Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Turkey ponders 'day after'

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Turkey ponders 'day after'

    Turkey ponders 'day after'

    Turkish Daily News
    Nov 01, 2004


    ANKARA - Turkey's relations with the United States are not expected to
    go through a drastic change after the Nov. 2 presidential election
    since both candidates hold similar positions on most foreign policy
    issues, although Washington's stance on Iraq and an alleged Armenian
    genocide might be different than the one currently held in the event
    the Democratic candidate wins.

    President George W. Bush, who is running for a second term, has
    avoided using the word "genocide" in traditional April 24 messages,
    the anniversary of the alleged genocide. Democratic candidate John
    Kerry, on the other hand, has pledged in speeches throughout his
    election campaign to recognize the allegations.

    Turkey has so far demonstrated little concern that Kerry would endorse
    the allegations if elected, given the fact that U.S. presidents, even
    those who had pledged to recognize the allegations of a genocide
    before coming to power, have so far valued good relations with Turkey
    above domestic political gains.

    But some observers say with Kerry as president, the United States
    might revise its policy concerning the alleged genocide, though a
    number of others argue that there is little reason why the traditional
    U.S. policy on the issue should change.

    In the past, a bill calling for recognition of the alleged genocide
    was shelved at the last minute in the U.S. House of Representatives
    after then President Bill Clinton intervened.

    Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the
    hands of the late Ottoman Empire in the last century as part of a
    genocide campaign. Turkey categorically denies the genocide
    allegations, saying the killings came when the Ottoman Empire was
    trying to quell civil unrest during the World War I years.

    Iraq uncertainty

    One of the most sensitive issues involving Turkey-U.S. ties is the
    future of Iraq. Turkey is concerned about the presence of the outlawed
    Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the mountains of northern Iraq and
    the prospects of stronger political influence exercised by the Kurds
    in the north. Turkish concerns have grown, particularly in recent
    months, over Kurdish attempts to control the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

    Ankara is also pressing the United States to take action to eliminate
    the PKK. Washington has pledged that there will be no place for
    terrorists in Iraq but, given the huge task of dealing with an
    insurgency in other parts of the country, has avoided using military
    means.

    The chief elements of Bush's Iraq policy are the protection of Iraq's
    territorial integrity, the establishment of a federal regime in Iraq
    and broad autonomy for Iraqi Kurds in the north.

    Parliamentary elections in Iraq are slated for January. The Bush
    administration has presented no timetable for withdrawal from Iraq but
    has said instead the pullout would take place after the mission there
    was completed.

    Kerry, if elected, is expected to push for more international
    participation to put things right in Iraq. Observer say Iraqi Kurds
    expect Kerry to be more flexible as compared to Bush on the issue of
    an autonomy for Kurds. Kerry's position concerning the PKK presence in
    Iraq is not yet certain.

    EU support set to continue

    Washington's traditional support for Turkey's bid to join the EU is
    expected to remain same with both candidates. Bush has been a strong
    supporter of Turkish membership throughout his term as president and
    is expected to maintain his support if re-elected. According to
    political observers, Kerry is no different from Bush in that sense.

    Both Bush and Kerry are also expected to support Turkey's relations
    with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    As for Cyprus, the Bush administration is likely to come up with a new
    undertaking for settlement in the island if it returns to office after
    the election. Kerry, however, has made no clear statement on his
    position on the Cyprus issue.

    The U.S. administration has pledged to help end the international
    isolation of the Turkish Cypriots but has not yet taken any concrete
    steps in that direction.
Working...
X