BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the US’ plans for the Middle East in the 21st century, and Turkey’s role in this. A summary of his column is as follows:
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has to swiftly pass the latest harmonization package, enact Constitutional amendments and meet the Copenhagen criteria, all of which are the sine qua non principles of modern democracy. In addition, it has to protect and improve our economy and repair the damage in our friendship alliance with the United States. If it fails on these issues or else deals with them ineptly, then the 21st century will see Turkey’s downfall.
However, we lack a sufficiently serious approach towards our relations with the US. We are thinking only of Iran. There are even certain pitifully naïve figures in Turkey’s politics and bureaucracy who’ve been deluded into believing that we can frustrate the US in the Middle East by entering into an alliance with Tehran.
The US is determined to once again hold sway over Iran. There’s no way the US will change its mind on this issue, and at any rate there is nobody who can stand against it. What’s more, this plan is the US’ national project for the 21st century. They consider it a requirement of the war against terrorism. It would be a mistake to think that the Sept. 11 attacks would be left unanswered. In addition, the US wants to provide Israel with security. However, the most important factor for the US is to establish domination over the distribution of two-thirds of the world’s energy resources.
Soon Turkey will be presented with a map. Unfortunately, I guess Russia has already seen such a map and given its okay. The map of Iran, and thus the Middle East, will be drawn according to Turkey’s stance. The map will terrify both Turkey’s supporters of the status quo and its radicals. I’m very sure of this. Actually the map will earn the US a great many enemies, but nothing can stop its implementation. Those who aren’t ready to face the map have no business in politics.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION