Today’s Zaman , Turkey
Sept 7 2009
Soft power used in foreign policy to settle intricate disputes
We have left a pretty hectic summer behind. We already knew that it is
impossible to have a decent vacation in this country because of rapid
and unexpected developments, but foreign observers seem to be appalled
by this.
A friend of mine from the US who drew attention to the growing number
of priority items on the political agenda said, `Turkey will most
likely receive international attention and become the main subject of
frequent discussions on the world agenda.’
The upcoming days bear great importance in terms of the future
direction of disputes and issues including the Kurdish problem, the
Cyprus issue and the conflict and disagreement in
Nagorno-Karabakh. None of these problems is independent of the
others. The Kurdish issue is at the heart of other major problems such
as terror, democracy and human rights. The Cyprus issue concerns the
two communities on the island as well as the entire region and
Turkey’s relations with the EU. The Nagorno-Karabakh issue heralds the
arrival of a reasonable process with respect to Caucasian peace and
genocide discussions that goes beyond bilateral relations between
Turkey and Armenia.
It is not a coincidence that all three have come up together. Foreign
Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu, who crafted the policy of
problem-free relations with neighbors, notes that Turkey serves as a
role model because of its use of soft power to lead notable
initiatives, stressing that it was not a coincidence that the country
is handling all three problems simultaneously.
Turkey has taken decisive steps to resolve all three problems. Despite
obstacles and resistance from opponents, a friend of mine who is a
foreign policy expert recalls, Turkey’s steps and initiatives have
brought it to a strong position in the peace project. "The involvement
of President [Abdullah] Gül is an asset. Prime Minister [Recep
Tayyip] ErdoÄ?an’s determination and courage should also be
noted. Foreign Minister DavutoÄ?lu’s strategic depth policy is a
masterpiece in the field of foreign policy that attracts the attention
of the world. Above this, there are also surprises that history brings
to the fore. Armenia’s progress for peace, advancement made to resolve
the Kurdish and terror issue, Turkey’s advantageous position in Cyprus
since April 24, 2004 and all other leading examples show that Turkey
will take the lead in remarkable projects through the use of soft
power," he explained.
Some other factors should also be mentioned. Above all, the current
status of the Ergenekon case and investigation should be noted. We
have witnessed that political actors would be unable to take risks
without dealing with this problem. Moreover, Turkey’s prestigious
position in the field of energy security via the Nabucco project was
further consolidated by bilateral deals concluded with Russia. Foreign
Minister DavutoÄ?lu, who attracts attention to the importance of
maintaining peace, draws a general sketch of the Cyprus issue: `If it
is peace that is at stake, even a single day matters. It is now
unacceptable to delay the peace process. Alternatives should be
considered in case of the failure of existing policies. ¦We want a
comprehensive peace, and we look at this issue from this perspective.’
Turkey is now in a position where it does not have to consider
external pressures that might block its peace process. This
observation is stressed by DavutoÄ?lu, who said: `Seeking to put
pressure on Turkey means being unable to understand or appreciate
Turkey’s power.’ This is a process parallel to consolidation of
democracy and economy. The peace process takes Turkey to the center of
intricate disputes; Turkey relies on its soft power to take care of
these issues. Peace is even more difficult than war, and it looks like
Turkey is going to make it.
Religious Affairs Directorate to support democratic initiative with
Kurdish sermons
Direct or indirect remarks in the weekly sermons recited in mosques
during Friday prayers are viewed as support extended by the
Directorate of Religious Affairs for the government’s recent
initiative to resolve the Kurdish issue. Such support could actually
be seen as normal since Islam is a religion of peace, so it could be
argued that there is nothing unusual about the directorate’s support
for the democratic opening.
However, the matter also holds a political dimension as well. The
department, which pays the utmost attention to keeping mosques away
from political discussions, acts meticulously to prevent any
criticisms. A friend of mine who is a deputy and an expert on religion
said: `The directorate would have been braver on this matter if the
opposition parties had been more constructive. It is only normal that
peace messages are delivered at our mosques. As far as I know, the
directorate already started its initiative when it decided that
sermons could be recited in Kurdish in some mosques. Nothing happened
when TRT Å?eÅ? was launched. And of course, the
directorate will meet the demands of Kurdish citizens.’
TRT Å?eÅ? might be criticized; however, the Directorate of
Religious Affairs should be careful to avoid criticism. This
carefulness and meticulousness can be observed in the response of the
president of the directorate, Dr. Ali BardakoÄ?lu, to my
question on this matter. He said: `At the moment, we have sermons in
Turkish alone, not other languages. We will, however, consider demands
on this matter, if necessary.’ The first part of the statement seeks
to prevent criticism from nationalist circles, whereas the second part
recalls that it is their duty to explain Islam to people in a language
they understand. It should be noted that the first sentence notes that
only the Turkish language is used in sermons whereas it does not
dismiss the use of other languages. It does not seem logical to think
that the directorate will object to the recital of sermons in Kurdish
as there are sermons in German recited in Germany under the
sponsorship of the
directorate.
Cyprus may become role model for Middle East
It is now not viable to sustain or rely on policies focused on delay
or postponement of the dispute in Cyprus. Turkey has clarified its
stance vis-a-vis wasting time during negotiations that fail to achieve
peace. From Turkey’s perspective, the final goal of negotiations is
the attainment of peace. The 40-round first phase of negotiations
lasted one year; however, no visible progress has been made. None of
the issues has been resolved. Offers for interim agreements seem to be
illogical since there is still no hope for a viable agreement.
This is where the relationship between Mideast peace and the Cyprus
issue starts. The Cyprus peace process, which will not repeat the
mistakes committed during the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, may
serve as a role model for the Middle East. Yasser Arafat and Shimon
Peres, who signed a peace deal in Oslo, were awarded a Nobel Prize,
but this did not bring peace to Palestine. An approach that will
maintain peace in Cyprus may serve as a model for the Middle East.
07 September 2009, Monday
ALI ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA