BY MEHMET ALI BIRAND
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS - Relations between Turkey and the United States are currently being fine-tuned. The dangerous course has been replaced with a calmer process, a mutually new attempt and opportunity to put relations back on track.
It becomes apparent that the White House gave the “Don’t batter Turkey” message to those that have been very angry with Turkey. The president’s statement in daily Hürriyet over the weekend (“Our relations are strong, we may have some differences but these are of minor importance”) seemed to be the first sign.
Then we need to add to that the sensibility of the administration in respect to the Armenian bill taking place on the agenda of the House of Representatives. The administration seems to be preparing to listen to Ankara more broad-mindedly. As a matter of fact, we couldn’t help but noticing that a delegation came to Istanbul last week only to “change the course of Turkish American relations and attempting to understand Turkey better.”
This visit, attended by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, retired ambassadors, nongovernmental organizations and academics, aimed to see the course of Turkey and examine the reality in place. All were people who valued relations with Turkey very much and knew the region well and more importantly were close to the Obama administration. You see, nobody felt the need to convince anyone or tell about our own case.
They asked and Turkish participants lead by Ýlter Türkmen shared their views. Rest assured, that this meeting was very informative in respect to differing views and analysis. Even those who used to criticize Prime Minister Erdoðan from time to time gave him credit.
I used to participate in such meetings many times but this one was different in tone and atmosphere. In summary I could say the following:
- Relations between Turkey and the U.S. are not as they used to be in the sense of little brother does as the big brother says. Some Americans accept that Turkey is playing an important role in the region but a substantial part of Washington could not adopt this reality.
- The United States letting go of or turning its back on the Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is out of question. From now on difference in opinion or serious disagreement will be present but at the end of the day they’ll meet in the same place.
- Washington too does know that its general attitude needs to change. It does not like Turkey’s approach in Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Sudan and Syria relations but seems to understand that it has to get over it.
- It openly shows that the former “Strategic Partnership” has no meaning anymore. Thus another slogan needs to be found.
- They accept that Turkey is looking for a new approach rather than a shift in axis.
- They often repeat that there is no shift in axis but Ankara needs to find a way to better explain itself.
- As much as the need for Turkey to change its approach in issues like Iran and Israel, the United States needs to share its politics regarding Turkey.
This meeting and statements thereafter will be very helpful with respect to explaining Turkey’s approach in the region. But let’s not forget that Turkey also needs to support this effort.
Ankara is expected to fine tune its attitude in order not to upset Washington and stop beating Israel constantly.”