AMERICAN EXPERT: "THE JEWISH LOBBY CANNOT EASILY BLOT OUT TURKEY"
APA
Feb 9 2009
Azerbaijan
Washington. Zaur Hasanov – APA. Expert of US-based Jamestown Foundation
on Turkey studies Emrullah Uslu interviewed by APA’s US bureau
– Mr. Uslu, what are the main motives of Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s demarche in Davos?
-There are two principal issues behind Prime Minister Erdogan’s
behavior and statements. From the aspect of domestic policy, when
Israeli President Shimon Peres said to Erdogan: "What would you do if
Istanbul underwent air strikes?", Prime Minister presumably thought it
would not suit his image as a leader in Turkey. After AKP came to power
in Turkey opposition began to accuse Prime Minister of behaving as
US and Israel say. Opposition often spoke about AKP’s close relations
with Washington and Tel Aviv in the rallies and on television. These
accusations worried Prime Minister. Shimon Peres’ speech in Davos
would give extra grounds to the opposition in Turkey. That’s why Prime
Minister reacted so vigorously. The second reason that made Erdogan
angry was David Ignatius’ attempts to cut him off. It made him angry.
– Up to then Turkey had been known as a U.S. ally pro-western country
and a state established basing on the principles of market economy. But
after AKP came to power nonstandard directions were observed in
Turkey’s foreign policy: Turkey began to establish good relations
with HAMAS, Iran, Sudan and other countries. Is Turkey changing its
foreign policy?
-Turkey is in the transition phase now – it is realizing the concept
of its role in the region. Why was Turkey considered as a strategic
country in the period of Soviet Union? It was so, because Turkey
was playing an important role in the anti-communist struggle as a
border country with USSR. Turkey has lost its significance from this
perspective since the collapse of USSR. Therefore a new concept was
elaborated. According to this, Turkey must play an active role, as
possible, in the Middle East, Balkans and the Caucasus to increase its
significance as an irreplaceable mediator in Europe, the East and the
Caucasus as well. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started to
realize this concept aggressively since taking power. The main question
now is how the Turkish-Israeli relations will develop. Recently Arab
countries stated at the meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers
that non-Arab countries couldn’t interfere in the domestic affairs
of the Arab countries. It was a message to Turkey. Davos statement
of the Turkish Prime Minister made him popular among the Arab
peoples like Gamal Abdel Nasser. It makes the Arab leaders anxious,
because most of them, in the eyes of their peoples, are incapable and
corrupted leaders, who are under the US influence and incompetent in
the Palestinian problem. Therefore Prime Minister Erdogan’s demarche
in Davos cooled his relations with both Israel and Arab leaders. The
question is that can Turkey turn its image of leader among the Ararb
peoples into the political capital or not, which is very difficult
issue. As distinct from Turkey, there is no need to contend with the
public opinion in the Arabic world, because there are not a democracy,
free elections and press there.
– How will cooling of the Turkey-Israel relations impact on the
Turkey’s position in the United States?
-Turkish-US relations have a strategic character. Turkey supports
US-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a role of its
military base in Injirlik. However there is an Armenian issue in
the United States. The local Jewish lobby supported Turkey in this
issue. US Congress has more information about this issue as against the
previous years. Last discussions in the Congress showed that Americans
are dissatisfied with the attempts of congressmen to re-write the
history. The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers
also published articles about it. Probably Turkey will need in the
Jewish lobby this year too. The Jewish lobby, which is a network led
by the wise and intelligent people, cannot blot out Turkey.