TURKEY-OBAMA TIES HURT BY FOUR OBSTACLES

Hurriyet
Nov 14 2008
Turkey

ANKARA – Turkey fears issues about Cyprus, Iraq, Afghanistan,
and Armenian genocide allegations will cause rifts between the
new U.S. administration and the Turkish government. Despite recent
progress in many of these areas, Obama and Biden’s links to certain
interest groups could endanger an already rocky relationship

Despite the high expectations voiced about the new leaders of
the United States, Obama and Biden’s foreign policy could present
additional problems to Turkish diplomacy, according to an analysis
undertaken by Turkish diplomats.

"There are four major issues where we could face serious disagreement
with the new administration; Cyprus, Iraq, Afghanistan and the
so-called Armenian genocide claims," a senior Turkish foreign ministry
official told the Hurriyet Daily News.

Cyprus problem It is certain the new administration will continue
to back ongoing talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots to reach a
comprehensive settlement. Biden’s strong ties with the Greek lobby
in Washington is seen as a matter of concern. Some Turkish experts
believe that as the platform for the solution has already shifted
from the United Nations to the European Union, Washington’s impact
on the process will be limited.

However, Turkish officials point out it was only recently that Turkey’s
views on Cyprus have gained legitimacy and weight in Washington,
during the Bush era. "Therefore, we have to re-start efforts to arrive
at the same level with the newcomers," officials said.

More troops to Afghanistan NATO countries are expecting pressure
from the new administration to send more troops to Afghanistan due
to General David Petraeus being promoted to top commander of the
U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "The lesson General Petraeus took from
Iraq is the success of military surges. The new administration will
surely knock on our door to send additional troops," a senior EU
diplomat told the Daily News.

Erdogan questioned Obama’s plan to gradually relocate American troops
stationed in Iraq to Afghanistan, saying "Is this going to be a
solution or a grave disaster?"

Criticizing the Bush administration’s Iraq policy, which caused massive
damage to Iraqi civilization in only six years, Erdogan recalled the
process had begun with the slogan "global peace" in the early 2000s.

"If we defend global peace, we, the world leaders, should work for
it in solidarity. The cost (of failure) is the death of millions and
the spending of trillions of dollars," he said.

In Iraq, Turkey’s primary concern is a possible wave of instability
if there is a quick withdrawal of American troops. The making of
a Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, between Iraq and the United
States is cautiously watched by Turkey.

Baghdad has already announced it will consult its neighbors on the
contents of the agreement, expected to include a clause about Iraq’s
commitment to the prevention of terrorist attacks on neighboring
countries from its territories.

Direct dialogue with northern Iraqi leaders With regard to establishing
direct dialogue with northern Iraqi leaders, the Obama administration
will take the same line as the current one.

As for cooperation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party,
or PKK, diplomats do not foresee a change in U.S. policy. But in
the mid-term, the Obama administration could seek a more civilian
approach from Turkey to end the terror problem inside the country. In
this context, the possible dissolution of the pro-Kurdish Democratic
Society Party, or DTP, would attract harsh criticism from Washington.

In relation to the Armenian genocide, Turkish diplomats think the
recent rapprochement between Ankara and Yerevan may not be enough
to stop the Armenian diaspora’s efforts in the United States to have
the 1915 incident officially recognized as genocide.

Both Obama and Biden promised their voters of Armenian origin to work
for such a recognition. "There could be attempts for recognition early
next year," the official said, adding, "But we have already started
to work against this possibility. In our early contact with Obama and
Biden’s advisers, we were clear about the sensitivity of the issue."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress