HURRIYET- Columnist Ertugrul Ozkok writes on the current crisis in the Middle East. A summary of his column is as follows:
Out of curiosity I searched the archives for the reaction of the Palestinians and Arabs when Cypriot Turks were being killed in Cyprus before 1974, as the 1960 Agreements were torn down overnight. I looked for the reactions of the Arabs and the Palestinians when a Turkish mother and her children were stabbed to death in a bath. I also wanted to find out what kind of a response came from our neighbors in the Middle East when the babies, children, women, elderly and youngsters in southeastern Anatolia were being massacred by the bloody murderers of the PKK. Leaving reaction aside, did they show any sign of grief? I searched all the archives and could not find any statements denouncing these violent acts. On the contrary, there were statements in favor of the Greek Cypriot majority. It seems that ‘Muslim solidarity’ didn’t apply during these massacres. It seems that these neighbors cared not a whit about the violence which caused Turkey such great sorrow and even took sides with the opposing party. However, today Turkey is not remaining indifferent towards their own sufferings. Since yesterday, Turkish foreign policy towards Israel has gotten tougher. Taking harsh notice of Sharon’s actions in Palestine, it issues firm statements supporting Palestine and calling on Israel to stop the violence. This is the correct policy. However, even while doing this, we cannot neglect to make this historical reproach left in us, towards our Palestinian brothers who never left the side of the Greek Cypriots since the massacres committed against Turks in the 60s, and towards our Arab neighbors who took the frontlines in every action against Turkey. I for one have never forgotten these actions taken at the time. You may ask if we should expect anything in return for the ‘humanity’ or solidarity shown. True, nothing is expected in return. If we would like to turn the feeling we call ‘humanity’ into an international spirit, we must fulfill it without expecting anything in return. However, someone else may ask, why should we be the side which is always displaying this solidarity unilaterally? However, in no way can these excuse what Sharon is doing. There is a second result which can be taken out from the incidents in Palestine. Israel is drawing a line between Palestine and itself and calling it a ‘green line.’ Doesn’t it look like the line Turkey drew in Northern Cyprus to protect its kinsmen? The aims and fairness of the issues could be discussed. What comes out in the end is that some people simply cannot live together. The events in Montenegro and Serbia reflect the same truth. It seems that Cyprus model will be implemented in two other regions apart from the island. There has been no bloodshed in Cyprus since 1974. However, both in the middle of Europe and in the Middle East, bloodshed is continuing. Which of the models seem fairer? Turkey, which was able to establish a model preventing bloodshed in Cyprus, has never been able to get the support of the present victims in the Middle East. They are now asking us for the support they had denied us at the time. Turkey is lending this support. It is doing this at the cost of hurting and disappointing Israel a nation which has helped it in its days of need over the last 20 years, as the standards of humanity require such an action. I hope all the suffering in the Middle East ends. Turkey has accumulated experiences which can guide everyone. Even those who didn’t show any sensitivity towards the sufferings of the Turks and Cypriot Turks can learn from them.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION