BY GUNDUZ AKTAN
RADIKAL- The Greater Middle Eastern Initiative (GME) is proving to be a frustration, because the project lacks the financial resources to support its economic planks, and this might make it unable to reach its political aims. Countries in the region might not find this project attractive, as they will all be under great pressure on democracy yet unable to ensure political progress. The GME is envisaged to be implemented only by countries which accept participation in it. In other words, there won’t be any obligations. The project won’t be a prescription either. It will be implemented in accordance with the different conditions in different countries. The G-8 meeting’s decision initiating the GME can be considered a success for US President George W. Bush. Thus, a timetable was set to ensure the gradually increasing participation of the UN and the Iraqi people in establishing peace and normalization in Iraq. We will see if there will be other developments during next week’s NATO summit in Istanbul. France and Germany have stated their opposition to NATO’s taking on new duties in Iraq. At this point, the US might consider it sufficient to maintain NATO’s support for the Polish troops there. Bush will visit Ankara as part of the NATO summit, and unfortunately this visit will be carried out under the worst conditions. The US hasn’t fulfilled its commitments about the PKK terrorist organization. It invaded Iraq due to the fight against terrorism. However, it caused the revival of the bloody PKK terrorism which had previously ceased. It’s a very acute foreign policy problem.
Iraq’s interim Constitution in effect until next January has serious problems. Negotiations towards an actual constitution might cause a civil war due to the excessive rights granted to Kurds. In the government to be established under this Constitution, Turkmen are represented by the wrong person. Meanwhile, Turkmen leaders have become the victims of strange ‘victims.’ The Kurds are altering Kirkuk’s ethnic makeup, and the Constitution treats Turkmen as minorities alongside tiny Christian groups. However, the Turkmen population is almost equal to that of the Kurds. Ignoring Turkmen this way will cause serious future problems requiring radical solutions.
In addition, gestures by the US to satisfy the Turkish Cypriots have not gone forward. It’s not making efforts to establish direct flights to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or imports and exports to and from the TRNC. The Bush administration is hoping to hold a second referendum in Southern Cyprus and for a solution that makes the Greek Cypriots happy. The only thing left for Bush to satisfy Turkey is impressing the International Monetary Fund.