BY FERAI TINC
HURRIYET- The new case seeking to close down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) comes at a time when Turkey is facing serious foreign policy challenges. Meanwhile, Cyprus is coming out of its stagnant period. A meeting between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias this Friday is expected to start a new process to resolve the Cyprus issue. The talks process will need constant attention along with thorough preparation, flexibility and creativity. Cyprus is the biggest hurdle to Turkey's European Union membership. Obviously, this problem will affect our EU negotiations. But how? In the months to come, all actors in Turkey connected to the Cyprus issue will face pressure from the US, EU and UN. Unfortunately, this will coincide with a time when the winds of political crisis are blowing. Not only in Turkey, but also in the TRNC, the situation isn't bright.
A visit this week by US Vice President Dick Cheney to Turkey comes at this time as well. Rising oil prices, peace in the Middle East, and of course Iran will be on his agenda. Cheney will reportedly signal during his visit that US support in the fight against the terrorist PKK will continue. In addition, he'll reiterate the US position on a political solution to the Kurdish issue. But Cheney, who also wants to meet with the military, cannot help but also discuss the Iran issue. Will a missile shield plan also be up for discussion? Nothing has been said so far, but everybody's expecting it. These critical issues are being raised during a time of domestic political fluctuations in Turkey, which risk improvements in relations thanks to cooperation against the PKK.
Energy is another issue in itself. The foreign policy dimension of this issue isn't taken seriously enough, but this should change. Diplomats are scrambling the whole world over in reaction to rising oil prices. Turkey has to do better at determining the role that it will play in diversifying energy resources in Europe. What will happen to Nabucco, the natural gas pipeline project to Europe? Everybody has something to say. Some claim that certain demands from Turkey angered Azerbaijan and the EU. We should also consider the foreign policy repercussions of this as well. During this time, Turkey will keep to itself and the opposition, which should focus what the government has and hasn't done, will deal with other things. What a shame!
But good things are also happening in Turkey. An international symposium on peace journalism was organized last Friday as the first project of Bogazici University's Peace Education, Application and Research Center. During this meeting, the alternative understanding of journalism brought by peace journalism was discussed. Participants discussed how negative examples of some journalists from Turkey and other places can be overcome through responsible, human-oriented journalism. During a time when newspapers are cited in areas as varied as academic research and court cases, the responsibility of journalists is rising. Peace journalism is a method that we should keep in mind, including in the language we use, our news and interpretations, and the very layout of newspaper pages.