GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
Sep 13th, 2007 by admin
Turkey’s ascension bid into the European union will be very crucial in the world stage considering the recent election of the former Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul as the president in a parliamentary vote. He is the first politician with an Islamist background to become head of state since the creation of the deeply secular Turkish Republic in 1923.
His previous bid earlier in the year sparked huge protests because of his Islamist roots. Secular institutions, including the army opposed him.
James ker-Lindsey a researcher at the University of Kingston in London and an expert on Greek Turkish relations on:
HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE WILL THE NEW PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GULL HAVE ON GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS?
It’s actually a very interesting question because the president in Turkey can play a significant role in foreign policy but on the other hand can play no role at all. What’s actually happened is that over the past few years it’s been the foreign minister Abdullah Gull and to a certain degree Tayyip Erdogan who is very charismatic. I think Gull will have an influence but he has to a bit careful how he does it because obviously with Ali Babacan as foreign minister, he doesn’t really want to have a clash there. It will be interesting to sort of consider it at that level and if he does play a much more active role in foreign policy, one would hope that he would continue along the path of “Raprochement” and have good relations with Greece. I mean as foreign minister he certainly advocated a balance, actually a rather positive thing.
ARE YOU SAYING NOTHING WILL CHANGE?
Yes and No, nothing will change in as much as a redesign of foreign policy direction because former President Ahmet Sezer played no part, it was really Gull and Erdogan as Foreign minister and Prime Minister who set the agenda. This means that Gull as president, can take a much more active role in foreign policy, if he wants and if that’s what he has decided within the Justice and development party (AK) in which case any move towards “raprochement” will come at an even more higher level because Gull might want to go to Athens as Turkey’s president rather than as foreign minister. It could then become more significant and symbolic now that Gull is president.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT?
It is a return to the political presidency, previous presidents have actually been non political figures, mostly military generals. First and foremost, what is obviously interesting is the tension between the secular military establishment and the possibility of Gull becoming president. It will be interesting to see how cautious he will be. His wife has been fairly central in the whole debate over whether he should become president or not because of course she wears a headscarf and this is one of the symbols that shows that he is in fact a staunch Muslim which according to some people goes against the secular nature of the Turkish state.
DO YOU SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT WILL COME AGAIN?
The first test is going to be when the government decides to try passing some sort of legislation which the secular establishment opposes. In the past, the talk of criminalizing adultery provoked an outrage amongst the secular elite, but again you had the president there to block it. Now Gull is there who will be prepared to block legislation. At this stage the headscarf issue of his wife is obviously an important outward symbol but in reality what every one is going to be keeping an eye on is that piece of controversial legislation.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT GULL?
With Turkey looking to push their European Union entry, looking to modernize, looking to reform, Gull might be seen as quite a good choice internationally in a sense that he was fundamental towards Turkey’s entry into negotiations with the European Union. He is more of an international figure in comparison to his predecessor. Another problem may be that the previous president was secular, introverted and didn’t really take much interest in the outside world, also didn’t speak other languages. Gull has pointed out that as foreign minister he was instrumental in opening talks with the European Union, pushed for settlement with the Cyprus issue. And the military knows if they move against him, it will be read very badly. It would put pay to Turkish European Union ascension prospects. I think this is the key issue the military has to face up to. Not an easy task for them..