TURKEY WILL NOT UNCONDITIONALLY SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN AND ISRAEL: ZAMAN
News.am
12:12 / 10/17/2009
"We are witnessing exciting developments in Turkish foreign policy.
Openings which could not even have been imagined a few years ago
are now being implemented; historic protocols have been signed with
Armenia, as have good neighborly and strategic relations treaties
with Syria," reads the article by political analyst Beril Dedeoglu
published in Turkish Zaman daily.
"Turkey is trying to abolish deep-rooted psychological barriers with
these countries by establishing diplomatic, economic and commercial
ties. In the past, Turkey had assumed that Syria and Armenia had
followed a similar foreign policy agenda with respect to Turkey. The
peoples of both countries were accused of cooperating with Turkey’s
adversaries during the period leading up to the foundation of the
Turkish Republic. Both countries were considered enemies of Turks
during the Cold War because their presence in or alliance with
the Soviet Union, an archenemy, easily classified them among &’the
others.’ This negative atmosphere was also the result of the fact
that these countries both supported terrorist organizations attacking
Turkey. There was also a general impression that they were both used by
some Western powers, especially France, in its anti-Turkey policies,"
the analyst says.
"Nevertheless, Turkey is today seeking a new partnership and grounds
for cooperation without forgetting historical problems, but at least
putting them aside. The simultaneous radical change in Turkey’s
attitude toward these countries does not only mean Syria and Armenia
are linked to each other, it also means that a real radical change
is happening on the global level and affecting all countries in our
region," the author writes.
Dedeoglu expresses hope that the border opening will "contribute to
an atmosphere in favor of liberal economies and liberal democracy
in Armenia and Syria, as well as in Turkey. In addition, the new
situation will push Syria to rearrange its relations with Israel and
Iran, just like Armenia, which will have to revise its position toward
Azerbaijan and Iran. This reshaping will force Azerbaijan and Israel
to reconsider their domestic and foreign policies, too, because the
conditions are changing for everyone. It is obvious that Turkey will
not unconditionally support Azerbaijan and Israel from now on. Russia
is no longer considered the main threat countries in the region strive
to oppose and the US is seeking to construct new alliances. In brief,
the equation of being with someone against someone else is not as
&’easy’ as it used to be."
"For the moment, the European Union is content with watching these
developments, which are promising for the region’s players, all of
whom are eager to see more stability and prosperity. Furthermore,
this allows the US and Russia to retain their superiority in the
military and energy domains, respectively.
If everything goes as predicted, countries that insist on keeping
an aggressive tone in their domestic and foreign policies will find
themselves out of the game. That is why readopting a policy based
on disagreements is most undesired. We should follow attentively the
ups and downs between Turkey and Israel and between Iraq and Syria,
or the future of the crises between Iran and Israel, Georgia and
Russia and Azerbaijan and Armenia. These developments will help
expose countries that prefer to remain outside of the new game. It
would be a great mistake to miss the timing and not benefit from the
new configuration," Dedeoglu concludes.