Erdogan Assumes New Roles in US Schemes

Prime Minister Erdogan traveled to the U.S. and met with President George W. Bush on June 8. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that one of the aims of the visit is to overcome the misunderstandings.

"Turkey’s position within the Greater Middle Eastern Project will become clear”

Professor Doctor Beril Dedeoglu, head of the International Relations department at Galatasaray University, said Turkey’s position within the Greater Middle Eastern Project will become clear after the visit. She added that a new joint vision, which will cover the next five or six years, and aimed at solving the problems between the two countries, will be formed.

Political analyst Kenan Kalyon said Erdogan’s position during the visit will be weak due to earlier concessions including the extension of the U.S. use of the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, the Israel visit, taking action against anti-American sentiment. During a visit conducted under these circumstances, Erdogan will not be able to get anything but symbolic gestures on issues Turkey is sensitive about. Kalyon also said that Turkey will be forced to act in line with interests of the U.S. in the Middle East issue.

Dedeoglu: Key issue is PKK

Dedeoglu said that Erdogan’s visit cannot be viewed as an attempt to establish closer ties with the U.S. in case relations with Europe are strained. Turkey’s role in the restructuring period will not be operational, according to Dedeoglu. "Syria is the key country here,’’ he added. “The U.S. will ask Turkey to take on a more active role about Syria.”

According to Dedoglu, the only key issue to be discussed will be the issue of Kurdish rebels, or PKK. Dedeoglu also said that there will be a new policy of dealing with the anti-American sentiment that is on the rise in Turkey and of creating a new public opinion.

Kalyon: No effort other than full surrender will make relations as good as they were

“No relationship, other than a full surrender would take relations between Turkey and the U.S. back to how they were before the cold war or during the Turgut Ozal period.”

“The U.S. is pressuring the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and sending out the message that it has ‘other political choices.’ Erdogan’s visit is taking place under such conditions. And the visit request came from AKP anyway.”

Kalyon said Erdogan would be in a difficult position about the Middle East issue. He added the following:

* "The U.S. will demand a clear position about Iran and Syria. It will ask Turkey to refrain from any autonomous action that would interfere with its interests in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Middle Asia and the Greater Middle Eastern Project.”

* "It’s impossible for the interests of the U.S. and Turkey to be well-matched in every one of these issues. The U.S. administration, which is acting like an empire, has abandoned its former ways of agreeing on common interests or watching out for its ally’s interests.”

* "The U.S. is treating some powers it calls ‘allies’ like its own states. So Erdogan will not get anything from this visit no matter what his concessions are.”

* The U.S. administration will ask for more detailed measures and actions. It became clear that the anti-American sentiment was in fact an anti-Kurdish sentiment. The latest flag crisis made that clear. There is no sentiment against the U.S.”

* "If the U.S. changes its policy toward the PKK, as requested by Turkey, it

will risk jeopardizing its comparably stable ties with the Kurds in Iraq.” (EA/YE)