Papandreou’s visit and gesture was apparently not welcomed by certain groups. One day before the visit, Turkish jets flew eight sorties over a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. The timing of these flights was considered significant. In his speech, Mr. Papandreou rightly expressed his concerns about these flights.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responded to his criticisms on these flights and Cyprus. And there was another statement: from the General Staff. In Turkey, the Ministry of Defense does not actually exist. This ministry mostly deals with the employment benefits of civil servants and leaves the ground to the military with respect to important matters.
Turkish-Greek relations have improved significantly since the 1999 earthquake. The problems relating to the Aegean Sea and Cyprus continue, but the past’s tensions are now a history. Certain groups both in Ankara and Athens are significantly unhappy about this lack of tension. A continuation of the tension will imply a reallocation of resources to military expenditure in a financially burdened Greece. It will also ensure an increase in military spending in Turkey, which belatedly obtained the opportunity to develop and offer education, employment and health facilities to its young and dynamic population. Politicians from both countries should not allow military interventions or actions to poison their target of developing friendly relations. As a country proud of its hospitality, Turkey must launch a probe about the officials who masterminded the action that distressed Papandreou during his visit to Erzurum. The bilateral relations should not be victimized by internal political contentions in Turkey or Greece.
This incident underlined the role of the Turkish military both in foreign and domestic politics. There are still many miles that this country must travel in order to perform good in terms of democratization, rule of law and accountability. Until the role and place of institutions are explicitly stated, Turkey cannot be a regional player, let alone a global one, as Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu frequently notes.
Crises of different magnitude in the judiciary, diplomacy and military are indicators of Turkey’s need for serious reform. If this is not done, all achievements made so far may fade into obscurity. The slowdown in the EU process has both weakened reform efforts and led to a loss of vision. The only political player capable of doing this is the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). However, one may occasionally observe that it is has been overcome by the lethargy of eight years in office and is currently unable to maintain a determined stance.
This is something that bothers the groups that really want the country to have zero problems with neighbors and uphold democracy and the rule of law. Sometimes a jet fighter flying over an island is not just a show of power against a neighbor.
I hope these sorties will open everyone’s eyes.
