BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI
STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on Turkish-US relations. A summary of her column is as follows:
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal is soon to pay an official visit to Washington, the date for which has yet to be set. However, it will be a critical visit for both countries, as it presents an opportunity to mend strained relations in the wake of Turkey’s refusal to let US troops deploy here before the Iraq war. If Ziyal’s visit proves to the successful, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to soon follow him. While Ziyal’s visit is intended as an effort to mend relations, Gul’s trip is expected to aim at reinforcing the strategic partnership between our two countries.
‘In times of crisis, it’s the meetings between bureaucrats which are key in mending and smoothing relations,’ one experienced diplomat told me. ‘Politicians, in contrast, pay visits to other countries as an expression of good will. If there is a serious problem between two countries, bureaucrats should visit the country first.’
The most important issue on Ziyal’s agenda with US officials is recent developments in Iraq. What kind of a role is Turkey to play in Iraq’s reconstruction? Since the US doesn’t favor Turkey’s participation in an envisioned ‘multinational stabilization force’ there, our government wants to determine what exactly its role will be. Ziyal is expected to propose to the Bush administration that Turkey contribute to the country’s economic and social reconstruction. As a matter of fact, Ankara is planning to develop projects for the construction of hospitals and schools throughout Iraq, having already completed preparations for doing so in both Kirkuk and Baghdad. In addition, our government is currently preparing projects for upgrading Iraqi agricultural systems.
However, the most important project to be proposed to the US officials is for our country to train Iraqi security forces. This proposal has already been conveyed to the Bush administration in a letter recently sent through US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson. However, Washington has yet to respond.
Ziyal is also expected to tell the Bush administration that Turkey is dissatisfied by its exclusion from the stabilization force, and how important changing this negative impression is in order to bolster the strategic partnership between our two countries.
Ziyal’s visit will be critical in clarifying what the real problem is between the US and Turkey. All back channels will be bypassed, and the real recovery process will begin after his visit.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION