ANKARA - ''We have expressed our concerns regarding our relations with foreign countries after the Justice & Development Party (AKP), which has no experience in foreign relations, came to the power. And, we have seen that our concerns were not baseless'', says Oktay Eksi, a columnist of the Hurriyet daily.
In his article Eksi writes: ''we see the most concrete example of this in Turkish-U.S. relations. If you pay attention, you can see that anti-American atmosphere in Turkey has suddenly become an important problem. Anti-American demonstrations or news stories in other countries don't affect relations of these countries' with the United States. (When it comes to Turkey) only a few days after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Turkey and stressed, 'we are strategic partners with you', an article, signed by Robert L. Pollock which gives the impression that it is the unofficial voice of U.S. authorities and which includes harsh attacks against Turkey, was published in The Wall Street Journal.''
''There are naturally right things in the article Pollock wrote with a very triggering style rather than a professional journalist. He says that U.S. policies implemented to support Turkey, including the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, Washington's support to Turkey's EU membership bid, capture of (head terrorist Abdullah) Ocalan and his hand over to Turkey, have been forgotten,'' Eksi said.
''On the other hand, it seems that Pollock can't see that humiliation of our 11 officers and soldiers after sacks were put on their heads by U.S. soldiers could make us forget those right things.
Even though we reproach U.S. officials, for example Douglas Feith, the Undersecretary for Policy of the U.S. Department of Defense, sharply for their insolent words implying, 'you will either terminate the anti-American atmosphere in Turkish public opinion, or we will consider you as a foe', it seems that our relations (with the US) are in a grave condition and there is need for an urgent treatment,'' Eksi added.
-TURKISH-U.S. RELATIONS ARE WORST THAN THEY ARE ON MARCH 2003
''Turkish-U.S. relations seem to be in a deeper crisis when compared with the relations after rejection of March 1st (2003) decree'' wrote columnist Sedat Ergin in daily ''Hurriyet''.
The editorial follows: ''Now there is a strange situation. (In 2003) In spite of a promise by the AKP government, the motion was rejected in parliament and as a result war plans of Pentagon were ruined and an anger emerged in U.S. administration and public opinion.
Then came Washington's attitude to punish Ankara, Sulaymaniah raid and U.S. soldiers' covering heads of Turkish soldiers with sacks. Thus, one of the greatest crisis in bilateral relations emerged.
Today, things like the rejection of motion or Sulaymaniah raid do not happen.
However, if an article of a newspaper can omit the whole positive atmosphere which was tried to be created by the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ankara, it can be said that there is a grave situation.''