ERDOGAN’S MESSAGES
10 10 2011
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered an important speech to the UN General Assembly on the 22nd of September. The speech was much anticipated as Erdogan’s words would display Turkey’s guiding parameters regarding regional and global issues. That is what happened.
Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech displayed Turkey’s views on basic issues on the agenda. What Ankara’s views are on issues which did not feature in Erdogan’s speech can be derived by taking the speech as a key.
A lot of people waiting for Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech had been viewing regional developments with the concern that Turkey was becoming “more Ottoman”. The claim that Turkey had affected an axial shift is still recent. Furthermore, before the speech views that Erdogan was preparing to become the “new caliph” and that he was acting increasingly as the “sultan of the Middle east” were being heard with increasing frequency.
Reform for the united Nations
Prime Minister Erdogan touched on various issues in his speech. Foremost among them was the UN. Erdogan stated that the UN did not display the leadership necessary to triumph the hopes of humanity over fears plaguing humanity’s future. He also said that the UN should not be structured around the interests and dominion of certain countries but should be restructured based on protecting the law for entire humanity.
The UN is very important for there to be order in the world. For the continuity of the world states systematic and global balances, every country should defend the strengthening of the UN. However, it cannot be claimed that the UN is democratic. A look at the UN Security Council is enough to see this. That some countries should have the power of veto forces the UN to listen to those countries over every issue. Furthermore, neither the UN Security Council, nor the other organs of the UN have any power to enforce their decisions. This needs to change. As Erdogan mentioned, the UN being made more productive, more proactive and more functional in line with the circumstances of the day will be beneficial for the entire world.
Global Justice and Conscience
In an important part of his speech, Prime Minister Erdogan talked about Somalia. It was not a surprise that Erdogan should bring up Somalia. Erdogan said: “No one who does not hear the cry for help of Somalia can talk about peace, justice or civilisation. It is impossible for me to describe the poverty and suffering I witnessed in Somalia. The disaster in Somalia where tens of thousands of children have died because their needs for a slice of bread or drop of water have not been met is not an issue that can be passed over with a few words or sentences and is a cause for shame for the international community.”
The provision of justice in a world populated by billions of people might not always be possible. The world may not always be a just place. Undoubtedly, the attacks of globalisation, the insatiable hunger of neo-liberalism and the dynamics of crisis circumstances are making the world a more difficult place. This might be seen to be reasonable. However there is nothing acceptable about tens of thousands of children starving to death. Furthermore, world states, every one, were aware of the approaching disaster. Everyone watched. As Erdogan put it, the international community watched the misery unfold as though it were a movie. There is urgent need to confront this scene which tests humanity. This disaster could have been prevented. One should stand on why it was not. We do not know where and when the net disaster may strike. Should humanity not find the reasons why it was late in Somalia, it is bound to be late responding to the next disaster.
Israel and Palestine
The most anticipated part of Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech to the UN General Assembly was that regarding Israel. As expected Erdogan used strong words. Erdogan said: “I call on Israel once more from this stand. There is nothing to replace peace with. The issue you are facing today is not a simple equation of peace for security. By correctly interpreting the new political and human geography emerging in the Middle East, you have to see that it is no longer possible to follow a continuous course of conflict ad struggle.”
Behind these words by Prime Minister Erdogan are Israel’s risk to the security architecture and regional processes and its production of instability. Erdogan further said:
“Israel has not complied with the binding resolution 89 by the UN Security Council on the issue. There are hundreds of other decisions taken by the UN Security Council and ignored by Israel. What is worse, the United Nations is too weak to take any steps which will go towards ending the humanitarian drama being experienced by the Palestinian people.”
Erdogan’s words do not convey an opinion or a sentiment. The fact is recorded in UN documents. States should abide by the law. Countries should respect agreements, contracts and promises made. For an ordered world, everyone needs to follow the rules. All this applies to Israel.
The following words by Erdogan summed up together the dissatisfaction of Ankara with the UN as well as its anger over Israel:
“The problem arises from the attitude of the Israeli government. Those administrating the country place new obstacles in the way of peace everyday instead of taking steps towards peace. The lands under occupation are Palestinian and not Israeli lands. It is Israel which uses disproportionate force and it is Israel which imposes sanctions. If you want to take a case of tomatoes into Palestine, you depend on Israel’ permission. I do not find this humane.”
Truly the claims of Israel on Palestinian land based on 4,000 year old reasons are far from being acceptable. Why should anyone take the time 4,000 years ago as a basis instead of 4,100 years or 3,900 years ago? Which 4,000 year old documents are those which form proof and basis? Is this approach compatible with the law and reason? Can any state gain land based on legends which are 4,000 years old? Or has this privilege been granted to Israel only by the UN?
Erdogan listed the cornerstones of Turkish-Israeli relations as follows:
Israel has committed a grave offence against a country and the people of that country which has throughout history been amicable towards it and has further instead on not seeing its mistake. Our demands from Israel are clear: it should apologise, it should pay reparations to the families of our martyrs and it should lift the blockade on Gaza. We do not have a problem with the Israeli people. The problem arises from the aggressive policies of the present Israeli government.”
Tension in the Mediterranean
Prime Minister Erdogan used a clear and certain language over the Cyprus issue: “That the Greek Cypriot side should unilaterally define zones of maritime authority and should proceed to explore for oil and natural gas in these zones is a very irresponsible behaviour in terms of its timing and potential results. Against this unilateral action by the Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will act with sense but will protect its rights arising from international law. Our expectation from all concerned parties at this point is that they should make active efforts towards halting the initiative of the Greek Cypriot administration which could cause tension not only on the island but in the entire region. Otherwise, we will also do what is necessary.”
While negotiations continue for a permanent, valid, just and long lived solution in Cyprus, no political morality can explain Southern Cyprus’ decision to take over all the resources surrounding the island and its attempt to exploit them all by itself. Christophias is once more selling tickets for the play “poor Greek Cypriots”. However, the policy of victimisation which praises the suffering of Greek Cypriots will not yield any results.
Erdogan has also clearly conveyed the view of Ankara on the solution of the Cyprus problem:
The target is that negotiations should be concluded by the end of this year and following the ratification in referenda of the peace plan the coming year, the new united Cyprus to take its place within the European Union. As Turkey, we will continue to offer any support necessary for a solution to be found in accordance with the said calendar. However, should the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side not allow for this, I would like to emphasise that as a guarantor state we can no longer allow for the future of the Turkish Cypriot people to be thus continually arrested. We cannot accept in the critical phase that we are in the Greek Cypriot side acting as though it is the sole administration of the island or that it has authority to make decisions over the Turkish Cypriots.
The Arab Spring
Another anticipated part of Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech was o the issue of regime changes in the Middle East and North Africa. Prime Minister Erdogan summarised his known views on the issue as follows:
“Everyone should come to understand that times have changed. The era of administrations which do not meet the legitimate demands and expectations of the people, that draw arms against their own people, that take oppression as basis rather than supporting the law and rights should draw to a close. We are very pleased that this call has been heard in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya and that a process of democratic transformation along the legitimate demands of the people have begun. This gives us hope for the future. However, we observe with regret that there are countries which are left behind the events and give wrong reflexes as a result of the old mindset. In this context we are especially closely following developments in our neighbour Syria, which is one of the most high priority countries for us. From the maxim “the friend speaks the truth” we have clearly conveyed that they have to listen to the calls and the voice of the Syrian people for democracy, that regimes which use arms against their own people cannot survive and that there can be no benefit from oppression. The Syrian leadership has unfortunately insistent on not hearing our warnings. Every drop of blood spilt in the country is severing the tie between the people and the leadership of Syria. In my visit to Libya last week, I saw that the Libyan people are justly proud of the revolution they have carried out. I observed the destruction in Misrata. From here I would like to call on the entire international community to be sensible to the following. Libya belongs to Libyans. Libya’s wealth belongs to Libyans. In the process of construction of democracy in Libya, it is necessary that Libya’s foreign assets be unfrozen so that the country can rise on its own feet. The people of wealthy Libya should not suffer poverty. At the moment Libya has approximately USD 10 billion worth of cash assets abroad. However, Libya cannot make use of the benefits of these funds.”
As can be seen, Turkey will continue to support the change in the Middle east and North Africa, as it has done so until now. An important detail of this process is that Israel should follow a process of tension not with dictators in North Africa and the Middle East but with Turkey, which is supporting and aiding transformation in the region.
These were the major issues Prime Minister Erdogan touched on in his speech to the UN General Assembly. This was how the attitude and demands of Turkey were conveyed: a more effective UN, a more conscientious world and politics more in line with the law.
The toughest and most closed regimes in the world are changing. As a result of globalisation, everyone knows what everyone else is up to. Everyone is observing the world and questioning their own circumstances. Both Mubarak who was thought would never leave and Gaddafi who was thought would not fall have become history. In a phase in which world politics is so rapid and hot, the UN needs to adjust itself to developments.
Perhaps the UN cannot stop poverty, but it should be able to prevent children from starving to death. No one should expect the UN to be able to solve all conflicts. However, it should have the power to stop wars. The UN should be able to ensure the implementation of the decisions of its own organs. The world is in increasing need of a more powerful UN. Especially the tensions and chronic problems arising due to the global crisis, which will from now on be followed by other crises varying in dimension and strength, requires the UN to be stronger and more hardworking.
From what can be seen in the words of Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkey will continue to increase its effectiveness in foreign policy. Turkey will concentrate even harder on its near environment. It can be seen that Turkey will gradually spread its region centred active foreign policy to a greater sphere of influence.
It is understood that Turkey has become completely detached from its traditional reactionary foreign policy. Turkey no longer determines the moves it is to make in foreign policy as reactions towards the steps of other countries. There are concrete signs that Turkey will increasingly prefer proactive tendencies and will follow an “action based” foreign policy.