DARK SPOTS IN TURKISH HISTORY
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 10 2007
Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs in the US
State Department Ambassador Daniel Fried gave a video lecture at the
US ambassador’s residence in Ankara. Ambassador Fried was supposed
to evaluate Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s recent visit to
Washington. Because of the high expectations nurtured in the Turkish
media, the visit was doomed to be labeled as a failure. The receptors
of the media were fixed on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and even
Gul’s last minute resort to take the credit of European operations
against the PKK didn’t help. No matter what has been achieved in
this visit, and has been prepared for Chief of General Staff Yaþar
Buyukanýt’s visit, the fact that Gul didn’t meet US Speaker of the
House Nancy Pellosi — champion of the resolution — has turned the
visit into a total failure. By canceling the visit of a parliamentary
group to lobby in the US Congress, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
contributed to the sentiment of a lost case. Ambassador Fried, while
not openly admitting to it, seemed to be giving the same message in
not so many words.
Americans regard diplomacy as the art of being nice while giving the
message. When it comes to speaking with Turks, they have realized that
being nice means reaching to the Turkish subconscious that is dieing
to hear honoring compliments; just give us some compliments about
our culture and cuisine or a possible genealogical link between the
Native Americans and the Turks. You could mention how you are amazed
to see the development of Turkey, what a great commander Ataturk was
or how eloquent our Foreign Minister is and his will suffice for us
to be stripped off our national interests.
What nice words we are hearing from the American diplomats nowadays!
Nicholas Burns, the undersecretary for political affairs had such a
complimentary tone that one is forced to think that ‘this man is going
to ask for something’. Daniel Fried revealed what they are going to ask
for: Be prepared for an Armenian Genocide Resolution to pass from the
Congress. Fried implied that although our relations are more important
than any particular issue that may pop up during these relations we
should be prepared to examine the shameful moments in our history,
not because they say so but because it is good for our democracy.
This is not to say that Turkey has been betrayed by the American
Administration. On the contrary, the administration made it very clear
to the world that they oppose this resolution. But the facts on the
ground speak for themselves. The administration has a majority neither
in the Congress, nor in the Senate. And the Democratic majority in
both houses, supports this resolution not only because they believe
the Armenian stories, but because they know that this will make
George W. Bush’s life a bit more miserable. It is true that the
US President has the veto power and that the US foreign policy is
formulated entirely by the administration. But once the resolution
passes, the harm will already be done. It won’t hurt the Turks any
less than it hurts the Turkish-American relations.
Had Daniel Fried not seen this future scenario, would he ask the
Turks to face the "dark spots" in their history? I don’t think so. It
is now for the Turks to see the same scene and formulate a position
that will not harm the strategic Turkish-American relations without
weakening the Turkish position vis-a-vis the genocide claims.
–Boundary_(ID_PvevvEvE1S0CetN3Gn9VXA)–