Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
Period of ‘Wait and See’ in Turkish-American Relations
By Bilge Isa Seyran
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
Dr. Soner Cagaptay, director of Turkey program of the prominent US
think tank organization The Washington Institute, said that a period
of “wait and see” has started in Turkish-American relations following
the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Commenting on Erdogan’s US visit to the Cihan News Agency, Cagaptay
noted that although the talks did not pass as warmly as the earlier
ones, they were still a nice beginning for the normalization of
Turkey-US relations, which were spoilt after the issue of the March 1
deployment motion and which have been fluctuating for the last two
years. “It was a crucial meeting between two leaders, US President
George W. Bush and Erdogan, who listened to each other on various
issues and that lasted 70 minutes. The threat of the Kurdistan
Worker’s Party (PKK) terrorist organization was discussed and
Turkey’s perspective on Armenia was shared. The issue of Syria was
also discussed, which I think was the most important of all,” the
director noted.
Cagaptay explained that Turkey’s policy on Damascus in the next
period would be a determining factor in relations with Syria, which
is the issue that caused the biggest difference of opinion between
Bush and Erdogan during their meeting. Remarking that the
international community aims to isolate Syria and push it into a
corner, Cagaptay added: “Turkey, on the other side, wants to engage
Syria into the international community and not to cut off the
dialogue process. That’s why, we need to observe how Turkey’s Syria
policy will evolve during the summer.” The Washington Institute
expert signified that Damascus sees its relations with Ankara as a
chance to break its own strategic isolation and added: “It should not
be forgotten that Syria is a country, which indirectly caused the
death of tens of thousands of Turks due to its support to the PKK a
few years ago.”
Making positive comments on the Cyprus issue, one of the most
important issues in Erdogan’s agenda, Dr. Cagaptay said: “In fact,
Cyprus is not a problem of the US but the UN. It is a matter between
the EU and Turkey. The fact that Washington makes efforts about an
issue that is not its problem, shows its sincerity.” Cagaptay
explained. Emphasizing that the expressions ‘strategic relation’ used
by Bush and ‘strategic partnership’ used by Erdogan carried a very
different meanings in international relations, Cagaptay said: “While
partnership means a strong and mutual dynamics, relation is a weaker
word. Erdogan’s use of this expression shows his desire to return to
the old days. Bush’s use of the term ‘relation’ shows that this is
not yet so.”
Cagaptay said that Turkish-American relations will get better in the
autumn with the steps taken on Cyprus, strengthening of the positive
attitude from Turkey to the US, the support of the AKP government and
the positive remarks by both sides recently. The improvement also
depends on Syria’s not causing a serious crisis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress