Ankara And Washington

BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- I start today with an ordinary headline. But I fear that later in this column I will have to use a headline such as ‘Ankara vs. Washington’ or ‘Washington vs. Ankara’ because even though both sides claim that their relations are perfect, I know that it isn’t so.
Sixty years have passed since 1945. Even if relations had ups and downs from time to time, we established our closest ties with the United States. And also it was recommended that we ignore a world state and even follow policies by opposing it. This stance still continues. In November 1914, we declared war against a world state Britain, together with Russia and France. After that war, the enemy came to Polatli. Today no such possibility remains. However our borders can be closed and we may have many problems in going beyond our borders. Today there is no chance of a new Ataturk appearing.
If we try to defend our two close friends Syria and Iran against the United States, which wants to put them under its control like it did Afghanistan and Iraq, even if this defense is at the diplomatic level, will it be of any use to these two countries and will the United States give up its Greater Middle East (GME) Initiative?
On June 8 in Washington, it will be asked clearly for the last time how Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will behave. It will be learned to what extent Turkey, as an ally, can support the United States, and we will be treated accordingly.
Next Sunday we will see the results of the referendum to be held in France. There will be a yes vote for the European Constitution, but by a narrow margin. If the European Union makes a historic mistake such as making things difficult for Turkey, it can be said that relations between Ankara and Washington will grow very complicated.