BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
On Monday’s August 30 Victory Day, officials from both the government and the military gave their views on Turkey’s future. While some problems were stressed, the evaluations were generally optimistic, especially if we compare today’s developments with the early years of the Turkish Republic. Turkey’s path to modernization could be an example to the Islamic world. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok stressed this by saying that establishing a modern Turkish state with Ataturk’s principles and revolution was as important as the French Revolution.
If we look to the future, we can say that two projects will be key factors for Turkey. The first is the European Union, and the second is the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative (GME). Turkey’s role in these projects will determine the country’s future. The question whether Ankara will be swept by the tide or else assume a place with its own privileges and power is important. From the EU perspective, Turkey, as a country which has fulfilled even its special conditions and the Copenhagen criteria, deserves to get a date for accession talks. Turkey is determined in its EU bid. Now it’s the EU’s turn. We’ll soon see whether the EU will treat Turkey fairly or whether it will impose other heavy conditions while giving a date. This will also show whether or not the EU is ready to accept Turkey or whether it’s thinking of a ‘special relationship’ with Ankara. Then it will be clear whether the EU has good intentions or not.
About the GME, it’s not clear exactly what the US wants to do. It’s too early to predict what its proposals will be. However, there are also some questions about giving Turkey a new mission or trying to change its regime.
How these two projects will be shaped is very important for Turkey. In both, Turkey shouldn’t be a walk-on (bit player) which fulfils its assigned missions, and it shouldn’t allow its future to be determined by outside actors.