BY SAHIN ALPAY
ZAMAN- Columnist Sahin Alpay comments on Turkey’s stance during in the Iraq crisis and war and the vision it needs from now on. A summary of his column is as follows:
If our Parliament had accepted the US troop deployments, Washington would have donated $6 billion (worth $26 billion in loans), and this raised the hopes of many circles, especially in the government. However, this money wouldn’t have met the trouble or the risks we would have taken by getting involved in Iraq. Furthermore, a possible Turkish-Kurdish war in Iraq and the cost of keeping a large army stationed abroad for a long period of time would have been burdensome as well.
We should abandon the habit of keeping our economy alive through foreign ‘injections.’ If we stick with the economic stability program now, we can be ‘rescued’ from the International Monetary Fund. We have to stand on our own two feet. If this happens because we happened to reject US troops deployment, then so much the better.
If we had gotten involved in Iraq, this would have threatened our democracy. But since we didn’t, now we’re making progress on our regime becoming more civilian. The seventh harmonization package proposes that the National Security Council’s general-secretary be a civilian, his powers be made to comply with the NSC’s ‘advisory role’ and the only regular militarily member of the NSC would be the chief of General Staff. In addition, the transparency of military expenditures is up for discussion.
The Turkish Republic cannot have imperial objectives. Its philosophy won’t permit it. The pillar of Turkish foreign policy is living peacefully with our neighbors and establishing good relations on the basis of mutual interests. Our army’s duty is to defend Turkey’s borders. Of course it should be strong, but it also should act for the sake of our country’s defense. We have to bring down military expenses and channel many of our resources into education, health care, social security, our infrastructure and the economy. If a country’s economy is weak, so will its army be. A country with a strong economy needs no foreign donations.
The power of our armed forces is the guarantee of our borders and national integrity. However, the real strength of the Turkish Republic is its secular, democratic character. Military might by itself means little. The actual power of a country lies in its economy, esteem and prestige.
If Turkey were an impoverished third world country, it would have accepted all the US’ conditions. You can be sure that now reasonable officials in Washington respect Turkey much more. The US administration finally understands that Turkey isn’t a ‘bird in hand’ and that one must consider our public opinion, Parliament and democracy. I’m happy that we didn’t militarize ourselves by following the US and Israel, but instead are setting a democratic civilian administration on our path to European Union membership. Our people should embrace the vision of a European Turkey living in peace and stability.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION