BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Will Professor Ahmet Davutoglu, the new foreign minister, change Turkey's foreign policy? There's no reason to expect a fundamental change. Davutoglu, a top advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the last seven years, has already shaped Turkey's foreign policies and put his mark on many initiatives. Now he will be able to continue these policies under his own authority. The two-headedness sometimes felt in the era of his predecessor Ali Babacan, now deputy prime minister responsible for the economy, could be over now. Some of Erdogan's excited statements raised eyebrows in the West, and Babacan felt it necessary to make balancing statements or gestures to calm things down. Now Davutoglu is expected to try to strike these balances more consistently, and a self-confident prime minister is expected to make statements and act in harmony with him.
Davutoglu has put his mark on Turkey's foreign policies with his theories and active role in many diplomatic initiatives. Davutoglu brought new concepts such as strategic depth, zero problems with neighboring countries, and proactive diplomacy. The implementation of these concepts shaped Ankara's foreign relations in a break from old criteria. There are numerous examples of this: Turkey has developed its relations with Syria and Iran, held contacts with various political sectors in Iraq, dealt with the Middle East, Balkans and Caucasus more closely, and undertaken an intermediary and facilitating role in various disagreements, particularly in the Middle East.
Indeed, Davutoglu has played a great part in these initiatives as the originator and implementer. Turkey has recently flexed its foreign policy in the Middle East, which triggered suspicions - or speculations - about a 'change of orientation.' Some in Western capitals interpreted this situation as a deviation from Turkey's traditional foreign policy away from the West. Obviously, Ankara has acted more independently under Davutoglu's initiatives (from contacts with Hamas to rapprochement with Iran and opening to Sudan), and sometimes this has come into conflict with Western policies. Davutoglu has always defended his stance as the result of Turkey's own original understanding of foreign policy and stressed that this was no deviation from the West or change of orientation.
In taking over his new duties, Davutoglu spoke about a Turkish vision in foreign policy, and stated that this had 'various planks' and that relations with the West are the most effective plank. Obviously, Davutoglu will continue to develop policies in line with these opinions and beliefs as the new foreign minister. But the responsibilities of this duty will require Turkey to consider its foreign policy priorities, preferences and balances more seriously. We'll see how he will move in this direction from his way of dealing with immediate issues on his foreign policy plate. Indeed, Davutoglu is starting to work at a time when Turkey is facing many foreign problems which need urgent attention and action. His deep knowledge and experience lends hope that he will approach these issues correctly and with courage.