Turkey's dilemma

Turkey is in news again today. Two significant pieces of news caught my attention as i browsed the online version of The National - Abu Dhabi's new newspaper. The first was the front page headline of the attack on US embassy in Istanbul. The second titled " Turkey throws weight around the region ( Middle east)".

The first article talks about the attack on the consulate ( or rather the police outpost) at the consulate which killed three policemen and three of the four attackers. The president Abdulla Gul described the attack as " an act of terrorism". The second article talks about the uneasy tensions in Turkey about Middle East and also its desire to be seen as an important political force in the region.

"The visit by Recep Tayyip Erdogan reinforces Turkey’s singular role in Middle Eastern politics as a western-leaning Muslim country, but also points to difficulties at home" said The National. With the Kurds causing trouble in south east of Turkey,it is no doubt that the Turkish premier has sought to visit Iraq.

This visit is also siginificant in that Turkey wants to be seen as a participant in the muslim world. With the re-construction of Iraq becoming an all-important issue, Turkey does not want to be seen behind other countries which are doing their bit to help salvage the almost impossible situation. "PKK's presence in northern Iraq is the main thorn in Turkey-Iraq relations", points out The National.


Looking at these two different countries, one sees the sense of struggle that each is going through to transform itself. While Turkey braces itself to enter the European Union ( to which it has considerable opposition), Iraq is desperately trying to get back onto its feet. It still has a long way to get back to where it was - a leader in Middle East in terms of Education, healthcare and also quality of life. These two countries have much to offer each other - both in terms of exchanges as well as moral support.

While a common faith and cultural heritage may bind the people of the two countries, practical considerations are far more important and will play a vital role in bringing them together than mere sentiment. And of course, there is oil to talk about. Self-interest and fear unite people more than any other force. And there is plenty of both between Turkey and Iraq.