This recent trend in Turkey’s foreign policy was achieved particularly thanks to the efforts and vision of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who had previously served as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief foreign affairs advisor and was appointed to the post of minister on May 1, 2009 by Erdoğan. Through such moves Turkey aims to go beyond a “zero-problem policy” in its neighborhood by striving for the creation of an atmosphere of maximum cooperation among all its neighbors. While being applauded by many, Turkey’s diplomatic efforts leaning towards the East have raised the question: “Is Turkey turning towards the East and shifting its axis?”“Actually, when these recent steps are listed, a picture of Turkey turning its face to the East emerges. However, the reality is not like that. Turkey is now trying to rebuild its relations with its neighboring countries, which were neglected for years,” says Erhan Başyurt from the Bugün daily. Seeing this picture, he says, it would be wrong to say that relations with the West have been suspended as there has been no regression in relations with European Union countries. “Turkey’s relations got even stronger with Spain and Italy recently. As for relations with the US, we know well Turkey’s desire for strategic cooperation with the US,” he adds. Asking why such a conclusion should be drawn, Başyurt says prejudice against Davutoğlu, Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lies behind it. “Some people within and without Turkey are discontented with Turkey being a rising power in the region. However, Turkey is doing the right thing with such moves. It is seizing its opportunities,” Başyurt says.
Ergun Babahan from the Star daily likens Turkey to Janus, the two-faced god of ancient Rome. “The region Turkey is located in ascribes it the role of the god Janus, a country with one face turned to the East and the other to the West,” he notes. Stating that some in Turkey are concerned with the country following an active policy in the Middle East at a time when the country is struggling to be a member of the EU, he says Davutoğlu is, in fact, continuing policies he launched when he was Erdoğan’s advisor. Noting that Davutoğlu is strengthening Turkey’s hopes of becoming a regional power, Babahan says: “We cannot be a bridge between the East and the West, a feature of Turkey we are very proud of, by turning our back to the East.”
