic policies aimed toward strengthening the economy and
paving the way for entrepreneurs and investors.
All these reforms aim to make Turkey a great power and focus on
solving problems in advance by taking the initiative, instead of being
a country that drifts between geo-strategic waves in external policy.
The Armenian question was one of the problematic areas that always
posed an obstacle for Turkey to be a reputable country on the world
stage. It was not possible for Turkey to become a respectable country
had it continued its traditional nation state policies. To achieve its
goal of respect among the league of nations, it was essential to have
a worldranking economy, a first-class democracy and a state policy at
peace with its people.
After coming into power, the AK Party appointed this vision. This
policy, known as the 2023 vision, aims to make the Republic of Turkey
a first-class country by its 100th anniversary. While the world was
struggling with the economic crisis, Turkey became resistant to
external economic shocks.
As result of political reforms, Turkey's third-class democracy became
a first-class democracy. The AK Party adopted a policy that made the
people real guardians of the state. Making peace with the peoples in
the Middle East, Turkey became the most important actor in the region.
It was not possible to solve the Armenian question through nationalist
reflections, which only create emotional breakdowns. The statement
made by the prime minister was a reflection of Turkey being a great
state. After the Dec. 17 operation, some believed we would watch the
collapse of an empire. But on the contrary, we are watching an empire
rise from the ashes.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/ihsan-aktas/2014/04/25/great-government-reflection
From: Baghdasarian
April 24 2014
GREAT GOVERNMENT REFLECTION
Ä°hsan AktaÅ? 25 April 2014, Friday
With international headlines yesterday like "For first time in almost
a century," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's statement on sharing
in the Armenians' suffering was a sharp detour from Turkey's existing
policy of ignoring the events that took place in 1915. It has thrown a
curveball ahead of the Turkish presidential election to be held later
this year. The astounding and pleasing announcement cannot be
considered a surprise in the scope of wider policies working toward a
"new Turkey." Primarily, the new Turkey's policy may be summarized as
returning to its old geographic and geopolitical area and taking its
place in the top league among world's countries.
Turkey focused on the establishment of a new state in 1923. It acted
like someone who once lived in a large house and suddenly moved into a
small house. This is what happened to Turkey after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire. This can be comprehended within the context of
external conditions and the environment of a country that was weary of
battle. However, in the following years, Turkey got used to living
with its small agenda.
The narrowed circle turned Turkey into a country that was squashed
between great powers. The vision for the new Turkey, which began with
the AK Party, includes disregarding the recent past and returning to
Turkey's historical mission. While small countries are busy with their
empty internal agendas, great powers solve their problems reasonably.
The AK Party's new Turkey vision is based on the European experience.
With the new Turkey perspective, Turkey is focusing primarily on
solving complicated problems to reflect its great power. It started
with development projects on a massive scale to ensure Turkey's place
among the world's first-class countries, along with a number of
economic reforms by using the European Union membership process as
leverage.
It posed a political perception aiming to break the heavy bureaucratic
influence on citizens. Added to this strategy are the AK Party's
liberal economic policies aimed toward strengthening the economy and
paving the way for entrepreneurs and investors.
All these reforms aim to make Turkey a great power and focus on
solving problems in advance by taking the initiative, instead of being
a country that drifts between geo-strategic waves in external policy.
The Armenian question was one of the problematic areas that always
posed an obstacle for Turkey to be a reputable country on the world
stage. It was not possible for Turkey to become a respectable country
had it continued its traditional nation state policies. To achieve its
goal of respect among the league of nations, it was essential to have
a worldranking economy, a first-class democracy and a state policy at
peace with its people.
After coming into power, the AK Party appointed this vision. This
policy, known as the 2023 vision, aims to make the Republic of Turkey
a first-class country by its 100th anniversary. While the world was
struggling with the economic crisis, Turkey became resistant to
external economic shocks.
As result of political reforms, Turkey's third-class democracy became
a first-class democracy. The AK Party adopted a policy that made the
people real guardians of the state. Making peace with the peoples in
the Middle East, Turkey became the most important actor in the region.
It was not possible to solve the Armenian question through nationalist
reflections, which only create emotional breakdowns. The statement
made by the prime minister was a reflection of Turkey being a great
state. After the Dec. 17 operation, some believed we would watch the
collapse of an empire. But on the contrary, we are watching an empire
rise from the ashes.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/ihsan-aktas/2014/04/25/great-government-reflection
From: Baghdasarian