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ISTANBUL: A column without a heading

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  • ISTANBUL: A column without a heading

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Jan 1 2012


    A column without a heading

    SUAT KINIKLIOÄ?LU


    This country makes me schizophrenic. It is often difficult to
    ascertain whether one should be content or upset with ongoing
    developments.

    If you have a conscience and follow what is going on in this country,
    you surely have reason to be troubled. Time and again we have proven
    incapable or unwilling to solve our major problems through political
    compromise. In my wish list for 2012 I listed Turkey's major issues
    that need to be tackled sooner rather than later: the Constitution,
    the Kurdish issue, the reckoning with history, finding a reasonable
    equilibrium between politics and religion, etc. The list can go on and
    on.

    When the Armenian issue again resurfaced in France and calls for a
    re-examination of the events of 1915 were articulated, a friend of
    mine tweeted: `Dersim, the Armenian issue¦ were all of these
    historical problems waiting for the AK Party government in order to be
    confronted?' Indeed, they have. The Justice and Development Party (AK
    Party) is the outcome of a distinct republican historical process. It
    is the product of the inability of the political system to offer
    change in the 1990s.

    The AK Party has by and large tackled (not necessarily completed) the
    major issues that were confronting Turkey at the beginning of the last
    decade.

    Turkey is less corrupt and illegal mafia-type organizations hampering
    normal activity in big cities have largely been eradicated. There are
    more normal relations between the military and the political class.
    Important strides have been made on the Kurdish issue. As a result of
    a number of liberalizing policies Turkey is now an open and dynamic
    country. That said, Turkey still has daunting challenges confronting
    it.

    The Kurdish issue is staring into our face on a daily basis, with few
    ideas left to be pursued. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) remains a
    fundamental challenge to the security and stability of this country.
    We still have an insincere double-speak on some important historical
    issues, including Dersim, Ã?orum, KahramanmaraÅ?, the Armenian issue and
    Sivas.

    Our neighborhood is going up in smokes. From Syria to Iraq, from
    Russia to Iran there is little reason to be optimistic. The relative
    stagnation and predictability of the dictators has subsided and we are
    confronted by the ghosts of the post-World War I order in the region.
    The outlook for our southern dimension looks bad. Syria is destined
    for civil war, Iraq faces the potential of disintegrating; the rest of
    the region does not look less depressing. We have to brace ourselves
    for some very turbulent scenarios in the Middle East. The Turkish
    economy also may experience problems emanating from the severe crisis
    in the European Union. Turkish exporters will see lesser demand from
    Euro-economies and the traditional escape from misery in Europe -- the
    Middle East -- is now preoccupied with cutting each other's throat. A
    friend who is exporting textiles to the whole Arabian Peninsula could
    only express gloom when talking about demand from his traditional
    customers.

    So, should we harbor hope for 2012 that things will get better? Maybe
    the constitutional process will pick up in the early months of next
    year? Maybe the whispers in Ankara about a new democratization package
    will offer a new opening? I would not bet on it. I see more pessimism
    emerging than the other way around. The issue of succession to the AK
    Party leadership is causing immense tension. One can feel it
    everywhere in this city. It adds even more drama to the ongoing issues
    of concern listed above. There is no doubt that much will depend on
    the constitution, what kind of presidency is envisioned in the new
    constitution and what that means for the regime as well as the
    governing party. I have a feeling I will be writing columns with very
    strong headings in 2012. Happy New Year!




    From: A. Papazian
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