Open letter to George Papandreou

Your days in power with Costas Simitis are still a fresh memory. Your joint vision in the 90s undeniably helped ease tensions between the two countries. Your personal report with the late former minister of Turkey, İsmail Cem İpekçi, albeit not fully accomplished, contributed to opening new channels and rejuvenated the sides, who began to seek ways to resolve disputes and to find new ways.

If members of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace are freer and more prosperous than before and no longer feel like second-class citizens of Greece, it is you they are thankful to. It was you who broke the taboo in Greece by boldly declaring that if the minority in Western Thrace identifies itself as Turks, so be it. I also remember the positive surprise in the region when I, with your personal directives, was able to do two live programs in Turkish, broadcast from Komotini and Xanthi, and openly discussed the minority problems with local representatives.  

Steps taken to make the conditions better for them (despite clear shortcomings) as well as candid attempts to approach bilateral issues and, most importantly, to endorse the accession of Turkey into EU are all utterly commendable.

But, we all know by experience that for a Greek or a Turkish politician who is sincere to bury the strife in the graveyard of history has never been a fruitful way of winning votes. On the contrary. Suspicions and fears about the “other” are deep on both sides. Fiercely nationalistic media -- let's face it, more on your side -- fuel the hatred here and there, paralyzing all attempts and intentions. Populism is kept as the easy way out, while postponing the solutions to another day.

Times change. When you take over as the head of the government in Athens, it is another Greece -- democratically solid but hugely mismanaged because of sheer incompetence and because of deep economic problems -- and it is another Turkey, sailing from “old” to “new,” struggling with democratization, fighting back all undemocratic demons also entrenched in deep state structures, trying to keep aligned with the EU, attempting to deal with its own minority problems and reducing conflicts with its neighbors to zero.

No matter what any enemy of the Greece-Turkey friendship may say, your re-entry as a decision maker into the political scene may not have been more timely in this context. The global and regional conjuncture is simply promising, with a multilateralist American administration and an increasing need for security in the eastern Mediterranean. We can be sure that you know, as much as the USA and the EU, that you have an equally “fresh-thinking” government  in Ankara for some time. Time is ripe for real leaps to bring these two countries closer, in mind and in action.

I did not belong to those that were worried by your perceived “nationalist” rhetoric in the election campaign. You are extremely intelligent, open minded and pragmatic to be able to understand that problems whose solutions are delayed can be devastating.

Although it is understandable that your priority will be to deal with the economy, in the short term an active involvement in issues regarding Turkey would be most helpful. You have always thought that problems with Turkey can only be rationally solved by welcoming it into the EU and encouraging the skeptical members to do the same. Primarily, it has to do with the security of Greece and further east.  

First, Cyprus. It is obvious that the current “passive” stance of Athens concerning the issue is counterproductive. I have always argued that a lasting, fair settlement on the island requires a productive involvement of Athens as well as Ankara. In order to accelerate the pace in the talks between Dimitris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, your “help” will, too, add grace to the image and position of Greece amongst its allies. This conflict should end by expanding the sphere of democratic coexistence through soft power, which you are so much in favor of.

Second, the Aegean. This ridiculous power game should be brought to an end. I know that it is a big concern for Greeks, as it is a non-issue for Turks. However, if the Aegean is expected to be a “peace lake,” perhaps, one day, without any borders, under the EU, be sure that you cannot find any better talking partner than Ahmet Davutoğlu, to find new, “civilian” ways.

While you consider this humble call for a new era, please keep in mind that a solution on the Halki Seminary issue may just be a step or two away. We may be looking far away from each other, but yet so close.