Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Jan 2 2010
Turkey’s "Good Neighborhood" Policies in 2009
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Sukru Yillar (JTW)
Various good neighborhood initiatives were enacted by the Turkish
Government during the year 2009, leading to serious discussions about
the `Axial Dislocation of Turkey’. Turkey lifted visa requirements
with Syria; moreover, it deepened its relations with Iraq, Iran and
other relevant and regional countries aside from Israel. Turkey-Israel
relations actually deteriorated during this time. Claims were made
that Turkey was turning its face towards the East, and critics lashed
out at Turkey’s endeavors. Applying Ahmet Davutoglu’s `zero-problem
with neighbors’ policy, Turkey aimed at maximum cooperation and
collaboration with its neighbors. The country also wanted to minimize
problems in the region. The Turkey-Iraq Strategic Cooperation Council
held its first ministerial meeting in Istanbul on September 17, 2009,
to discuss strategies of strengthening bilateral security and economic
cooperation and generating greater stability in the Middle East. A
number of ministers from both countries, headed by Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari,
participated in the policy deliberations. Ministers of both countries
came together and 48 agreements were signed between the two countries.
Also, after 33 years, Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first
Turkish President to visit Baghdad. Namely, Turkey became very close
in its relations with Iraq.
Turkey initiated a new era with Syria, too. It lifted the visa
obligation to visit Syria, and Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Minister of
Turkey, remarked that Turkey and Syria have a new shared slogan:
`Common Destiny, Common History, Common Future’. Fifty one agreements
were signed between them.
Turkey and Iran made a number of large cooperation and improved their
relations day by day, and bilateral High-Level Visits were carried
out. In frame with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
meeting in 2009, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visited
Turkey. Turkey supported Iran and its right to have a peaceful nuclear
program. This support caused a multitude of reactions by Western
Countries.
The relations with Turkey and its strategic partner, Israel,
deteriorated. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan reacted to Simon Peres,
the President of Israel, about the Gaza Incidents at the Davos
Economic Forum. This reaction attracted attention from around the
world and Erdogan became an advocate for Palestine.
With Turkey’s various good neighborhood initiatives oriented towards
the Middle East, there were serious discussions about Turkey changing
its axis. `Does Turkey turn towards the East?’ was often times asked.
That question was discussed and criticized by the world and Turkey
denied critics statements and said that the relations between Turkey
and both Western or Eastern countries would be improved.
Turkey made an initiative in regards to Armenia, too. Protocols were
signed by them and relations were declared a `Model Partnership’.
Erdogan recently visited the new President of the United States,
Barack Obama. President Obama praised the Turkish Government’s
`Democratic Initiative’ policy and repeated earlier sentiments that
PKK is a terrorist organization.
In conclusion, all the experiences of 2009 indicate that Turkey acted
in accordance to its various good neighborhood policy initiatives for
peace in the Middle East and the world. Today, Turkey has increased
its importance in the region. Turkey keeps good relations with its
surrounding neighbors, EU countries and the U.S. and its initiatives
are important for cooperation and peace in the Middle East and the
world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
