All actions originating from fear produces more fear, and this stimulates a unification mentality around these fears. In this respect Turkey is a good, but unfortunately not the only, example. Two major powers of the system, the US and Russia, are in confrontation over the US national missile defense system. Russia has declared that it will introduce its own defense system if the new NATO members of Eastern Europe join the US missile defense system. At a press conference US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Russia the Soviet Union, maybe a slip of the tongue. When we think about this issue we must keep in mind that Turkey is a NATO member as well as a neighbor of Russia.
The European Parliament has voted and rejected a proposal made by Germany’s Christian Democrats for a privileged partnership between Turkey and the EU. This proves that there are some people in Europe who are seriously working on this. By the way, Iran wants to establish dialogue with the EU in order to legitimize its nuclear activities. Javier Solana is still rigid about this issue, even if Sarkozy has said, for example, that Algeria could one day become a nuclear power and it can do so with France’s help. Maybe the dialogue between Iran and the EU can produce a control mechanism and Iran can make peace with the international system through the EU. The meetings are being held in Turkey, so the latter has been designated a dialogue ground by the two parties. Following this a meeting between the US and Iran has appeared as a possibility.
Another important development occurred between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Relations between these two have been troubled because the al-Qaeda resistance in Afghanistan originates from a lack of control in some Pakistani regions. The leaders of these two countries discussed the fight against terrorism, good neighborly relations and border controls. Their meeting place was Turkey. That proves that a resolution of these issues is still possible and that Turkey can play a role in this process.
Israel is in a political crisis because of the debate around the Lebanese operation. The discussion is not only about the government’s failure, which caused several Israeli casualties, but also about the sustainability of a policy of violence. Parliamentary elections are about to take place in Armenia and Russia’s interference is a problem. Elections are also on Russia’s agenda, and the rise of nationalism is worrying. The US public is questioning the Iraq war; shops owned by minorities in Kazakhstan have been attacked. Rwanda buys thousands of axes from China -- the UN is investigating.
At the same time, Turkey’s main problem appears to be secularism. Those who try to understand the world through their own fears could think that the opposition is actually defending the secular regime and Turkey faces a real threat of Islamification. They don’t see that this is ultimately a nationalist manifestation. If universal values and individual rights are not adopted as the main parameters and fail to become the main analysis criteria, it won’t be possible to understand the evolution of global events or the meaning of the talks held in Turkey by international figures, peace processes or social dialogue. This is the true fear the world should face.
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