US CONGRESS SHOULD WEIGH IMPORTANCE OF INCIRLIK BASE
by Ihsan DAGI

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey

Se pt 6 2007

Foreign policy under the new AK Party government

As understood from the government’s program and the appointment of
Ali Babacan as foreign minister, it is safe to say that the basic
orientation and objectives of Turkish foreign policy will not change
in this new period.

While its Western vocation is being reinforced with deeper EU
integration, Turkey will continue to pursue a high-profile regional and
global policy in which Eurasia, with the renewed competition over the
energy resources and transportation, will become ever more visible
in Turkish foreign policy. The recent interest in Africa, which
used to be a forgotten land for Turkish foreign policy, motivated
by economic and political searches, will also be intensified. The
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government will respond to
a highly positive stance arising among the people of the Middle East
by continuing its search for regional solutions to regional problems
and supporting the Palestinians.

The policy of "zero problems with neighbors," which brought Turkey
to the forefront of regional politics, as a constructive element,
will certainly continue as its architect, Professor Ahmet Davutoðlu,
remains chief adviser to the foreign minister. It is important to
note that a cooperation and peace-oriented regional policy increased
Turkey’s political and economic weight in its region. Turkey thus
emerged in its region as an asset not liability for regional peace
and stability. I expect this will continue uninterrupted in the coming
years, underlining Turkey’s continued policy of restraint towards Iran.

In all this the only exception has been Armenia. It would be wise
for the government to improve its relations with Armenia in order to
be consistent with its "zero-problems with neighbors" policy. While
Turkey alone cannot be blamed for the current state of the relationship
between the two countries and communities, it can afford to take the
first step in engaging in a constructive dialogue with Armenia. Among
other signs, this will demonstrate Turkey’s principled "dialogue
policy" in its region. Let’s have the honor of taking the first
step by opening the border with Armenia and wait for the Armenians
to reciprocate. The key to doing so is not to be overcome by a
short-sighted nationalism.

Another area in which the AK Party should show political wisdom,
vision and maturity and go beyond nationalistic sentiments is with
the Cyprus issue. If the government really considers EU membership
as a long-term strategic objective, it should continue its policy
of constructive engagement on this particular issue. The status quo
was not the solution back in 2002, as courageously demonstrated by
the AK Party government. Since then, by supporting the UN plan and
encouraging domestic political actors who are pro-solution on the
island, the AK Party has changed the status quo. Now a pro-solution
president and political party rule over the island. Internationally
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) has gained increasing
visibility and legitimacy. Yet this "new status quo" is not a solution
either. It is time to employ some new initiatives to do away with
the deadlock on the issue.

The basic demand of the EU now is to allow Greek Cypriot vessels to
have access to Turkish ports. The Turkish side in return asks from
the EU to end the isolation of the Turkish half on the island. A
decisive policy motivated by good will and cooperation to further
the EU-Turkey relations may find a middle ground.

The government should emancipate itself from the opposition parties’
accusations of "selling out" Cyprus. I think the last election
vindicated the AK Party’s pro-reform policy on Cyprus. It is now time
to be not apologetic but decisive. Without overcoming the anxiety
that a new initiative on Cyprus will stir a nationalist opposition,
no progress can be made. Following a bargain with the EU that eases
the situation in northern Cyprus, the government should send the bill
expanding the custom union with the EU to include the Greek Cyprus
to Parliament for approval. The AK Party is capable of dealing with
nationalist opposition. So it should not hide behind the excuse of
possible nationalist backlash over the issue.

Managing Turkey’s relations with the US remains to be the toughest
task. There are two negative elements blocking a short-term
improvement of the relationship; first, an anti-AK Party clique
in the US who sacrifices Turkish-American relations for the sake of
their ideological dispositions, and the second, a strong anti-American
Turkish nationalist group composed of some academics, bureaucrats and
politicians who accuse the US of plotting against Turkey’s integrity
and regime.

Turkish-American relations cannot and should not be hijacked by
these ideologically minded adventurists. I believe that Turkish
American relations will not fall victim to these radical elements in
both countries. While the last election in Turkey has weakened the
Kemalist-nationalist anti-American groups in the US, it seems highly
likely that the power of those neocons will disappear by the end of
next year. Once these groups are sidelined, the issues concerning
both sides will be more negotiable.

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