BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
AKSAM- While Turkey is busy with the upcoming elections, there are extraordinary diplomatic developments going on. The Iraq fire is flaring, not dying down. A new government was established in Palestine, but it seems conflicts won't end. Israel stated that it wouldn't enter into talks with the new government. Turkey is giving priority to these two foreign policy issues. The meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries will be held in Istanbul in April. What about the Balkans? Have we forgotten them? Actually, the US, Russia, the EU, and even China and India are seeking greater influence in the Balkans. All the Balkan countries are dependent on the EU financially and on the US militarily. Russia's Slavic policies are again trying to carve out a sphere of influence. The Burgaz-Dedeagac oil pipeline pact was signed last week between Russia, Greece and Bulgaria. Following a bloody time, the Balkans have reached a relatively peaceful period, but there are still growing pains. And there is a great accumulation of energy as well. So the great countries in the world are developing their policies in the Balkans. Kosovo's prime minister was in Ankara a while ago. So was the Albanian prime minister. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a visit to Albania due to illness, but he'll make it there soon. In such a foreign policy atmosphere, we're in Macedonia with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Gul came to Skopje with a group of businessmen and spent a busy day in meetings. It's a very positive step that after dealing with the Middle East, the government turned to the Balkans. As the Balkans are on the threshold of an important transformation, we don't have the luxury of ignoring this region, which is our historical responsibility.
Macedonia is an EU candidate country. Maybe it will get in before us. Its population is only 2 million. There are two Turkish deputies in its Parliament, representing nearly 100,000 Turks. In addition, a Turkish state minister appointed from outside is in the Cabinet. Maybe Macedonia is the country where you can see the clearest remains of the Ottomans. Sometimes you feel like you're in an Anatolian town. Yahya Kemal College, the historical Fatih Bridge over the Vardar, Ottoman houses, mosques and Turkish baths are all Turkish works. It's said that half of the population has a relative in Turkey and there are direct flights to Turkey every day. At least 120,000 entrances and exits are carried out between Istanbul and Skopje every year. Gul's visit aims not only to show Turkey's support for this country, which is in a process of transformation, but also to maximize these relations economically. Educational and environmental agreements were signed and an infrastructure cooperation pact was strengthened. In the country, Gul was asked certain questions about Turkey's EU membership bid. We read in newspapers that Turkey's EU membership was important for Turkish-friendly countries as well. During his visit, Gul's morale was high. Maybe he was excited to be in the Balkans, like me. As I finish this column on the way back Turkey I can hear excellent Balkan music in the background, and I'm planning on asking Gul some questions about May's presidential election. He seems to be resisting talking about domestic issues, but let's see.