TURKEY RISKS TO LOSE LAST FRIENDS IN EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 13:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Suddeutsche Zeitung published comments on the
statements by commander of Turkish land forces Ilker Bashbug on
freezing military relations with France. "The statement of the Turkish
General is scandalous since he, being a commander, conducts as if
representing the interests of his country at diplomatic level. The
Turkish government officially shows interest in integration into
the European structures. However orientation on Europe supposes that
Turkish politicians should control the army and keep their generals
from doing what they wish. General Bashbug has reputation of a ‘hawk’.

Adherents to a tough position among the Turkish generals disliked
Erdogan’s restraint in condemning the French bill. Official Ankara
doesn’t deny the crimes against the Armenian people but refuses to
resign itself to the term ‘genocide’," the newspaper says.

"On one hand the Turkish authorities fear that the heirs of the
victims will claim compensations. On the other hand the matter
concerns the reputation of the Turkish army which is considered to
be one of the traditional pillars of the society. Turkish military
wish to maintain their privileges, fashionable villas on the Bosporus
shores, defense budget and the troops in Cyprus. By the way, they
possess valuable realty in Cyprus and in case of withdrawal of the
military bases they will have to leave the realty for the Cypriot
Greeks. The occupation of the Northern Cyprus, the Armenian issue,
the war in Turkish Kurdistan… A number of urgent issues emerge
and the Turkish generals have to work at them, however the generals
refuse. If Turkey prefers free-will isolation it will lose not only
serious economic partners but also the last friends in Europe,"
the newspaper says, reports Deutsche Welle.