ICG urges int’l community to abandon ‘simplistic clichés' about Turkey

“The US and EU states should put aside simplistic clichés about Turkey ‘turning East,' ‘joining an Islamist bloc' or ‘turning its back on the West.' Turkey's new foreign engagement has been first and foremost economic, with Christian and Muslim countries in Eurasia, the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East alike,” the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a draft report expected to be made public in Brussels today. “The bulk of Turkey's trade and investment, its social, popular and educational connections, and the source of its intellectual and economic innovation all remain inextricably linked to EU states and the US.”

Turkey’s June 9 vote against a US-backed United Nations Security Council resolution on new sanctions against Iran, and Turkey’s rhetoric after Israel’s deadly assault on a Gaza-bound flotilla on May 31 are at the center of the draft report titled “Turkey’s crises over Israel and Iran.”

The ICG report also focused on the fact that the Security Council vote came shortly after Turkey and Brazil, to Washington’s annoyance, brokered a nuclear fuel-swap deal with Iran as part of an effort to delay, or avoid, new sanctions.

Turkey-Israel relations are at a nadir after Israeli commandos killed eight Turkish, and one Turkish-American, pro-Palestinian activists, as they seized a ship that Ankara had discouraged from sailing -- but ultimately did not stop from trying to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, the ICG recalled.

“Ankara’s share of the blame for the falling-out with Western friends and Israel has been exaggerated, but there are problems in the government’s formulation and presentation of its foreign policy. These include short-sightedness, heated rhetoric, over-reach and distraction from Turkey’s core conflict-resolution challenges in its immediate neighborhood, including a Cyprus settlement, normalization with Armenia, resolution of new Kurdish tensions and commitment to EU convergence,” ICG maintains.

ICG, which has published many reports about Turkey in the past, nonetheless, underlines that Turkey shares most of its Western partners’ goals in the Middle East, such as halting nuclear weapons proliferation in the region, including Iran; a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that respects the full rights of both parties; and the elimination of al-Qaeda.

“It should find more ways to speak out for these common objectives. At the same time, its Western partners should recognize that due to geography and history, Turkey will reasonably pursue them at times with its own tactics and methodology,” says the draft report.

Even before the May 31 incident and its vote on June 9, certain arguments and debates were suggesting the presence of a so-called shift in Turkey’s foreign policy axis.

In response to those arguments and debates, the Turkish capital has constantly stated that “The Cold War is over and foreign policy is not a zero-sum game.” The ICG has put forth some suggestions to Ankara, for better explanation of its foreign policy moves and the goals of these moves to the international community.

“Ankara can achieve more through a good working relationship with the EU and the US than if it tries to forge ahead alone. The government and public opinion should avoid presuming, as they sometimes seem tempted, that the US needs Turkey more than it needs Israel, or that having a personal relationship with President [Barack] Obama can substitute policy. Even though Turkey is clearly becoming a stronger international player, cooperation with Washington and EU convergence are keys to its regional prominence and have contributed to its economic growth, boom in trade with neighbors and improved respect for human rights, as well as İstanbul’s growing reputation as a glamorous regional hub. Turkish leaders should also tone down populist or militant rhetoric, since it undermines allies’ trust, and resume more quiet dialogue with Israel -- to regain its unique ability to speak with confidence to all parties in its region,” the ICG says.

The think-tank, meanwhile, also urged United States and EU member states to back UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s four-person, UN-led panel of enquiry into the May 31 incident.

According to ICG, “Israel should work to normalize its important relationship with Turkey, including, if its soldiers are found to have used excessive force or committed crimes, by prosecuting suspects, and finding ways to give Turkey satisfaction in the matter.”