BY SEMIH IDIZ
MILLIYET - US President Barack Obama's messages on the first day of his visit to Turkey show that from now on, bilateral relations will be grounded in a new and more realistic basis. One of these messages is related to the direction that Obama wants to take Turkish-US relations in. In this respect, Obama uses the word 'model partnership.' It has become almost a habit to use such words as 'strategic cooperation' or 'strategic partnership' for Turkish-US relations, even under Bush, when our ties mostly suffered. Actually this exaggerated term mostly didn't fit the facts. The concept of 'model partnership' offered by Obama has more realistic goals.
We'll see how this concept will be filled over the course of time, but the framework drawn by Obama during yesterday's press conference envisages much comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. At this point, security and military cooperation aren't the only factors. Obama believes that such values as freedom of belief, the rule of law and democracy are shared by both nations. Obama thinks this 'partnership model' can affect the world.
Another important message given by Obama was on the Armenian issue. The young leader answered a question from an American reporter very boldly and realistically. He said that he hadn't changed his previous view on the so-called 'Armenian genocide,' but that there was no use is emphasizing the issue for now and that the process which started between Turkey and Armenia towards normalization should be encouraged. Actually, this was what was expected. Obama won't use the word 'genocide' in his message on April 24 (the anniversary of the so-called 'genocide').
I expect that the US' Congress Democratic majority won't insist on a resolution which would disturb Turkey or spoil the process between Ankara and Yerevan. It seems Turkey is determined to open its border between Armenia and establish diplomatic relations. An agreement on this is expected to emerge after April 24. One of the striking messages that Obama gave in his speech to Parliament was about the Armenian issue. He mentioned this issue in terms of making peace with the past, saying that the incidents of 1915 were tragic in the history of both nations.
Another aspect of his speech which attracted attention was how he stressed Turkey's secular and democratic structure. In this respect, Obama mentioned Ataturk's vision and also used this term in his inscription in the memorial guestbook at Ataturk's mausoleum. On Turkey's recent reforms, Obama reiterated that Turkey didn't do them to satisfy the EU, but to improve democracy in Turkey, adding that these reforms should continue.
In his speech, Obama touched on all the important problems in our region, from Palestine to Iran, and from Iraq to Afghanistan. In fact the views that he mentioned on these issues are very close or in line with Turkey's position. President Abdullah Gul also indicated this at the joint press conference. This closeness of views establishes a new foundation of cooperation for solving these problems and establishing peace and stability in the region. The main reason which brought Obama to Turkey is this longing for cooperation or this model partnership, as he said.