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THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST: WIN-WIN OR LOSE-LOSE?
Daily Sabah, Turkey
Oct 20 2014
by Markar Esayan
21 October 2014, Tuesday
It is true that the new Middle East process Turkey suggested especially
for Syria and Iraq is a human-centric strategy that will introduce a
win-win situation for the West, Israel and countries in the Middle
East. Turkey is a secular and a Muslim country that dissents with
the U.S. and Israel on some crucial issues, although it is not
categorically hostile to them. With this peculiarity, Turkey has a key
role as it manages to have relations with both the Middle East and the
West and has the facilities to reconcile the declining relations. In
this sense, the efforts to limit Turkey instead of benefiting from
its potential mean wasting a great opportunity.
The cost of keeping Turkey in a position that could make its economy
and foreign politics controlled remotely and subjugating the country
is a higher priority than cooperating with the country by establishing
equal relations with it and it is urgent to see that the former will
not favor anyone. Turkey is gradually adopting a form of established
democracy that objects to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Western
and anti-U.S. attitudes and the colonialist perspective in the Middle
East. While improving its economy, it also embraces social segments
aggrieved and marginalized by authoritarian Kemalism. The billions
of lira of properties belonging to Christian and Jewish foundations,
which were once plundered by the secular Kemalists, were returned. The
schools that were shut down are now being reopened and churches are
being restored. Kurds can freely speak and learn their own language
now.
Although Turkey is subjected to double standards in terms of the
Cyprus issue and EU membership, it still preserves its perspective of
progress in both subjects. A statement of condolence was issued by the
Prime Ministry on the 1915 Armenian deportation. This message might
not satisfy Armenians, but as the denial policies and the troubles
Armenians had are considered, the state's perspective on the issue
can be said to have changed to a great extent. In all these subjects,
Turkey has progressed so far that a comparison between the current
Turkey and the Turkey of 10 years ago is like comparing black and
white.
The passivity shown by former Turkish governments, which considered
the laws imposed by the International Monetary Fund as a command during
the 2001 crisis, cannot be expected now from such a successful country
in an intellectual and economic development process. This is neither
fair nor realistic. When the Syrian civil war broke out, Turkey's
government, Prime Ministry and Foreign Ministry made a great effort
to deter Damascus from this catastrophic path. During that period,
U.S. President Barack Obama said Bashar Assad would have to leave his
seat and Turkey was suppressed due to its conciliation efforts. The
original plan of the U.S. included supporting the moderate opposition
in Syria. Turkey, on the other hand, was suggesting ways to prevent
this war through democratic reforms by persuading Assad. One of the
three suggestions Turkey made was recognizing Kurds as citizens and
granting their rights to them.
And now, the group called the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)
has asserted domination over both countries. The moderate opposition
was undermined and most of them joined ISIS with their arms. Upon
that, Turkey is being charged as if the aid sent to opponents was
actually sent to ISIS. The U.S. government is trying to lay this
tactical mistake on Turkey in front of both the U.S. and the rest
of the world. The U.S. cannot go beyond airstrikes reminiscent of a
palliative PR campaign and also expects Turkey to intervene in Syria
to be trapped in this mess by ignoring Turkey's comprehensive offers
of a solution. aTurkey does not seem to accept this imposition. But
evidently, everyone would be harmed from it. The most sensible thing
is to agree on a common strategy. The other options would only pave
the way to chaos.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/markar_esayan/2014/10/21/the-situation-in-the-middle-east-winwin-or-loselose
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Daily Sabah, Turkey
Oct 20 2014
by Markar Esayan
21 October 2014, Tuesday
It is true that the new Middle East process Turkey suggested especially
for Syria and Iraq is a human-centric strategy that will introduce a
win-win situation for the West, Israel and countries in the Middle
East. Turkey is a secular and a Muslim country that dissents with
the U.S. and Israel on some crucial issues, although it is not
categorically hostile to them. With this peculiarity, Turkey has a key
role as it manages to have relations with both the Middle East and the
West and has the facilities to reconcile the declining relations. In
this sense, the efforts to limit Turkey instead of benefiting from
its potential mean wasting a great opportunity.
The cost of keeping Turkey in a position that could make its economy
and foreign politics controlled remotely and subjugating the country
is a higher priority than cooperating with the country by establishing
equal relations with it and it is urgent to see that the former will
not favor anyone. Turkey is gradually adopting a form of established
democracy that objects to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Western
and anti-U.S. attitudes and the colonialist perspective in the Middle
East. While improving its economy, it also embraces social segments
aggrieved and marginalized by authoritarian Kemalism. The billions
of lira of properties belonging to Christian and Jewish foundations,
which were once plundered by the secular Kemalists, were returned. The
schools that were shut down are now being reopened and churches are
being restored. Kurds can freely speak and learn their own language
now.
Although Turkey is subjected to double standards in terms of the
Cyprus issue and EU membership, it still preserves its perspective of
progress in both subjects. A statement of condolence was issued by the
Prime Ministry on the 1915 Armenian deportation. This message might
not satisfy Armenians, but as the denial policies and the troubles
Armenians had are considered, the state's perspective on the issue
can be said to have changed to a great extent. In all these subjects,
Turkey has progressed so far that a comparison between the current
Turkey and the Turkey of 10 years ago is like comparing black and
white.
The passivity shown by former Turkish governments, which considered
the laws imposed by the International Monetary Fund as a command during
the 2001 crisis, cannot be expected now from such a successful country
in an intellectual and economic development process. This is neither
fair nor realistic. When the Syrian civil war broke out, Turkey's
government, Prime Ministry and Foreign Ministry made a great effort
to deter Damascus from this catastrophic path. During that period,
U.S. President Barack Obama said Bashar Assad would have to leave his
seat and Turkey was suppressed due to its conciliation efforts. The
original plan of the U.S. included supporting the moderate opposition
in Syria. Turkey, on the other hand, was suggesting ways to prevent
this war through democratic reforms by persuading Assad. One of the
three suggestions Turkey made was recognizing Kurds as citizens and
granting their rights to them.
And now, the group called the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)
has asserted domination over both countries. The moderate opposition
was undermined and most of them joined ISIS with their arms. Upon
that, Turkey is being charged as if the aid sent to opponents was
actually sent to ISIS. The U.S. government is trying to lay this
tactical mistake on Turkey in front of both the U.S. and the rest
of the world. The U.S. cannot go beyond airstrikes reminiscent of a
palliative PR campaign and also expects Turkey to intervene in Syria
to be trapped in this mess by ignoring Turkey's comprehensive offers
of a solution. aTurkey does not seem to accept this imposition. But
evidently, everyone would be harmed from it. The most sensible thing
is to agree on a common strategy. The other options would only pave
the way to chaos.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/markar_esayan/2014/10/21/the-situation-in-the-middle-east-winwin-or-loselose
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress