Arab unrest: perspectives - XXVI

The Arab Spring is said to have shattered the new Turkish foreign policy "myth" as popular uprisings sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East have compromised Turkey's influence in the region and have presented a kind of dilemma to it. Some critics argue that Ankara's `zero-problem with our neighbours' foreign policy has profoundly stunted its ability to play its due role, particularly in relation to Syria, while some others contend that the country is ahead of the curve strategically.
Let's see the perspective of the architect of Turkey's 'no-problem with our neighbors' policy on the Arab Spring and some other issues in today's instalment of "Arab unrest: perspectives". A critical appreciation of Turkey's approach to the Arab Spring in particular by some noted Turkey watchers will be carried by the newspaper in its tomorrow's issue.
According to foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu (He was speaking to Charlie Rose for the latter's TV show at Istanbul a few days ago), Turkey's geography and historical background necessitate "some sort of" active foreign policy as Turkey is trying to expand its role in global and regional affairs. He admits that the Arab Spring is very important question to his country and "now we are dealing with it". In the region usually, he argues, countries have good relations either with the masses or the administrations. For example, he adds, some Western countries had good relations with the Mubarak regime but they were not popular in the eyes of the Egyptian people.
"Sometime Iran might be popular with some people in the region but not with the administration. But in the last eight years, Turkey had a success story, in the sense of developing very good relations with the administrations, especially with the neighbours. But at the same time we had excellent relations with the masses of these countries....Our prime minister and Turkey were even very popular in Israel before Israel attacked Gaza during the times when we were negotiating and mediating between Israel and Syria; and Turkey had good relations with Israel and Syria at the same time. It is more because of our visionary and principle-oriented policies....when there is an injustice [anywhere] we raise our voice."
In the case of Libya, Turkey was slow to speak out about Qadhafi who was a friend of Erdogan administration. Now the world sees the same thing in Syria?
Here Ahmet seeks to justify, albeit with little success, his country's position. According to him, Turkey has a policy based on certain principles. Guided by the first principle, he says, Turkey has always been in favour of legitimate rights, demands and the aspirations of the people of the region. "This is the first principle we've always implemented-in Tunisia, in Egypt, in Libya, in Syria and in Yemen, everywhere. The second principle is, according to him, that Turkey wants to see a peaceful transition, not the transition creating unrest or civil confrontation."
In Tunisia and Egypt, he argues, the character of mass movements and the flow of change were different from other countries "and therefore we raised our voice. In Libya, from the first day, prime minister Erdogan declared that Qadhafi, to him directly, that he should leave the power."
In answer to a question whether Turkey can be a model for the countries witnessing change, Ahmet says: "Of course, this is our experience and we cannot impose it on anyone. But other friendly nations from the region can get lessons out of this experience. I can tell you the autocratic regimes in the region have three arguments to legitimise their status quo. One argument is that they say that they have to have strong autocratic regimes because there is a fight against Israel and they are in a situation of war. Second argument...they say if they change in the direction of democracy chaos may come, democracy may bring chaos. Third, if they go in the direction of democracy Islamic radicalism may come." In the case of Turkey, however, Ahmet claims, democracy "did not produce chaos or Islamic radicalism. It, in fact, produced stability, economic development and a much more active foreign policy."
In answer to a question whether Turkey is looking more towards east and whether it is distancing itself from Europe, Ahmet says: "We are part of the Western Club, because we are member of Nato and we are on our way to become full member of the EU. So no country in Nato can claim that they are more active than Turkey. There's no change in the sense of our orientation in Nato and in the EU. It has, in fact, increased in the last eight years. But at the same time our relations with our neighbours have also increased."
What has been the catalyst for all that?
He replies by saying that his country wants peaceful environment around it as Turkey has suffered a lot during the Cold War. "So we want to have a safe, secure, stable and prosperous neighbourhood. Therefore we have developed and will develop our relations with our neighbourhood... .Nobody should forget that until 2008, until Israel attacked Gaza and destroyed the negotiations between Israel and Syria through Turkey, the relations between Turkey and Israel were very good. That is why we mediated between Israel and Syria. If a country acts against the peace and stability in the region, of course we will react. If Iran does make a mistake, we will react. Our policy is a policy of stability, prosperity and political dialogue."
What would you do if "Iran was providing weapons to Hamas" which was using those in a counterproductive way? Would you oppose that? Would you urge Iran not to support Hamas?
"We have been urging Iran on many issues, including nuclear issue, even the Middle East peace process... .The solution is peace in the Middle East and an end of occupation in Palestine. Israel should accept the main parameters of the Middle East peace process based on 1967 borders. And there should be sustainable peace in the region."
He terms the Egyptian-brokered Hamas-Fatah unification deal a "very positive development", arguing that Israel would also benefit from this development. Otherwise a divided Palestine will continue to be a source of instability in the region and also a source of problems between Israelis and Palestinians.
In reply to a question, he says that one must not forget that Israel killed nine civilians in international waters-eight Turkish and one American. "If Israel accepts this mistake, apologises and compensates, next day we will resume our relations with Israel". According to him, he has also told the Israeli trade minister in a recent meeting that Turkey's request is very simple: Eastern Mediterranean does not belong to any country. And no country has the right to kill civilians in international waters. Israel must know that all countries are accountable to international law."
While terming his country's relations with the US "very good", he says prime minister Erdogan is in regular contact with President Obama. Answering a question, he says Turkey does not consider any country in the region or beyond as its rival: "We don't see rivals. We see only two categories of friends-friends and potential friends".