AKSAM- Columnist Semih Idiz comments on recent developments on the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:
Muslim countries currently face a great dilemma. Both the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the US and the Iraq issue have caused enormous problems for the Muslim world. As a country governed by the rule of law, Turkey stands apart from this world made up of Muslim dictatorships rather than democratic regimes. Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen are all governed by regimes totally dependent upon the Western world. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent visit to Great Britain showed that this country is also seeking new ways to improve its relations with Western countries.
Under diplomatic pressure from the US, Turkey might be forced to make a decision on the Iraq issue which could ultimately be harmful to its national interests. However, we should recognize that other Muslim countries are under yet more pressure. Even Germany is currently facing the same dilemma. The government in Berlin has stopped short of issuing a firm ‘no’ to the US, no matter how strongly it opposes an operation against Saddam Hussein.
In such a picture, Turkey –- a county with foots in both the West and the Muslim world -- bears a great responsibility. Our country has to assume an important political role on the Iraq issue. I believe that Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul must assume a ‘proactive’ diplomatic strategy as soon as possible. This strategy should first of all focus on determining common approaches amongst these two groups of countries. Gul and Erdogan should bear in mind that for over 20 years Saddam’s regime has brought rise to many problems and that it even spent a decade fighting its neighbor Iran, causing the death of millions of Muslims. He also attacked Kuwait and murdered thousands of Muslim Kurds in his own country. Ankara should understand that Saddam’s regime must be overthrown in order to ensure regional stability. If Turkey stays silent on this issue, other countries will try to get a share of the pie and draw up new maps for the region.
Erdogan and Gul’s proactive strategy should also focus on the US’ plans for the post-Saddam period. Turkey should tell the US that countries in the region should have the right to join discussions concerning the postwar period in the region.
In brief, I do believe that Turkey, as a ‘regional superpower,’ should avoid a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, and should instead pursue an active political strategy. Otherwise, our country will become a pawn of developments just over the horizon.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION