Jigs
ELITE MEMBER
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Sunday, June 13, 2010
FULYA ÖZERKAN
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=eu-may-mull-turkey8217s-alleged-move-from-west-2010-06-13
As debate flares over Turkey’s West-East orientation, EU’s foreign ministers convene for their twice-annual meeting. Issues regarding the Gaza flotilla, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Turkey’s EU accession are likely to be raised as international observers criticize the bloc for its treatment of the country and Turkish leaders slam doubts about its direction
Turkey is likely to be a focal point at Monday’s twice-annual meeting of EU foreign ministers as the bloc faces criticism amid international debate that has re-ignited over the country’s axis shifting from West to East.
The debate follows in the wake of the deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed eight Turkish activists and another who was a U.S. citizen of Turkish origin, as well as Turkey’s vote against U.N. sanctions on Iran.
“Gaza and Iran, as well as general feelings toward Turkey, could be raised by some member states at the meeting in Luxembourg,” a Western diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The EU is coming under fire for pushing Turkey out of the West. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently blamed the EU for Turkey’s move away from the West. In a separate interview, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Phil Gordon was subjected to the same question.
“Turkey is no doubt playing a more active role in the region. That is obvious to anybody who pays even cursory attention to what is going on. Turkey is more active in the East, it is more active in its region,” said Gordon. “I don’t think, though, that this is at the expense of the West, that this is somehow a choice, one or the other.”
Turkey’s escalating rhetoric against Israel, the climbing tension in bilateral ties, as well as the “no” vote on Iran sanctions at the U.N. Security Council last week are creating doubts over the direction Turkey is heading.
“This is not a new debate, but it was re-ignited because of the vote Turkey cast on the Iran resolution,” said the Western diplomat. “Turkey is a major global power. It would be offensive to suggest Turkey looks to one particular direction. Turkey is an influential and moderate voice in the region and plays a stabilizing role that should be welcomed,” he told the Daily News.
Another European diplomatic source, however, said the EU cannot take all the blame and held the domestic agenda concerns of the Turkish government responsible for the recent foreign policy options.
“Turkey could have opened several chapters if it passed relevant laws and opened its ports to shipping from [EU] member Cyprus. This is a problem of the Turkish government, not in the hands of the EU,” he said.
On debates over a shift in direction, the diplomat said: “It is certain that some of the government preferences may be interpreted as Turkey’s moving to the East. But don’t forget that next year is election time in Turkey.”
Ankara dismisses criticism of change in direction
Turkish leaders, meanwhile, slammed the debates as “artificial worries” and repeated that Turkey’s route was toward Europe.
“While we are proceeding on our EU objective, establishing good, advanced relations with other countries has nothing to do with a change of axis,” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said Sunday.
“Concerns over Turkish policy and where it is shifting are only artificial worries. Turkey struck a four-sided free-trade agreement with Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. As well, visas are no longer required. This is in the interest of our country. You cannot talk about a shift of axis here. Turkey’s route is toward Europe. Our objective is full membership.”
In the Black Sea province of Rize, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey made huge economic gains from friendly relations with its neighbors and the removal of visa restrictions.
“If we had not pursued a ‘zero problem’ policy with neighbors, and had not delivered peaceful nuclear energy messages, would our exports have risen from $36 billion to $132 billion? If we had not eased visa restrictions, we could not have expanded threefold over the last seven years,” he said.
FULYA ÖZERKAN
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=eu-may-mull-turkey8217s-alleged-move-from-west-2010-06-13
As debate flares over Turkey’s West-East orientation, EU’s foreign ministers convene for their twice-annual meeting. Issues regarding the Gaza flotilla, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Turkey’s EU accession are likely to be raised as international observers criticize the bloc for its treatment of the country and Turkish leaders slam doubts about its direction
Turkey is likely to be a focal point at Monday’s twice-annual meeting of EU foreign ministers as the bloc faces criticism amid international debate that has re-ignited over the country’s axis shifting from West to East.
The debate follows in the wake of the deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed eight Turkish activists and another who was a U.S. citizen of Turkish origin, as well as Turkey’s vote against U.N. sanctions on Iran.
“Gaza and Iran, as well as general feelings toward Turkey, could be raised by some member states at the meeting in Luxembourg,” a Western diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The EU is coming under fire for pushing Turkey out of the West. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently blamed the EU for Turkey’s move away from the West. In a separate interview, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Phil Gordon was subjected to the same question.
“Turkey is no doubt playing a more active role in the region. That is obvious to anybody who pays even cursory attention to what is going on. Turkey is more active in the East, it is more active in its region,” said Gordon. “I don’t think, though, that this is at the expense of the West, that this is somehow a choice, one or the other.”
Turkey’s escalating rhetoric against Israel, the climbing tension in bilateral ties, as well as the “no” vote on Iran sanctions at the U.N. Security Council last week are creating doubts over the direction Turkey is heading.
“This is not a new debate, but it was re-ignited because of the vote Turkey cast on the Iran resolution,” said the Western diplomat. “Turkey is a major global power. It would be offensive to suggest Turkey looks to one particular direction. Turkey is an influential and moderate voice in the region and plays a stabilizing role that should be welcomed,” he told the Daily News.
Another European diplomatic source, however, said the EU cannot take all the blame and held the domestic agenda concerns of the Turkish government responsible for the recent foreign policy options.
“Turkey could have opened several chapters if it passed relevant laws and opened its ports to shipping from [EU] member Cyprus. This is a problem of the Turkish government, not in the hands of the EU,” he said.
On debates over a shift in direction, the diplomat said: “It is certain that some of the government preferences may be interpreted as Turkey’s moving to the East. But don’t forget that next year is election time in Turkey.”
Ankara dismisses criticism of change in direction
Turkish leaders, meanwhile, slammed the debates as “artificial worries” and repeated that Turkey’s route was toward Europe.
“While we are proceeding on our EU objective, establishing good, advanced relations with other countries has nothing to do with a change of axis,” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said Sunday.
“Concerns over Turkish policy and where it is shifting are only artificial worries. Turkey struck a four-sided free-trade agreement with Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. As well, visas are no longer required. This is in the interest of our country. You cannot talk about a shift of axis here. Turkey’s route is toward Europe. Our objective is full membership.”
In the Black Sea province of Rize, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey made huge economic gains from friendly relations with its neighbors and the removal of visa restrictions.
“If we had not pursued a ‘zero problem’ policy with neighbors, and had not delivered peaceful nuclear energy messages, would our exports have risen from $36 billion to $132 billion? If we had not eased visa restrictions, we could not have expanded threefold over the last seven years,” he said.
