Erdogan’s Visit To The U.S.

STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes about Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to the US. A summary of her column is as follows:
Before AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan took off for his recent visit to the US, the prospect of a date for the beginning of Turkey’s EU accession negotiations weighed heavily on the minds of the Turkish delegation. However, both Turkey’s priorities and its immediate concerns have shifted after Erdogan met with US President George W. Bush. Suddenly it was realized that a war in Iraq was inevitable, and that the launch of US operation was just a matter of time. Top US military officials briefed Erdogan and his entourage in detail about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. They first spoke of Iraq’s connections with Al-Qeida and then explained how powerful Saddam’s weapons were. They concluded by saying this: ‘These weapons pose more of a threat to Turkey than the US, so we are requesting Turkey’s full support for our fight against terrorism.’
The briefing had the expected impact on the Turkish delegation. Erdogan, en route to Copenhagen, said that the dimensions of the Iraqi threat were grave, and he added: ‘We would prefer the problem were solved through peaceful means, but I now see that war is growing more probable than ever.’
Erdogan told every top US official he met in Washington about Turkey’s sensitivities and expectations from the US. He reminded the Bush administration that the nation had lost some $100 billion since 1991’s Gulf War. Moreover, he stressed that the delicate balances of Turkey’s economy would be shattered and that the country’s prospective losses were estimated at $48 billion if the US hit Iraq once again. He added that Turkey’s tourism trade would suffer enormously and that commerce along the southeastern borders of the country near Iraq would die. And then he opened the way for the US to make ‘an adequate offer’ to Turkey. Yet no such offer came from Bush. Even Erdogan himself was shocked by the paltry amounts of money the US offered for the compensation of Turkey’s losses, and he made no secret of it: ‘They first spoke of $2 billion, and then even ratcheted this to $1 or $2 billion.’
This attitude on the US’ part led Erdogan to put forth new reservations in taking an active role on the Iraq issue. ‘Turkey is a democratic country,’ he said ‘US’s launching an operation into Iraq from Turkish soil would shake Turkey’s image in the eyes of Muslim world. The US should first convince Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria to join an alliance.’ He added that it was already very difficult to explain the situation to the Turkish people, and that a referendum might even be held to decide on the issue.
Erdogan suggested that US administration increase international pressure on Saddam Hussein instead of undertaking a military campaign. He gave the example of Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharrif. ‘If we force Saddam through more decisive means to step down, he won’t be able to stand the pressure,’ he said. ‘Just like the US did to Nawaz Sharrif.’ Isn’t it ironic for Erdogan to bring up Sharrif, a leader who was overthrown by a military coup led by Pakistan’s chief of general staff?

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION