THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS FORUM: A MAJOR TEST FOR TURKISH DIPLOMACY
Jamestown Foundation
he=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34827&tx_ttnew s%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=0dc484c42b
April 8 2009
On April 6-7, Istanbul hosted the second United Nations Alliance
of Civilizations (UNAOC) forum, co-chaired by Turkey and Spain
under the auspices of the UN to foster international dialogue and
cooperation. The forum was attended by five heads of state, 26 foreign
ministers, 11 ministers and high-level officials from 12 international
and regional organizations, providing an opportunity for Ankara to
discuss bilateral relations with its neighbors and showcase Turkey’s
growing international profile (Anadolu Ajansi, April 7).
The UNAOC began in 2004 following the Madrid bombings, as part
of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero’s aim of
building closer links between the Western and Islamic worlds, and
combating terrorism through dialogue rather than force. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported this idea, which became a
joint Spanish-Turkish initiative. In addition to several working
meetings, its first forum was hosted by Spain in January 2008 and
around 100 countries have joined the organization (;
).
The second UNAOC forum reflected the high value placed on resolving
common problems through dialogue. In their addresses, world leaders
also emphasized the promotion of mutual respect, tolerance and
diversity, to overcome conflict and achieve peaceful coexistence
(, April 7). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
highlighted the possible conflict prevention role of the platform:
"All too often, the United Nations must deal with fires after they
break out. Through the UNAOC, we can stamp out the sparks before they
catch" (Today’s Zaman, April 7).
Participants submitted their national plans and regional
strategies for joint projects and agreed on developing programs to
increase communication among the young and facilitate greater
access to information technology to promote intercultural
understanding. Additional programs will support academic research,
organize workshops to study the challenges of doing business in a
multicultural environment, and develop joint media educational programs
(Cihan Haber Ajansi, April 7).
Moreover, the UNAOC plays a major part in the foreign policy agenda
of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his governing Justice and
Development Party (AKP), which has supported the initiative since
its inception. The project has been used by the AKP to advance its
political vision, emphasizing dialogue and consensus in conducting
Turkey’s foreign relations. This is an extension of their own
transformation from a more doctrinaire, anti-Western Islamic movement
to a pro-EU, moderate conservative party. Fostering international
dialogue is regarded as vindication of the AKP’s image as a movement
which synthesizes Western and Islamic values. Most importantly,
Turkey’s leading role in this new forum is valuable for the AKP’s
leadership, offering a high profile opportunity to represent the Muslim
world, which they view as a core mission (Radikal, November 12, 2006).
The AKP government has recently undertaken several initiatives
reflecting their belief that Turkey could serve as a bridge
between East and West, and advocate the rights of the Islamic
world. For instance, Turkey’s policy during the Gaza crisis, or
its position over appointing the new Secretary-General of NATO was
driven by such considerations. Critics allege that Turkey might
be drifting away from the transatlantic community and becoming
more Middle Eastern. Nonetheless, the AKP has insisted that the
party remains committed to the country’s Western orientation, and
these new openings within the Islamic world should be interpreted
as complementary to Western interests in the strategically vital
regions surrounding Turkey. The AKP also highlights its successful
foreign policy by pointing to the praise Turkey has received from the
international community, including the EU and the United States, for
its contributions to global and regional peace through such projects.
These high-level gatherings serve Turkish diplomacy in other ways. On
the sidelines of the forum, several bilateral and multilateral talks
took place, which enabled Turkish leaders to discuss controversial
foreign policy issues. President Barack Obama made a brief appearance
at the UNAOC reception on the first day, expressing U.S. backing for
Turkey’s efforts. He reiterated his support for rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia, urging the foreign ministers of both countries
to finalize the normalization process. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan,
in addition to meeting his Armenian counterpart, held separate talks
with the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, to discuss ways to
resolve the Cyprus issue (Cihan Haber Ajansi, April 7).
The forum, however, also demonstrated Ankara’s current dilemma as it
seeks to improve its relations with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s President
Ilham Aliyev declined an invitation from President Abdullah Gul to
attend the UNAOC, preferring instead to send his daughter to represent
the country. The Turkish media claimed that Aliyev was boycotting the
UNAOC forum "in reaction to Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, prior
to a breakthrough on the problem of Karabakh" (Hurriyet Daily News,
April 6). Although Babacan denied this during his press briefing,
arguing that Turkey and Azerbaijan were still "one nation, two states,"
Ankara’s inability to ensure higher level representation from Baku
coupled with Aliyev’s recent statements, reflect underlying divisions
between the two countries. As Turkey builds bridges across cultures
and normalizes relations with its neighbors, it risks damaging its
traditionally closer relationship with Azerbaijan.