BY BULENT ARAS
SABAH- Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu raised the bar in foreign politics. Turkey aims to achieve the highest level political and economic cooperation. A great many things can be said about shaping the foreign policies on the axis of a norm and increasing the goals. A peace zone is establishing around our country thanks to this approach in foreign politics. Our stance favoring 'zero problems' with our close regions extending from the Central East to Caucasus attracts great attention. The countries concerned might adopt and implement them. It is considered the job of great powers to establish norms in international relations. But the great powers haven't been so successful in this field, as shown by the US in the era of Bush administration.
Turkey enjoys the opportunity of making close geographies accept the approach of zero problems with its neighbors as a foreign policy norm. The link of peace and security might extend from Turkey's borders towards the borders of neighboring countries thanks to this initiative. Furthermore, Turkey's foreign politics, which makes the establishment of this norm meaningful in a sense, should be carefully implemented. As a norm, its value depends on its success in implementation. We should be aware of our homework. Another condition is the development of sanctions which hinder the violation of this norm. The foreign politics can fulfill these conditions. Turkey's foreign politics are conducted as part of an ethical framework and the awareness of responsibility. The policies which are shaped in line with these concepts don't cause any problem with legitimacy in the region, but increase Turkey's value in the international arena. Building up a reputation as a ethical and responsible actor makes it easier to undertake normative tasks and establish norms in foreign politics.
The first stage of establishing a norm in foreign politics consists of convincing the countries covered by the target group. The countries which are regionally effective should particularly adopt this norm. The turning point would be considerably increasing the number of countries which adopt this norm. The last stage consists of turning the norm into a usual foreign politics behavior. Turkey's capabilities to ensure the establishment of a norm consist of its economic stability, educated population and intellectual richness. We can combine these capabilities with the advantages which are provided by the historical and cultural proximity. The civilian society, research centers, universities and intellectuals take an active position in almost every field of foreign politics. Besides the relations among politicians, social relations might also create an impact in terms of ensuring peace and stability. The diplomats and experts should conduct persuasion processes, as well as meetings and conferences should be organized so that the approach of zero problems is adopted with neighbors. Efforts for establishing an international norm should also be supported by the international society.
The Balkans, the Black Sea Region, Caucasus, Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean basins have suffered serious problems in the last decade. There's a dark boundary over this geography. Turkey, which has set its home in order and made efforts for the establishment of peace in the region, turned into a center of attraction. Turkey's strategic depth in close basins makes it possible to share its gains. This situation is also a historical responsibility for Turkey. The initiatives to establish an assertive norm in a difficult geography might fail. It's not guaranteed that the approach of zero problems will solve all the problems. But these initiatives are needed so that the mentioned geography can overcome this dark boundary and reach brightness. There's not a serious hindrance on countries in the region to adopt this approach of zero problems with neighbors as a rule of foreign politics. In line with an optimistic point of view, we might be talking about the new horizon and the highest level political and economic cooperation which was pointed out by Davutoglu in a short period of time.