BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- After the US invasion of Iraq, Condoleezza Rice, who was then national security advisor, criticized many US allies’ opposition to the war, saying, ‘France should be punished, Germany ignored and Russia forgiven.’ At that time, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld made his infamous statement about the so-called ‘new Europe,’ including Britain and Poland, versus ‘old Europe,’ mainly France and Germany. The US felt it couldn’t trust old Europe anymore. Indeed, the stance taken by certain European countries then – France in particular – against the Bush administration and Washington’s criticisms of it led to an unprecedented transatlantic crisis. This week Rice visited Europe as secretary of state, and she used a different style in her speeches in order to mend fences with US allies. Speaking in Paris, Rice said that old disagreements should be solved, emphasizing the common values shared by the US, France and Europe. She added, ‘It’s time to open a new chapter in our relationship.’ Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier spoke of a new stage in relations and working together for a better world.
Is the chilly relationship between the US and France thawing? Rice’s remarks on her tour of Europe show that repairs of the transatlantic divide have begun. Rice’s conciliatory messages show this. We have to wait and see if Rice’s remarks signal a real change of policy in the Bush administration. However, we can see signs of such a trend already. This goes for Europe, especially France. Paris is acting more flexibly and pragmatically concerning Iraq. French officials mentioned their pleasure at the recent elections and support for the government in Baghdad. Like Germany, France believes in broad cooperation to establish stability in Iraq. Meanwhile, it would be good for Turkey to take seriously the views of US allies in the interests of greater cooperation and bridging the transatlantic divide. In spite of certain disagreements with Europe, particularly France, we should follow a stance which stresses an active relationship with Washington.