Many books were written to question and abase Kissinger. On the other hand, because of his idealism, which we can label as utopian, Davutoğlu can dream of creating peace between two seemingly irreconcilable countries. For instance, none of us can think of Davutoğlu turning a blind eye to the massacre of Kurds in Iraq even if this would be in the interests of Turkey. But this is what Kissinger did.For ordinary politicians, being a minister is a considerably significant position that they try to achieve. This is not the case for Davutoğlu. I personally know that after the July 22, 2007 elections, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had offered him the post of foreign minister, which he refused. This time, we can conclude that he had to accept this position because of repeated insistence urging him to do so. I know very well that he still intends to return to his profession as a teacher and complete his half-finished books. Have you read the answer he gave to the Taraf newspaper's question, "How do you want to die?" -- “While giving lessons.”
His position before being named foreign minister was not the typical post of an adviser, and he did not need a post to make his knowledge and experience available to the government. He was already involved in the process. Now he will be more in the spotlight with the meeting halls, official gatherings and protocols, which he does not like. He will have to postpone his projects a bit further. But, the biggest risk for him is that he will not have much time to think of original projects because of the unwanted duties and travels.
Yet, it is certain that his ideas, which blend strategy, philosophy, culture and history simultaneously, have influenced the diplomats in the Foreign Ministry who have been working with him, as well as the people in the East and in the West who closely monitor and write about Turkey. For those who viewed Turkey as being made up only by its official borders, I know his book, “Stratejik Derinlik” (Strategic Depth), has become considerably revolutionary. He attended İstanbul Boys' High School and Boğaziçi University, which helped him to get in close touch with the external world, but he has always been a sincere Muslim who would not forget Mevlana's advice about a "pair of compasses." He took growing risks, but he still knew how to stand erect after each risk. Because of his attitude concerning the Iraq crisis and his contacts with Hamas, it was said that he was finished in the eyes of the US. But in the end, George W. Bush was finished and was replaced with Barack Obama, who hails Davutoğlu's principles concerning the Middle East. He has become a person to whom everyone in Turkey and the Middle East must listen even though they might not accept his perspective of life.
He had acted as a foreign policy adviser to foreign Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, but he also gave lessons in the War Academies. He was congratulated by former Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök for his efforts with respect to the Iraq crisis. He didn't pursue a neo-nationalist policy, but he was patriotic. For instance, he never said "It would be very nice if we could get rid of this Cyprus," as someone would say with respect to the Cyprus issue. We believed in its strategic importance and used this as a good card. With respect to relations with Iran, he pursued not a pro-Islamic but a realist strategy, which the country has been following since the Kasr-ı Şirin Treaty. With respect to the EU, he did not think that being an EU member would eliminate all of Turkey's internal and external problems. He would consider what kind of depth the EU would add to Turkey and how being an EU member would affect Turkey's possibilities around the world. For him, the US was not an ally whose every word must be obeyed, but an important partner with which a conflict of interests may emerge and with which common benefits can be derived based on mutual respect.
As it was not possible to ensure respect from other people by denying one's identity, it was not likely for Turkey to grow by denying its own identity. I believe that his urban, confident, modest, intellectual and pro-Islamic character will continue to serve as a good model for the government and the ministry. I hope Foreign Minister Davutoğlu will not sever his connection with the civilian sphere, which is the real driving force of the transformation in Turkey, and will continue to be open to sincerely voiced criticism and still frequent the bookstores that he normally would in his visits abroad.
