BY SEMIH IDIZ
MILLIYET- Right now the Ergenekon probe is Turkey's top concern. Under these circumstances, French President Nicholas Sarkozy's initiative for a 'Mediterranean union' - or, under its new name, 'Barcelona Process: The Union for the Mediterranean' - has a hard time getting Turkey's interest. But not too long ago the issue was an important matter in our country. For this reason, we shouldn't ignore the weekend summit in Paris which brought together 42 heads of state and government, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A number of European countries already recognized that France was trying to draw Turkey away from the European Union and direct it to a new union through the idea of the 'Mediterranean union.' In addition, Paris' efforts to turn the balance in the Mediterranean in its own favor angered the EU.
So Sarkozy's project faced opposition, especially from Germany. Even its ambitious name was changed. But although now it's far from its original plan, Sarkozy should save the situation.
He's vested in the dubious project. The EU graciously approved a summit in Paris to launch the initiative. A number of Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, finally agreed to attend the gathering.
But according to the European media, which lampooned the initiative as 'Club Med,' and the Arab media, which calls it an initiative to 'urge Israel and Arabs to be in the same room,' it is unclear how the Mediterranean union will emerge.
We can tell that a number of leaders, including Algeria President Abdulaziz Buteflika, attended the summit so they wouldn't be preempted by others. Otherwise they wouldn't have held out agreeing to go until the last minute. But in the end, almost none has vested in the project, as its aim is still unclear.
Israel, which backs all Western initiatives to end its regional isolation, is seen as the sole state eagerly supporting the project. But this alone is enough to make the Arabs suspicious of it.
Sarkozy's effort to arrange a summit of Bashar Assad and Ehud Olmert in Paris, using Syria-Israel meetings which began thanks to Turkey, and to thus score a big diplomatic success for France, fell flat, naturally.
Nevertheless, Sarkozy kept up appearances, thanks to Turkey and Syria. French diplomats very well knew that if Turkey stayed away, the summit's magic would falter. Because a Mediterranean union without Turkey is impossible.
Then, as announced by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, France sent three invitations and three private envoys to Ankara to get it to attend the gathering. Finally, Sarkozy himself phoned Erdogan, and Turkey was finally swayed.
As for Assad, although he opposed meeting with Israeli Premier Olmert, he agreed to establish diplomatic contact with Lebanon. He thus gave Sarkozy a small gift and prevented the world media from dismissing the summit completely.
All this doesn't mean the idea of a Mediterranean union is empty. The region faces big issues, so regional cooperation carries vital importance. But it's doubtful whether France, which inspires suspicion rather than enthusiasm in the region, can manage it. Although French doesn't like it, in this area, the chances of Turkey, whose political profile in the region is rising, are much better than Paris'.