Certain Observations on Turkey

On the eve of the Elections planned to take place on the 22nd July the position in Turkey does not appear to be very bright. On the one hand you observe that in a parliamentary regime, the most important institutions: The Presidency, Parliament, Prime Ministry and the Chief of General Staff do not appear at all to be in harmony with each other. This situation was evident some 5-10 days ago during the military exercises in the Aegean region, when the President and the Prime Minister, sitting for four hours side by side, let alone conversing with each other did not even greet one another!

And the fact that these institutions are conveying certain very important matters for the country to a certain extent through the medium of the internet also points to the same thing. On the other hand however, our sister country Turkey, although not new, is facing very many problems in these days and no doubt this situation requires that the main institutions and even main parties  should be tightly in harmony with each other. One tends to abstain from putting on TV programmes. Sadness and screams every day. If you take the average, more soldiers than what the Americans are losing in Iraq are being martyred on the country’s own soil.

This is reported to be, to a great extent, as a result of infiltration from the Iraqi border by P.K.K. What is pressing one’s mind is how long this situation will continue and how it will be solved. If you look at explanations, both the military and the prime ministry see the solution as an operation over the border and both parties, realizing that such an operation could not be carried out especially when America is in Iraq, are throwing the ball to each other.

This, like the old red lines which have been sponged over, creates great expectations of the people and resulting in disappointment is causing very much damage. This operation, we say, is very difficult, if not impossible, to put into effect now because:

   1. No country, especially one within the western world, in today’s circumstances would be able to make a move which will have serious implications, without obtaining the blessing of America. How, even the European Union who has been attempting to form a military force outside NATO and who is most likely to come to a position of quarrelling in future with the America, has been made toe the line is quite obvious. 

   2. America intends to stay in Iraq for at least 40-50 years (as she has done so in South Korea). To think otherwise would be defying the nature of things as well as in contradiction of America’s objectives of gaining control in Iraq. Let us not forget that she is receiving the greatest support in this respect from the Kurdish people in North Iraq. 

   3. Israel is, understandably, very anxious about the developments in Iran and sooner or later America, under pressure from the Jewish Lobby, is going to hit Iran. In this respect, in our opinion, America probably will not find the measure of support she desires from the bordering countries of Turkey and Azerbaijan and consequently the use of Iraq and especially northern Iraq which will afford the greatest facility to her will facilitate her job.

   4. Turkey needs to maintain easy relations with America. Turkey’s greatest supporter on the subject of joining Europe which is amongst her most important objectives, is America. Another important objective is to transform Turkey into an energy transit centre (Ceyhan, Nabucco pipeline etc.). This cannot be achieved without American support. Even disregarding this fact that American support is essential, with one nod the Iraqi petrol (at least the petrol in the North) could be brought down to the Mediterranean Via Haifa by renewing the existing old line.

   5. Institutions like the World Bank, the international Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation etc. upon which America has a determining influence have been very helpful to Turkey.

 As long as the position is as explained above and whilst many other preparations which we would not be able to be aware might be taking place, let alone America allowing Turkey to make an operation beyond the North Iraqi boarder, we do not think it probable that under the present circumstances Turkey is asking for America’s blessing. We are not, with what we are writing, saying that Turkey should stay passive and submissive. Turkey is a big state having a thousand year past over these places, carrying a lot of weight in every respect. The elimination of Turkey from the West today would be a very large loss for the West. However, unfortunately, amongst the western powers only America and those politicians who think wisely and aim at foreseeing politics in the long term are able to appreciate. In the light of all this, it is hoped that a solution for joint action by America and Turkey will present itself.

Having mentioned our observations, to come to some conclusions, it would be of some use to briefly look at the period of last 100 years at least:

Although it was within the “National territorial” boarders, the skilful diplomacy of the British imperium which took over from Turkey Kerkuk and Musul, in short northern Iraq, has drawn the boarder between Iraq and turkey through such surfaces which could only be walked over by mountaineers and this is causing Turkey a very important difficulty in her fight with the P.K.K.

Turkey, after joining NATO, has made the greatest sacrifices which could be expected from a member. During the 50year Cold War Era she undertook to guard Europe. The Turkey which in those days was praised sky-high is nowadays, daily, being deliberately wearied by the same Europeans through being subjected to heavy insults. In the Korean war she lost 4,000 soldiers in an effort, to a great measure, to secure the circumstances for the withdrawal of American troops to safety. It was the only NATO country which during the 1963 Cuba Crisis which brought the world to the threshold of Nuclear War, declared before the danger was over, readily available to be at America’s side. It was through the wise action of Kennedy and Khrushchev’s stepping back that the crises was brought to an end. Against all this, the letter by President Johnson sent to President Inonu containing nothing more than threats when Turkey was contemplating a small operation in the face of the attempts in Cyprus to exterminate the Turks living there has not been forgotten by Turks who have reached a certain age.

Whilst contemplating these matters one aspect comes to mind; The Eastern countries which cradled great civilizations-whilst most of Europe were living in caves or subsisting on piracy-do, in all probability, not understand well, nor analise properly the materialist philosophies of the westerners. De Gaulle had summarized this philosophy very well when he pronounced words to the effect that “France has no friends, only interests”. There is need for the proper analysis of this philosophy.

Laura Faizova