We have left a pretty hectic summer behind. We already knew that it is impossible to have a decent vacation in this country because of rapid and unexpected developments, but foreign observers seem to be appalled by this.
A friend of mine from the US who drew attention to the growing number of priority items on the political agenda said, “Turkey will most likely receive international attention and become the main subject of frequent discussions on the world agenda.”
The upcoming days bear great importance in terms of the future direction of disputes and issues including the Kurdish problem, the Cyprus issue and the conflict and disagreement in Nagorno-Karabakh. None of these problems is independent of the others. The Kurdish issue is at the heart of other major problems such as terror, democracy and human rights. The Cyprus issue concerns the two communities on the island as well as the entire region and Turkey’s relations with the EU. The Nagorno-Karabakh issue heralds the arrival of a reasonable process with respect to Caucasian peace and genocide discussions that goes beyond bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia.
It is not a coincidence that all three have come up together. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who crafted the policy of problem-free relations with neighbors, notes that Turkey serves as a role model because of its use of soft power to lead notable initiatives, stressing that it was not a coincidence that the country is handling all three problems simultaneously.
Turkey has taken decisive steps to resolve all three problems. Despite obstacles and resistance from opponents, a friend of mine who is a foreign policy expert recalls, Turkey’s steps and initiatives have brought it to a strong position in the peace project. “The involvement of President [Abdullah] Gul is an asset. Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s determination and courage should also be noted. Foreign Minister Davutoglu’s strategic depth policy is a masterpiece in the field of foreign policy that attracts the attention of the world. Above this, there are also surprises that history brings to the fore. Armenia’s progress for peace, advancement made to resolve the Kurdish and terror issue, Turkey’s advantageous position in Cyprus since April 24, 2004 and all other leading examples show that Turkey will take the lead in remarkable projects through the use of soft power,” he explained.
Some other factors should also be mentioned. Above all, the current status of the Ergenekon case and investigation should be noted. We have witnessed that political actors would be unable to take risks without dealing with this problem. Moreover, Turkey’s prestigious position in the field of energy security via the Nabucco project was further consolidated by bilateral deals concluded with Russia. Foreign Minister Davutoglu, who attracts attention to the importance of maintaining peace, draws a general sketch of the Cyprus issue: “If it is peace that is at stake, even a single day matters. It is now unacceptable to delay the peace process. Alternatives should be considered in case of the failure of existing policies. “We want a comprehensive peace, and we look at this issue from this perspective.”
Turkey is now in a position where it does not have to consider external pressures that might block its peace process. This observation is stressed by Davutoglu, who said: “Seeking to put pressure on Turkey means being unable to understand or appreciate Turkey’s power.” This is a process parallel to consolidation of democracy and economy. The peace process takes Turkey to the center of intricate disputes; Turkey relies on its soft power to take care of these issues. Peace is even more difficult than war, and it looks like Turkey is going to make it.
Religious Affairs Directorate to support democratic initiative with Kurdish sermons
Direct or indirect remarks in the weekly sermons recited in mosques during Friday prayers are viewed as support extended by the Directorate of Religious Affairs for the government’s recent initiative to resolve the Kurdish issue. Such support could actually be seen as normal since Islam is a religion of peace, so it could be argued that there is nothing unusual about the directorate’s support for the democratic opening. However, the matter also holds a political dimension as well. The department, which pays the utmost attention to keeping mosques away from political discussions, acts meticulously to prevent any criticisms. A friend of mine who is a deputy and an expert on religion said: “The directorate would have been braver on this matter if the opposition parties had been more constructive. It is only normal that peace messages are delivered at our mosques. As far as I know, the directorate already started its initiative when it decided that sermons could be recited in Kurdish in some mosques. Nothing happened when TRT Şeş was launched. And of course, the directorate will meet the demands of Kurdish citizens.” TRT Şeş might be criticized; however, the Directorate of Religious Affairs should be careful to avoid criticism. This carefulness and meticulousness can be observed in the response of the president of the directorate, Dr. Ali Bardako“lu, to my question on this matter. He said: “At the moment, we have sermons in Turkish alone, not other languages. We will, however, consider demands on this matter, if necessary.” The first part of the statement seeks to prevent criticism from nationalist circles, whereas the second part recalls that it is their duty to explain Islam to people in a language they understand. It should be noted that the first sentence notes that only the Turkish language is used in sermons whereas it does not dismiss the use of other languages. It does not seem logical to think that the directorate will object to the recital of sermons in Kurdish as there are sermons in German recited in Germany under the sponsorship of the directorate.
Cyprus may become role model for Middle East
It is now not viable to sustain or rely on policies focused on delay or postponement of the dispute in Cyprus. Turkey has clarified its stance
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