When the Turkish-Syrian border was drawn, thousands of families were divided, with some relatives on this side and some on that side. When mentioning the border, what would immediately come to mind were the superhuman efforts of thousands of people to just gather with their families during holidays. And the kilometers-long minefields! Despite the fact that Syria is the neighbor with which we share the longest border and despite our centuries of living together, a distance of millions of kilometers was established between us. Now we've become countries whose citizens can come and go without visas and whose governments hold joint ministerial meetings. I don't know if you're aware of it, but a change in the status quo of Turkey and its surroundings is taking place. In place of the old order based on enmity, a new understanding founded on friendship, cooperation and even fraternity is being constructed. Remember, until very recently Syria had its eye on the Hatay province and was exerting great efforts to break Turkey into pieces.
Our relations with the Armenians, ruined 100 years ago with the relocation, turned into hatred over time. The period beginning with a soccer game moved forward quickly, and relations with the Armenians have entered a whole new era. In Greece, portrayed for years as our greatest enemy, the moment George Papandreou was elected prime minister he extended an olive branch and paid a visit to Turkey. The trip of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and ministers in his delegation to Iraq and the joining ministerial meeting held there have made history as a very important step in terms of urgently bringing peace to Iraq and putting Turkish-Iraqi relations on solid ground.
But the segments that make a place for themselves in their own countries using the enmity strategy are considerably discomfited by this change. In opposition to the signing of protocols with Armenia in Zurich, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chairman Mehmet Şandır said he would proclaim Oct. 10 a “dark day.” Following the signing of the protocols, diaspora Armenians also announced to the world that April 24 and now also Oct. 10 would be their days of mourning. When it comes to change to the status quo, adversaries find common ground in shared opposition. Serzh Sarksyan, who signed on behalf of the Armenians, has received death threats -- because with the Armenian diaspora leading the way, many Armenians view their reason for existence as enmity to Turks.
And it is mostly old politicians like Rauf Denktaş and Tassos Papadopoulos who are uncomfortable by a solution to the Kurdish problem. Tension, the lack of a solution, unproductive meetings, stubbornness that rears its head even before a single step is taken and plowing the sand.
In this geography it is only the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that retains the spirit of the old paradigm. Animosity and hatred will be fed and blood will be spilled; it has no other position anymore. Policies of violence, tension and enmity have been razed to the ground. It's certain that Turkey will emerge with significant benefits from this new structure. The old order served no good other than to erect a barrier in front of Turkey -- in fact it was even a structure established to ensure that obstacles arose in Turkey's path. As Turkey begins implementing new policies, it will become a much more influential player in the region.
During this period, there will be great benefits to be had in maintaining an attentive and cautious stance against the provocative actions likely to be staged by those who tie their futures to the preservation of the status quo. Also not to be ignored are the possibilities of interferences in Turkey's affairs coming from some states in Europe who are rather uncomfortable with Turkey's influence in the region.
All that aside, long live the breaking down of barriers, and long live the eradication of enmity with our brothers. To hell with the ideology of hatred.
