BY BULENT ARAS
SABAH - The final stretch before elections in Iran has always been important. Election Day restrictions began 24 hours before the elections, and so the big cities now stand silent and curious, after colorful, noisy days. Thousands of people campaigned till the last minute, pointing to a change in balances on the way. The first change is related to the balance of power. On the one hand are Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and on the other are former Presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatemi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, the favored candidate. It seems this balance won't change anytime soon. Demands for democratization are now unstoppable. This drive, which found its concrete expression in support for Mousavi, has now emerged for the first time in a stronger way since 1997. Young people now carry signs saying, 'Freedom is no dream.' A Mousavi campaign slogan says, 'We send new greetings to the world.' Whoever is elected, demands for a more democratic and freer life will top his agenda.
Another important development is that the politics in Iran now involves more discussions of concrete social, economic and foreign policy issues. Candidates campaign with this in mind. The shifting balances in Iran will also make foreign policy waves. Turkey is cited as an example of democratization. They ask themselves why they don't do what Turkey did. Furthermore, they talk about the possibility of establishing constructive ties with the West and the US, again citing Turkey's successful policies. Mousavi has proposed a policy reminiscent of Turkey's 'zero problem' approach with its neighbors.
Officials say that Turkey can take an important role in the nuclear issue and relations with the West and the US. There's a strong expectation that economic relations with Turkey will grow. Many Turkish small- and medium- size enterprises (SMEs) are looking for investment opportunities in Iran. Iran's new horizons presents a positive perspective for relations with Turkey. Iran should be closely followed to make good use of these opportunities.