There is a strong belief these days amongst the Turkish public that Germany is uncomfortable with the current Turkish government and that as such, there are efforts under way to see the administration removed from power. The reason given for these allegations is that Germany has certain trade and strategic-based partnerships with some of the large media groups in Turkey and that just as these media groups are opposed to the current administration, they are also against the ongoing Ergenekon investigation. This same strain of allegations note that Germany stands behind some of the publications that aim to wear away at the Turkish administration, with the Deniz Feneri case the most concrete example of this. Many speculate that it was the German government that was responsible for details of the Deniz Feneri case -- a case meant to be carried out privately -- being given to the Turkish media to publish. These details, when published in the media, put the current Turkish administration into a difficult position.In addition, the close relations between the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Germany are a well-known fact. In fact, allegations that the CHP had accepted money from Germany -- despite an act like this constituting a reason for party closure -- were quite popularly supported in public.
Germany’s stance toward Turkey became definitively more hostile after Angela Merkel came to power. The main barrier in the way of Turkey’s progression toward European Union membership was suddenly composed of a German-French bloc. And this unfriendly stance adopted by Germany toward Turkey translated into a significant loss of sympathy for Germany amongst the Turkish public. Strangely enough, it began to appear as though the anti-Americanism present in the Turkish public was being replaced by negative feelings for Germany. And thus the belief that “it is America that is present under every negative thing that happens to Turkey” began transforming, over the past few years, into the belief that instead “the real country intervening in Turkey’s business is Germany.”
At the same time, as everyone knows, even if they wanted to, Germany and Turkey could not untangle themselves from one another. Germany has not only always had an eye on Middle Eastern energy sources, it also plays host to nearly 5 million Turks.
In other words, Germany and Turkey have a reciprocal need for one another. Still, the whole image that Germany has developed of being the “foreign nation behind Ergenekon” does it great damage, as does the widely held impression that Germany was playing a large role in the clashes between a certain media group with which it has strategic relations and the current Turkish administration.
It seems as though Germany has become aware of all this lately. And thus it is taking steps to try and regain its former stature in the eyes of the Turkish public. The best example of this is last week’s public statements made by German government partner and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle while in Turkey. Many interpreted Westerwelle’s words on the subject of Turkey’s EU membership -- “We are faithful.... Whatever promise we made we will keep” -- as being aimed at erasing Germany’s negative image. Responding to further questions, Westerwelle said: “I am not here as some tourist in shorts. I speak as the German foreign minister. Whatever I say here is what in fact stands.” These words further underscored the determined stance on the part of Germany to shore up its image in Turkey. Speaking further, Westerwelle went on to praise Ankara’s active foreign policies, noting that he believed Turkey is playing a key role in solving global problems.
While it used to be that visiting delegations from Germany would only strike up communications with certain media groups, these days German delegations are showing care in widening their contacts to include other media groups. But while it is important that Germany has awoken to the situation regarding the damage to its image in the Turkish public, the most important question is what steps it will take from here onwards. It appears that either Germany will completely lose Turkey -- as its importance in the region and the world in general grows -- and the Turkish public, or it will stand by Turkey as the nation undergoes these important changes.
