Spanish MEP del Valle: Turkey is teaching us a lesson

While some Europeans argue that Turkish “new” foreign policy could be detrimental to European interests, others strongly lend their support to a robust Turkish foreign policy in its neighborhood, stressing that would be in the best interest of Brussels. A member of the European Parliament, Emilio Menendez del Valle, belongs to the group of Europeans who argue that Turkey should be even more active in its foreign policy. He is very much critical of the “old” Turkish foreign policy which he dubs as “excessive neutrality.”

“Turkey is teaching us a lesson in international relations, not only in her region, but in international fora as well” says Del Valle, a Socialist MEP from Spain. Despite the accusations of “axis change” in the wake of Turkey’s voting “no” to new sanctions against Iranians on June 9 at the UN Security Council, Del Valle lambastes Turkish “old” foreign policy as being too neutral and hopes Ankara will keep its current active engagement in its region and on the world stage. He thinks Turkey’s new foreign policy will help both the EU and the US and argues that he is in favor of Turkey “showing her muscles” and sees it as a “very intelligent move.”

Stressing that “neutrality” in foreign affairs is not an option open to Ankara, Del Valle said nobody can be neutral when it comes to Middle East, as there is an occupier named Israel and the occupied, namely Palestinians. Strongly criticizing the current Israeli government and its foreign affairs minister Liebermann for mocking international law and international institutions, Del Valle says: “This is not strange. They are saying these sort of things all of the time.” The Spanish MEP several times during the interview underlined that he is not an anti-semitic or anti-Israeli, but simply referring to the facts.

Europe silly

Del Valle argues that Europe will be silly if it chooses to close its doors to Turkey, and adds that the EU should support the “new” Turkish foreign policy. A strong believer in Turkish membership in the EU, the Spanish MEP says Turkey has not been respected in the EU process. “[The]EU is pulling Turkey’s hair, actually,” says Del Valle and draws attention to how the West was very happy to enlist Turkey as a NATO member during the Cold War years to fight against Russia and communism, but started to waver when the moment of truth came, i.e. membership in EU. “The West is only interested in the ‘military Turkey’ willing to fight for them, but not in Turkey being a part and parcel of the EU,” says Del Valle. He says he is not sure if Turkey would be still interested in EU membership after decades of agonizing negotiations.

Obama influenced by the lobby

Calling US President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech “rubbish,” Del Valle thinks the American president was not able to deliver at all on what he promised in Cairo last year, basically, because of the Israeli lobby, which was able to convince Obama not to change US policy vis-a-vis Israel. “But the future is against Israel. They are so blind they can not see it coming. The fact that pro-peace activists are losing their power is very dangerous,” says Del Valle. On June 4, 2009, Obama delivered a speech in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, in which he said: “So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.”

Refusal of Turkey-Brazil deal a mistake

Despite US President Barak Obama’s rhetoric on a multi-polar system, Del Valle says super-powers are not ready at all to welcome new-comers like Turkey and Brazil and that is the reason why the Turkish-Brazilian deal with Iran was refused. “Turkey and Brazil are not super powers, they are emerging powers. But the big ones are suspicious and they think they have the monopoly of power and will not tolerate the newcomers. That is why they asked, ‘What are these guys doing?’” says Del Valle.

Reminding a new poll among Palestinians, Del Valle says it shows how new Turkish foreign policy is successful and Europe must benefit it. “A new poll shows 42 percent of Palestinians think their best foreign friend is Turkey, only 6 percent say it is Iran. It is very positive. I offer these results to European governments.”