In The Struggle For Modernity, Where Are We Now?

BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on what Turkey’s priorities should be. A summary of his column is as follows:
For a long while now, we’ve been preoccupied with the Iraq issue. We’ve all democratically aired our views on the issue and eventually the state decided that we would send soldiers to Iraq. No matter which force is within Iraq, we would take an interest in it. Especially if the US is there, it would be impossible for us to remain impartial. If Ankara assumes an attitude at odds with Washington and rejects its strategic ally, the US would make certain irrevocable decisions. Now we stand on the brink of such a dilemma. I hope we won’t fall prey to it.
We should certainly try to recover our relations with the US and meanwhile stress our interest in Iraq. However, this shouldn’t be our first priority. Instead, firstly we should push our European Union candidacy and implement the EU’s standards. When we succeed at this, we can be considered to be at the level of civilized modernity. Then Turkey will have its place in the sun, having reached the goal first set out by Ataturk.
Quarreling with the US or sending soldiers to Iraq are second-order issues for Turkey. However, our constant move towards the West and winning the struggle for modernity would be turning points in our history. The line on which we now stand will be discussed in Brussels this October. Among the host of issues and problems we now face, I hope we don’t trip ourselves up.