Pipes had a more relaxed view in his last article, that he explicitly wrote the following after his visit to Turkey: "I think there isn't enough proof to determine whether AKP will remain within the framework of Ataturk's secularism principle or whether it will try to topple it."
Those who had claimed that the Bush-Erdogan meeting would not take place, with the same prejudiced approach over rendezvous polemics, also changed their views. This is the truth of the matter: "The first step towards the White House meeting was made during the NATO Summit in April in Brussels. Prime Minister Erdogan complained that the media reflected relations between the two countries differently from the realities, after his short meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.
These were the days when the article by American journalist [Robert L.] Pollock, that was full of negative opinions about Turkey, was published. Bush had said to Erdogan: "If you want, I can come to Turkey in order to eradicate this negative atmosphere." And the Turkish prime minister replied: "No need for this, I will come to Washington in June and we can discuss this matter there." The two leaders had reached an agreement at the meeting in Brussels. The rest is just details.
The meeting lasted longer than planned, exceeding one hour. The offense and misunderstanding of the past diminished, the ice between them thawed and the black clouds scattered, at the meeting in the White House. It is possible to say, there are no yesterday's problems in Turkish-American relations but hopes for tomorrow.
In short, a new, clean and white chapter has been opened. The previous situation is now a thing of the past. Messages from the both sides are positive. If the positive remarks made by the two sides materialize in the upcoming days, it is evident that relations will remain in positive ground. There is no reason not to make the words that have been uttered become a reality.
Relations with the world's only superpower, the United States, is as important for the AKP government as it is for Turkey. I can explicitly say that some circles in Turkey, that do not want the AKP government to be successful, want to narrow the political sphere of AKP, by exploiting US relations. They are trying to use the US to stop AKP. It is known that there are some who come to the US and make ridiculous accusations against AKP. Consequently, the atmosphere at the White House will also have effects on Turkish domestic politics.
What happened at the meeting? Bush asking how Erdogan's family was doing, using the names of the members of the Erdogan family, shows how warm the atmosphere there was. Bush did not demand anything concrete from Erdogan. Cooperation in Afghanistan, in particular, was emphasized. America complained about Syria and Turkey about separatist terrorism in northern Iraq.
Bush is worried about terrorist infiltration to Iraq from Syria, and does not want Syria, which has been ostracized by the international community, to be emboldened. Erdogan said that positive results could be achieved on this issue through dialogue and reminded of the fact that Turkey's suggestions were effective in making Damascus withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Erdogan wanted Bush to take further steps on the Cyprus issue, to abolish the isolation and to ensure that American planes start landing at Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus. Bush instructed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to look into the issue. The other demand was for the Annan Cyprus report to be discussed at the UN Security Council.
The approaches that accepted Turkey's arguments during the meeting at the UN, will encourage countries which want to establish official relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Also, Turkey delivered a letter to Bush's famous National Security Adviser Stephan Badley, demanding that all restrictions on the four parties in the Cyprus dispute -- Turkey, Greece, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cyprus Administration -- be lifted. This offer excited Badley.
The truths can only be understood after breaking down prejudices.
June 10, 2005
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