Can Turkey show Arab states the way to a brighter future?

[monitor]

Can Turkey show Arab states the way to a brighter future?

Nearly a century after the Ottoman empire fell, Turkey's private sector could provide benign guidance to the Middle East


Marco Vicenzino
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 12 December 2010 11.00 GMT
Article history


Although Palestinian survival has been largely sustained by Arab countries, it is the Turkish government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan that has emerged as the Palestinians' most resolute spokesman. By backing its rhetoric with diplomatic muscle, Turkey most recently influenced Brazil and Argentina to recognise an independent Palestine. Other Latin American countries will soon follow. In addition, Turkey is actively harnessing international support to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza.


Despite general public sympathy for the plight of Palestinians, Turks are not united on ways of showing this support. Secular Turks allege that religiously inspired NGOs, with government encouragement, exploit the Palestinian cause to promote and strengthen themselves domestically and abroad. The recent flotilla fiasco off Gaza provides a prime example.


It is common in the Middle East to attribute Arabs' misfortunes to western colonialism and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. While significant antipathy toward the west persists, there has been a considerable shift in Arab public opinion toward Turkey in recent years. Turkey is increasingly looked upon by Arabs as "what we should be".


It has garnered enormous respect for its achievements and growing influence in the region. Although a majority Sunni state, Turkey thus far has been able to rise above the Sunni-Shia divide evident in many Arab and Muslim-majority states – shrewdly converting it into valuable political and diplomatic capital.


After several false dawns, the Arab street remains largely cynical and frustrated. While pride in ancestors' achievements provides some comfort, it is usually overwhelmed by current realities.


Few if any leaders provide inspiration. Slow strides in Iraq seemed destined to be followed by greater slowness and fewer strides. Despite transparent elections, Palestinian infighting undermines real hope. After decades of martial law, ambiguity surrounding Egypt's succession hangs like a dagger over its future. Assad's fiddling with free markets and tight grip in Syria provides no vision or certainty for the next generation. Considerable progress in Jordan is difficult to replicate beyond its borders as its ability to influence others is limited by internal challenges and regional realities. Despite apparent progress, Lebanon remains a fragile powder-keg that could explode at any moment. The resource-rich pre-emerging market of Libya remains subject to the whims of an ageing autocrat whose stability is questioned clandestinely at home and openly abroad.


The constantly recurrent question in western policy circles is whether Turkey can serve as a model for Arab states.


While Turkey can serve as an inspiration and provide useful lessons, it cannot be a model. The unique dynamics and historical context within which the modern Turkish republic developed cannot be replicated. Contemporary Turkey is still evolving democratically. Internal power struggles, the Kurdish issue and the broader path to reform are just some reminders of the arduous road ahead. The government must strike a balance. With enormous challenges at home, it must avoid overreach abroad.


With the overwhelming majority of Arab populations under the age of 30 confronting a bleak future, a demographic timebomb is ticking in the region. This further underscores the need for Turkey's leadership to encourage its private sector to seize the initiative in the Middle East and unleash its potential. By creating opportunities it can help relieve regional pressures and contribute to a soft landing.


Change in the broader Middle East will occur most effectively through an evolutionary process marked primarily by economic growth and not imposition of external designs. Gradually, over time, the potential for further reforms will increase. When needed, Turkey's politicians should provide a gentle touch but leave it to its businessmen to produce results. After all, Turkey's most effective ambassadors come from its private sector.


For four centuries ending with the first world war, major decisions dictating the course of Arab history were largely made from Istanbul. History will not repeat itself. However, after nearly a century of absence, the return of real Turkish influence to Arab capitals, in a more benign form, must be welcomed. It is also fundamentally essential to the gradual transformation of a region whose instability poses a constant threat to global order.

 

[Babur Han]

I think Turkey should help the arab States to stand on their own Feets, I'm not prefer a Neo-Ottoman Vision from leading the whole Region. For several hundred Years Turks conquerd the Holy Sites and adoptet the Caliphate, but some centurys later the arabs Supportet the british Empire and betrayed the Caliphate who give them protection.

It is good for turkish Economy to strengten the trade Ties with arab States. Turkey should also help arab States to Change the Balance of Power by selling Advanced Weapons to their Invertorys and provide TOT to them. But I'm strictly against Policy were Turkey direct Cnfront the US and Israel, this is the Work of the arabs and Turkey should only provide the Tools !

 

[Haseebullah]

Arabs can never learn to stand on its feet.The luxury and money has corrupted them.

 

[SekrutYakhni]

Arabs can never learn to stand on its feet.The luxury and money has corrupted them.

Arabi kings not only corrupted themselves and their countrymen but they also bankrupted us, both from ideology and money.

Now, our mullis do not hesitate to give fatwa anymore.



We have also imported their wahabi and corruption ISM.

 

[Ahmad]

Arabs can never learn to stand on its feet.The luxury and money has corrupted them.

not all of them have money and luxury, only the persian gulf region are rich.

 

[somebozo]

Arabs are still standing on the same pace where ottomans left them! so in a nutshell yes If arabs are willing to work with turkey! Or the Turkmen need to bring civilization to arabs in a classic warrior on a white horse!

 

[monitor]

Arab world favors Turkey, sees as model, study reveals

18 May 2010

The results of Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation’s “Turkey: Arab Perspectives” survey were evaluated at a meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in İstanbul yesterday.

A new piece of research has found that Arab views of Turkey have become more positive in recent years, as one poll conducted in the Middle East showed that Turkey ranked second in Arab respondents’ opinions after Saudi Arabia, with 75 percent of respondents having very favorable or favorable views of Turkey.

The survey, designed by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and conducted July 24-29, 2009 by telephone in Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria, and face-to-face in Iraq, involved more than 2,000 people. The number of respondents who perceived Turkey very favorably or favorably was particularly high in Syria, the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

“In the Palestinian territories, Turkey was the most positively regarded country, and in Syria it was the highest after Syria itself,” noted Meliha Altunışık, head of the international relations department at Middle East Technical University (ODT&#220.

Altunışık noted that the survey also demonstrated that the public in these seven countries perceived Turkey as a major actor whose opinions are listened to and which has influence.

“There is also clear support for Turkey’s third party roles and for Turkey ‘to play a bigger role in the Arab world’ -- Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese respondents being the most supportive of this idea. According to the survey, Turkey was also seen as a successful example of the coherence of Islam and democracy and thus considered as a ‘model’ for the Arab world. There seems to be a widespread support for Turkey’s EU membership,” Altunışık also stated in her TESEV-supported report, “Turkey: Arab Perspectives.”

The survey was conducted after the Gaza incursion and the Davos incident, when Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s popularity peaked. Moderating a panel called “Turkey and the Arab world: Rediscovering each other?” one of the authors of that survey, Mensur Akgün, said yesterday that they plan to repeat the survey soon and include Iran.

Altunışık said during the panel discussion that there were several developments related to Turkey and the region that led to the positive perception reported. Those reasons included the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) coming to power in 2002; Parliament’s decision in March 2003 to refuse to cooperate with the US’s plans in the war against Iraq; developments in Turkey-EU relations, particularly the start of accession negotiations in October 2005; and Turkey’s response to the Gaza war and the Davos affair in 2009, when Erdoğan walked out in protest of Israel’s policies.

“As interest in Turkey has grown, so has knowledge about the country,” Altunışık said. “Secondly, contrary to the perception in Turkey about ‘the Arab perspective’ of itself, views in the Arab world are not monolithic.”

She pointed out that different ideologies exist in the Arab world, be they reformist, Islamist, liberal, socialist or others. For Islamists, the debate initially was about the failure of secularism in Turkey, but it has become more complicated because they saw the government’s constitutional reform package as a way for the government to convince the secular establishment. On the other hand, she said, liberals and socialists in the Arab world are not comfortable that power is in the hands of the AK Party.

She also pointed out challenges to the new Turkish role in the Arab world. One is Turkey’s Iran policy -- Turkey’s ability to talk to Iran is generally appreciated, but there are some concerns, too.

Asked by Today’s Zaman about the recent agreement regarding Iran’s shipment of most of its high-enriched uranium to Turkey, Altunışık said that solutions which exclude Iran do not work and can even lead to other problems. She added that Turkey’s relations with Iraq and Syria balance its policies toward Iran.

“Even if the current deal does not work, Turkey can say that they have tried. In the end, I think Turkey would move with the international community regarding Iran,” she said.

Commenting on the same issue, Mustafa Ellabbad, director of the Al Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic Studies, said the deal is a rational initiative for Turkey.

“Brazil joined in signing the agreement as a power in Latin America. I am not optimistic that the deal will succeed, but they want to make sure Iran will not be a nuclear military power.”

 

[monitor]

Turkey and the Arab world
Ibrahim Kalin
Thursday, 06 January 2011

“Istanbul without Tripoli, without Medina, without Damascus… This is the new vision of Turkey,” wrote Falih Rifki Atay, the famous Turkish writer and novelist, in his famous book “Zeytindağı” about a century ago.

Atay was reflecting the zeitgeist of his time, a time when the Ottoman Empire was no more, and whatever was left of it was a burden for the new breed of Turkish nationalists. Even though the Ottoman Empire fought its bitter and costly wars against the Europeans in the 19th and early 20th century, it was the Middle East that was seen to have rung the death knell of the Empire.

Fast forward to the 21st century and we see a very different picture emerging. Turkey no longer considers its history and geography a burden. To the contrary, the Euro-Asian landmass and the Balkan-Caucasus-Middle Eastern nexus is seen as an asset for Turkey. In a multitude of ways, Turkey is rediscovering its forgotten past and forsaken neighborhood. Turkey is extending its foreign policy in multiple directions, but what attracts the most attention is the Middle East. Why?

There are a number of reasons for this. The Middle East is still at the center of world politics. From Iraq and the Iranian nuclear issue to Lebanon and Palestine, no major power can ignore the Middle East. Oil-rich Gulf countries have become major investment and finance centers for many European, American and Asian companies. Because of its close ties with the US, Israel keeps the attention firmly focused on the region. The larger non-Arab Muslim world closely follows the developments in Iraq and Palestine.

It is true that Turkey is actively pursuing better and closer relations with its Arab neighbors. The signing of new trade agreements, opening of free-trade zones, the meetings of high-level strategic councils, lifting of visas, the sizeable increase in tourism and investment, the growing popularity of Turkish soap operas, countless bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings on the Middle East in Istanbul -- these are the fruits of increased cooperation with the Arab world.

But it is not only Turkey that is pursuing this policy of reconnecting with its neighbors. The Arab world too is opening itself up to Turkey, and the rest of the non-Western world. For much of the history of modernization in Turkey and the Arab world, Turks and Arabs both turned to the West without looking at each other. But this political and cultural investment delivered very little for the Arabs. They neither became political or economic powers nor did they see any progress on the Palestinian issue.

Now, there is a new sentiment. Keeping good relations with the West does not necessarily mean fighting against your non-Western neighbors. On the contrary, as the world becomes more interdependent and multidimensional, everyone can do business with everyone else, and no particular country in the East or the West has any self-proclaimed privilege. It is with this kind of a spirit that the Arab world is rediscovering Turkey.

A case in point is Prime Minister Erdoğan being named man of the year by the CNN Arabic website. Erdoğan’s growing popularity in the Arab world is well-known. What is interesting is the audience of CNN Arabic chose a non-Arab leader as person of the year. The Egyptian author Fahmy Howeidy, who is visiting Turkey as a guest of the Prime Ministry Public Diplomacy Coordinator’s Office, considers this choice to be a reflection of the realities of the new Arab world. Some may rebuff this as mere anti-Westernism. But this is not true. In Erdoğan and Turkey, the Arab public sees not only a strong leadership on the issue of Palestine but also democracy, rule of law, transparency and good governance, which has made Turkey a major economic power in the last eight years. These are the values they want to see in their countries as well.

Turkey and the Arab world are closing the gap that has separated them for over a century because there is a new Turkey and a new Arab world. Both actors see the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century in a new light. But both agree that their shared interests lie in better and closer relations.


*Published in Turkey's TODAY ZAMAN on Jan 06, 2011

 

[monitor]

Egyptian analyst Howeidy: Turkey embarrassed Arab regimes

21 June 2010, Monday / YONCA POYRAZ DOĞAN, İSTANBUL
Fahmy Howeidy

Egyptian political analyst Fahmy Howeidy has said most of the Arab governments are not happy with the Turkish role in the Middle East because of Turkey's firm stance against Israel as opposed to the standing of the Arabic regimes.


“First of all, Turkey embarrassed them because they proved that they could say no to Israel. The Israelis were silly enough to commit such a crime, and they forgot that Turkey is different with its elected government, which needs to respond to society's anger over Israeli acts,” he told Today's Zaman for Monday Talk.

The embarrassment Howeidy is talking about is in regards to the latest Turkish stance against Israel after Israeli commandos assaulted on May 31 the civilian Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara on its way to try to break the Gaza blockade. Israeli live fire killed nine peace activists on the high seas and dozens more were injured.

Once rulers of Arab lands during the Ottoman era, Turks are back in the region, not as rulers this time but through their political influence, security alliances and economic interests.

Since the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power in 2002, Turkish exports to its Muslim neighbors have increased sharply. Turkey’s trade balance with all Middle Eastern countries, apart from Iran and Qatar, is positive.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Turkey was determined to boost economic cooperation with the Arab world to the highest possible level, saying, “We want a vehicle to leave from Turkey and reach Morocco without stopping at any border gates.”
‘Most of the Arab governments are not happy with the Turkish role in the Middle East. First of all, Turkey embarrassed them because they proved that they could say no to Israel. The Israelis were silly enough to commit such a crime, and they forgot that Turkey is different with its elected government. It has been three years since Israel imposed an embargo on Gaza, and most of the Arab states, especially Egypt, have been participating in imposing the embargo’


Howeidy, who was in İstanbul for a gathering of Turkish-Arab analysts organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) last week, answered our questions on the Turkish presence in the Middle East and the Arab response.

Regarding Turkey’s new role in the Middle East, what are the views of the Middle Eastern governments? Are they completely content with it?

Most of the Arab governments are not happy with the Turkish role in the Middle East. First of all, Turkey embarrassed them because they proved that they could say no to Israel. The Israelis were silly enough to commit such a crime, and they forgot that Turkey is different with its elected government, which needs to respond to society’s anger over Israeli acts. It has been three years since Israel imposed an embargo on Gaza, and most of the Arab states, especially Egypt, have been participating in imposing the embargo. Following the attack on the flotilla, there was a story in a newspaper close to the ruling party in Egypt.

What was the headline of that story?

There were two stories. The first one said Egypt punished the Israeli ambassador in Cairo. The second story on the same front page stated that this is the way the Israelis humiliated the Turkish people. It was about Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s telephone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. They wrote the story as if Davutoğlu was begging him to do something. So the message the paper was trying to convey was that the Egyptians are doing well [in dealing with Israel] but that the Turks were humiliated by the Israelis.

So Turkey’s role in the Middle East has not been liked by the Egyptian government.

Yes, but at the same time the Egyptian foreign minister said that Egypt welcomes Turkey and bilateral relations are very good. The official language differs from the language of the media. And the Arab street is completely different. Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan won the people of the Arab street. Recently, there have been Turkish flags held by people in almost every Arab capital -- Turkish flags, not their national flags.

Do you see a confrontation in the future of Turkish-Egyptian relations?

I don’t expect an open confrontation, but the Egyptian government will be cautious. They will not speak negatively about Turkey because there are economic interests between the two countries. Egyptian businesspeople will not allow it. So I don’t expect an open confrontation, but there could be some under the table messages.
‘Egypt lost its role’

Is this because of the Egyptian government’s perception that they think Turkey is stealing a role from Egypt?

It is obvious that Egypt lost its role. Now Turkey should play its own role. As I said, they were embarrassed. Turks showed that there are things that should be done and that the Egyptians are not there to do it. It’s very embarrassing.

Does the Egyptian government have any explanation for its attitude of supporting the blockade of Gaza?

They don’t explain it; they say they open the border and allow people to leave. This is the official line. Yes, they do allow people in and out, but who are those people? They allow very few people to leave, such as people who are really sick. There are delays; people wait for a long time. There is too much suffering for the people in the process.

Does Egypt perceive Hamas as a terrorist organization?

They don’t say they are terrorists, but they say Hamas is dangerous. They do accept the Israeli perspective and say Hamas is dangerous. The Egyptian government doesn’t want to accept the fact that Hamas is elected and legitimate.

Is it possible at all that the Egyptian government will lift its blockade on Gaza since there is more world attention on the suffering of the people of Gaza in the aftermath of the flotilla incident?

I don’t think so. There are many reasons. As long as Hamas is there, Egypt will not open the border. They think -- not just because of the Israeli pressure -- Hamas has relations with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and perceive the activities of the two challenging the Egyptian regime. Hamas does not accept the so-called peace process. If Hamas was not resisting, they could be a part of the game. Independent television shows and newspapers in Egypt condemned the Egyptian blockade of Gaza during the flotilla incident. After such pressure, they softened the blockage, but Egypt will not go further and lift the blockade. Israel would not accept it, and the United States would not accept it.
‘The number one problem is occupation’

What do you think about finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem? Isn’t it time for a Palestinian state? What do you think of the two-state solution?

Practically, a two-state solution is not possible. Israel keeps building settlements among Palestinians.

Maybe Israel would return to its previous borders?

They don’t want to return [to their previous borders]; they are establishing new settlements. Practically, there is no point to press a two-state solution. Israel once said that they can exchange land with the Palestinians. Israel would take all nice areas with water and give the Palestinians the desert land. They keep talking about a two-state [solution], but it is not possible with the current map of the area where there are dots of Israeli settlements.

Do Egyptian academics and intellectuals have any solutions to offer to the Israeli-Palestinian issue?

We are talking about occupied land. What is the solution? You have to withdraw from the land. If you don’t, there will be resistance. The number one problem is occupation. To solve the problem, we have to start from the beginning of the problem. But Israel doubled the settlements, they brought Jews from outside, and they attacked Gaza. They use negotiations to have more time to change the map. Now, resistance seems to be the only solution, but how to resist is something that can’t be discussed. You can only say “no.” Syria does not fight with Israelis, but says: “I don’t accept this game. I don’t participate in playing this game.”

Do you think Turkey can do something here?

Turkey cannot solve the problem. But Turkey can soften the sides and keep things calm. We can’t expect Turkey to solve this complicated problem, which has not been solved for 60 years. We can’t expect Turks to fight in the name of the Arabs.
‘Not all Arabs are against Iran’

The Arab world is mostly angry at Iran. And it is Turkey that rushes to the aid of the Iranians. Is this a concern in the Arab world?

Not all Arabs are against Iran. Historically, we were not. The ex-shah of Iran was married to the sister of King Farouk of Egypt. The change happened after the Iranian revolution, not because of Arab anger but because of American and Israeli anger. In fact, there is no problem between the Arabs and the Iranians except some disagreements over some small islands in the Emirates. The real fight is of the Americans and Israelis, and since our regimes are loyal to the Americans, they reflected their anger. So we are angry at Iran, but why? Because of the American influence in the region.

Is that what Arab intellectuals think?

They are divided. Some of them say Arabs have no problems with Iran. Some others criticize Iran because of the Islamic Revolution. Some others criticize Iran for not being democratic. In fact, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is pro-Iranian, but the security circles are against Iran because they say Iran threatens the Egyptian regime by spreading the Shiite influence, organizing the Egyptian youth, etc.

And again about the return of Turks to the Middle East. Are the negative connotations associated with Turks and the Ottoman legacy changing?

You can never say that all Arabs have negative impressions. In the eastern part of the Arab world, yes, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, they don’t like this historical background. But in the western part of the Arab world, in Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, they are welcoming. They think that Turks protected them from French occupation. Secondly, some people are still sensitive toward Turkey’s approach to the Middle East. As you have nationalists, we have nationalist groups, too. But this is changing today as the flotilla incident has had an effect on Arabs in favor of Turkey. The majority now has positive feelings. They like Turks who challenge the Israelis. Also, the economic element is strong between Arabs and Turks. These change the picture very much. We are not talking about only economic activity but also political activity, which is new.

Is the Arab media supportive of Turkey, too?

A large majority is supportive. During the flotilla attack, the independent media kept criticizing the Egyptian regime and said Turkey did what the Egyptian government was supposed to do.
‘Turks are clean and organized’

What would you say about the Arab perceptions of Turks?

Turkish television in Arabic countries is changing Arabs’ perceptions of Turks. Television shows that Turks are human and that they are not as tough as they have been previously perceived. Arabs also observe how clean and organized Turks are at hajj.

When was the first time you came to Turkey?

I’ve been working with Muslim people everywhere for 52 years. I started writing about Turkey 15 years ago. I came here 15 years ago.

What do you find has changed in Turkey since then? What can you tell us about it?

I met Prime Minister Erdoğan when he was the mayor of İstanbul. I also met him when he was the prime minister, and I asked him if I will see him as the president next time. He said he doesn’t know. Great changes have occurred. İstanbul changes every time. Even if you visit every three months, you see that it is changing. Before Erdoğan became the mayor, roads were very problematic. There were water and electricity problems, too.

But personally, what changes do you feel most?

İstanbul is more beautiful and very energetic. People are working hard. But it became very expensive [laughs].

Fahmy Howeidy

A political analyst specializing in contemporary Islamic thought, Arab and Islamic world affairs, he is a daily columnist for the Egyptian Al-Shrouk newspaper. A 1961 graduate of law from Cairo University, Howeidy started his career by drawing cartoons for Al-Da’wa, a publication issued before the 1952 Revolution by the Muslim Brotherhood. He joined Al-Ahram in the late 1960s and became a columnist at the national daily. He is the author of almost two dozen books including “Iran from the Inside,” published in 1987 when it became a best-seller. He wrote the book “Taliban, God’s Soldiers in the Wrong Battle,” and in 2001, he coordinated a visit to Afghanistan undertaken by Muslim scholars and intellectuals in an attempt to dissuade the Taliban regime from destroying the statues of the Buddha at Bamyan in the south of the country.