Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 25 2009
`Turkey should focus on its own problems and regional ones’
Noting that Turkey has a special mission in its region, the leader of
the Felicity Party (SP), Professor Numan KurtulmuÅ?, said, `If it wants
to see its own problems resolved, Turkey has to focus on the issues in
its region.’
Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman about the recent developments with respect
to foreign policy, SP leader KurtulmuÅ? added that the focus on
regional issues fits Turkey’s historic mission. Saying Turkey will be
unable to resolve its own problems if it is not interested in the
region, KurtulmuÅ? further said: `A Turkey refraining from resolving
the problems of the people in Damascus, Aleppo, Jerusalem, Lebanon,
Baku, the Turkmen in northern Iraq, the Shiites in Basra, the Bosnians
in Sarajevo and the Armenians in Yerevan will not be able to resolve
its own problems. In this new era, Turkey needs to deal with its
problems from this perspective.’
Noting that the post-Cold War era has created many opportunities for
Turkey, the SP leader stressed that if these opportunities are
exploited properly, a brand new civilization may emerge in this time
of civilization crisis. Recalling that Turkey has the necessary
historical experience, vision and motive to achieve this goal,
KurtulmuÅ? also said: `All geopolitical and geo-cultural circumstances
and geo-strategic conditions are suitable and in favor of Turkey and
provide many opportunities [for the country]. Turkey is the leader in
its region; if it is able to do its homework, Turkey will become a new
and strong actor in world politics.’
To this end, Professor KurtulmuÅ? notes that they appreciate the
government’s recent moves; the SP leader further expressed support for
the administration’s policy of zero problems with neighbors. Noting
that they also appreciate the determination of the government in the
recent row with Israel, KurtulmuÅ? recalled that inclusion of Israeli
forces in the drill carried out in Konya used to attract strong
reactions from the public. Arguing that military exercises are held by
countries allied against common enemies, KurtulmuÅ? asked why Turkey
should conduct joint exercises with Israel considering that they have
no common enemy.
Role of New Ottomanism
KurtulmuÅ?, who also said they welcomed recent steps to maintain close
ties with the African continent, added: `Other issues that we pay
attention to are the improvement of bilateral relations with all
neighbors, the increase in bilateral trade volume, the introduction of
measures to facilitate transit through borders and the establishment
of cultural cooperation. I would like to note that we are paying the
utmost attention to the opening of the border gate with Syria.
Likewise, I should also note that the prime minister’s views expounded
during the United Nations’ plenary session on Iran’s nuclear capacity
were fair and correct.’
Noting that global powers responsible for the dissolution of the
Ottoman state now want Turkey to assume a role of New Ottomanism, the
SP leader stresses that this is unacceptable. `Developments over the
last few years where the AK Party [Justice and Development Party]
openly promoted plans to be a global actor and assumed the role of
acting as the owner of a mission of New Ottomanism, as well as
Turkey’s eagerness to serve as the co-chair of the Greater Middle East
Project, confirm our concerns,’ he said.
Stressing that Turkey is able to serve a role model for a number of
countries in its region; the SP leader says they would not accept any
roles assigned by others. Noting that Turkey needs to act meticulously
and responsibly considering that it has to deal with a number of
regional issues, KurtulmuÅ? stated that this responsibility requires an
active and principled foreign policy style.
Noting that a new approach which is able to have an impact on the
operation of international politics is urgently needed, KurtulmuÅ?
said: `We need a new paradigm in international relations. We need a
new paradigm that will not make any distinction between `us’ and
`them’ nor claim possession of all the opportunities and resources in
the world. We need a new perspective that views the earth as an asset
that must be handed down to future generations intact. To this end,
Turkey has some responsibilities. It has to design a foreign policy
that considers not only its own territories and nation, but also its
region and the entire world. We have to consider the troubled
youngsters in Amsterdam and New York in our foreign policy. We have to
seek solutions to the problems of the landless villagers in Mexico. We
have to think about the abject conditions of desperate people in
Africa who suffer from poverty and hunger.’
Noting that the world would be a better place if this perspective were
adopted, KurtulmuÅ? stressed that the current global system seems to be
unable to achieve this.
Global justice and wisdom
Noting that the serenity and happiness of people throughout world can
be achieved through the maintenance of world peace, the SP leader
added that global peace is secured by global justice and wisdom.
Arguing that a country which refrains from putting an emphasis on
global justice and wisdom in its foreign policy will not survive as a
global power, KurtulmuÅ? said, `No international system can be
sustained unless it is based on global justice and wisdom.’ He said
peace, justice and freedom for all people should not merely be
concepts used in rhetoric, adding that it will not be possible to talk
about global wisdom if they remain so.
25 October 2009, Sunday
ALÄ° ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA