Former diplomat: Turkish foreign policy in tatters after row with Russia

By Zaman

Turkey’s foreign policy is undergoing an “unhealthy” transformation following the worsening of ties with Russia over the downing of its jet, former diplomat and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Faruk Loğoğlu has said.

Commenting on the return of normalizing ties with Israel to Turkey’s agenda after a five-year estrangement, Loğoğlu told Today’s Zaman on Sunday Turkey’s foreign policy lost its direction following the crisis with Russia.

Arguing that the revitalization of accession talks with the EU was due to the pragmatic approach of the Europeans who were concerned by the refugee flow to Europe, Loğoğlu said: “We suddenly rediscovered the EU as well as the US after losing direction in our foreign policy due to the crisis with Russia. Now we are trying to rediscover Israel. This is not a healthy transformation [in Turkish foreign policy].”

Government spokesperson Ömer Çelik, after earlier calling Israel and its people “friends of Turkey,” said in a press statement last Monday that Turkey and Israel have not yet signed any agreement to normalize their ties, but are still working on a draft agreement.

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government’s statement drew a strong reaction from circles close to the ruling party. “The Israeli state is not a friend of Turkey in any context or condition. Moreover, it is an oppressor and a killer,” pro-government columnist Fatih Tezcan said on Twitter last week.

Turkey’s move to mend its ties with Israel came after the deterioration of relations with Russia due to the downing of a Russian SU-24 jet along the Syrian border. Russia had been viewed as a strategic partner by Turkey, which had not joined the Western sanctions imposed on its northern neighbor.
‘Deal with Israel to be announced in piecemeal manner’

Loğoğlu added a deal with Israel had been reached for the normalization of ties, but the government will announce it to the public piecemeal so as not to draw any backlash.

He criticized the government for being inconsistent, pointing out that the ruling party was a staunch opponent of Israel for its policies in Palestine.

“This government that always claimed to be a supporter of the Palestinian cause can cross it [the cause] off [its list] to [mend ties] with Israel. … Our officials know very well Turks cannot easily swallow the ‘Israel pill’ after they made so many statements against Israel. This is the reason why they will extend [the announcement of the Israel deal] over time,” Loğoğlu said.

Ties between Turkey and Israel deteriorated after the Gaza-bound aid ship Mavi Marmara was raided by Israeli army forces in May 2010, resulting in nine deaths. Turkey declared a proposal for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, compensation for the families of the Mavi Marmara victims and a formal apology by Israel as conditions for reconciliation. With the mediation of the United States, Israel apologized for the fatalities in the flotilla incident; however, Ankara’s demand for compensation and the lifting of the Gaza blockade have not been fulfilled.
‘Deterioration of Turkey’s image in Arab countries’

Loğoğlu said Arab countries no longer view Turkey as an exemplary model due to the country’s backtracking from democratic values.

“When [Arabs] looked at Turkey, [they saw] a country that had close relations with the West, a majority Muslim population and a regime that respected democracy, women’s rights, human rights and secularism. … Turkey’s image of a ‘role model’ today has been eroded. It has even come to the point where Arabs say: ‘We used to view you with admiration because you were different from us. But today you are no different’,” said Loğoğlu.

When a revolutionary wave of protests swept through the Middle East at the end of 2010, Turkey’s popularity rose in the countries in the region, which viewed it as a model for their quest for modernity while clinging on to their Islamic roots.