BY SEDAT ERGIN
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS- A common belief is that Turkey has a bad image in the Arab world due primarily to its Ottoman past and its turn to secularism following the establishment of the republic. The conventional view, based on the above judgment, asserts that Turkey will not be accepted in the region. But the results of a new opinion poll conducted by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in seven Arab countries indicate otherwise.
A study by Professors Mensur Akgun, Gokce Perincoglu and Sabiha Senyucel Gundogan under TESEV's foreign policy program strikingly reveals that the image of Turkey in the Arab world is seeing positive changes. A survey titled 'The Perception of Turkey in the Middle East' was conducted last July with a total of 206 respondents in Egypt , Jordan , Lebanon , Palestine , Saudi Arabia , Syria and Iraq . The poll's survey stressed that Turkey has taken a more active policy in the Middle East, particularly since 1990, and that the change has become more visible than ever under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and that the Davos incident (with a dispute between Turkey and Israel) has helped to boost this image. According to the study, Turkish soap operas also play a critical role in Turkey 's popularity among Arabs.
The most striking result is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn't the key issue, as many assume, but the economy. It's important that Turkey has a 'positive outlook,' according to 75 percent of respondents. Following Saudi Arabia (80 percent) and Egypt (80 percent), Turkey is the most highly regarded country among Arabs, ahead of Iraq (64 percent), Jordan (69 percent), and Lebanon (72 percent). Interestingly, 87 percent of those participants having a high image for Turkey in the Middle East are found in Palestine and Syria . Respondents were also asked which country does the most to defend the rights of Palestinians in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Turkey , again, ties with Egypt (6 percent). All other Arab countries are behind Turkey . Apparently, Palestinians believe in the sincerity of Turkey more than that of Arabs. On solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 79 percent of respondents support Turkey 's mediation, as 77 percent support Turkey in playing an influential role in the Middle East .
Surprisingly enough, the question 'Could Turkey be a model for the Arab world?' was answered affirmatively by 61 percent of respondents. Researchers say this is important, considering the Turkey 's secular political structure. Moreover, 63 percent of participants believe Turkey is a successful combination of Islam and democracy. Similarly, by 57 percent, general support is given to Turkey 's full accession to the European Union.. Surprisingly, though, 64 percent of participants believed the full membership process will strengthen Turkey 's role in the Arab world. In short, all roads are again leading to the EU. The survey's conclusion says that Turkey shouldn't give up on its EU bid and that progress will give Turkey an upper hand in the region. In other words, Turkey 's Middle East policy and EU accession process complement and support each other.
I believe all EU leaders should carefully underline the support in the Middle East for Turkey 's entry to the bloc. It's not difficult to see what a positive effect Turkey can have in the Middle East through its EU membership, and how this can relax East-West relations. If Western leaders sincerely see democracy as a universal value, should they not acknowledge what a valuable investment in democracy supporting Turkey 's EU membership bid is?
I wonder if there are enough statesmen in Europe who realize this.