CUMHURIYET- Columnist Erol Manisali writes on Turkey's searche for a new balance in foreign affairs. A summary of his column is as follows:
The new demands of the West have inevitably led Turkey to a search for a new balance in foreign affairs. While Turkey's interests are coming in conflict with those of the West, they become more in harmony with those of Asia. Both Russia and China strongly opposed the US military presence in Asia. Both of them are against US intervention in Iraq and defend the territorial integrity of that country. European Union countries are putting obstacles in front of Turkey's active participation in Afghanistan. In a way, they are excluding Turkey. They don't want Turkey in Afghanistan despite the fact that they accepted it as a candidate country and are supposed to admit into the Union. Their desire to exclude Turks from the Aegean and Cyprus is a matter of discussion today. The US is pursuing a policy completely at odds with Turkey's strategic interests regarding intervention in Iraq and northern Iraq. This has gone on for more than ten years, since the beginning of the Gulf War. When we take a look at the US and EU demands from Turkey regarding the region, we see that they are in conflict with Turkish national interests. In fact, disagreements go far beyond those conflicts. For example, theUS and Britain would like to divide Iraq and form a puppet government in northern Iraq. The puppet government is ready with all its institutions, save a proclamation. The infrastructure of this state was formed in detail following the Gulf War. Turkey, Syria and Iran are opposed to the division of Iraq, as are Russia and China. Turkey's interests are not in line with those of the West but with those of its regional neighbours. On the other hand, Continental Europe would like to draw the PKK into the legitimate political arena, and hold a bridgehead in southeastern Turkey versus the northern Iraqi Kurdish card played by the US and Britain. It is believed that Germany leads the other countries on the issue as the potential boss of the EU. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) signed a framework agreement with Russia on Jan. 12, 2002 regarding the PKK. Both the PKK and Chechen separatists are recgnized as terrorists. However, the EU refuses to accept that the PKK is a terrorist organization and would like it to enter the political arena. This puts Turkey and Europe at loggerheads. Furthermore, the EU would like to take Cyprus and with it the Aegean into the organization so that it will not have to admit Turkey into the Union as a full-member. The US seems to be more moderate on the Cyprus issue and closer to Greece regarding the Aegean. On Armenia, both the US and the EU are pressuring Turkey. There is the resolution accepted by the EU Parliament, and also decisions by the local state legislatures in America. Turkey and the West are on opposite sides on this issue as well. All these problems show that the increasing demands of the West over Turkey can only be balanced by good relations with Asian and other countries in our region. The balances which began to be altered towards the end of 1990 are leading Turkey to seek new avenues in foreign affairs. Turkey has to balance the demands and pressures coming from the West with its new policies pursued in Asia. There is no other way out.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION