“Love is a Two Way Street with Schroeder in Turkey”
Yalcin Dogan
Journal of Turkish Weekly
May 7 2005
source: Hurriyet
He has a crucial election coming up on the 22nd of this month. Still he
makes a 24 hour visit to Turkey. Why does the German Prime Minister
do this? There are two reasons. My German counterparts explain:
“Schroeder is giving serious support to Erdogan. He sees for the
first time, after so many years, an atmosphere of stability and
promise-keeping in Turkey.
Of course, Erdogan is critcized from many corners in Turkey, and many
of these criticisms are correct. But Shroeder believes that Erdogan
has brought stability to Turkey.”
There are two people close to Schroeder on the international
platform. One is Putin, the other is Tayyip Erdogan. He sees Putin
often, and is friendly with him. Bush, on the other hand, is distant
from Berlusconi.
Anyway, the second reason is very different from the first. There is
support he wants to receive in exchange for supporting Erdogan!
There are elections in Germany in 2006. And the votes of the Turks..!
An important percentage of the Turks casting votes in the German
elections are AKP-affiliated. Which means the AKP possesses the power
to control one part of the votes in the German election. At least,
this is what Schroeder believes.
Tactical advice from Schroeder
The German Prime Minister’s support is attuned to wiping out fears on
the Turkey-EU front. Schroeder said this clearly in talks with Erdogan:
“Keep focused on the framework of the EU. We will try, as Germany,
to keep the door opened to you.” This is the biggest support given
yet to Turkey on the EU! And then he gets even friendlier! Schroeder,
of all European leaders, has lent the warmest support to the idea
of a joint-commission of Armenians and Turks to look into genocide
accusations. Said Schroeder “A joint commission is a good idea,
but developing diplomatic relations with the Armenians would only
strengthen your hand.” He is even giving tactical advice to Erdogan!
Visit to the Patriarchate by Schroeder
He is giving tactical advice, but he also gets across another message
during his visit. Schroeder, in his brief visit to Turkey, doesn’t
neglect a visit to the Greek Fener Patriarchate. Here, his message to
us is clear: “Open the monastary on Heybeliada.” Some people, however,
are against this. The ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ here are not clear. There
is a double standard at work though, since the Turks have been able
to open the schools they want with the activities they want in Germany.
Next year there are elections in Germany. And Schroeder could lose
this time. Which is why he has to use the opportunties provided to
him in Turkey now.