Turkish Press Review, 09-03-04

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From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

04.03.2009

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN INAUGURATES NEW METROBUS LINE IN ISTANBUL

[02] IN EGYPT, BABACAN MEETS WITH SYRIAN FM MOALLEM

[03] BAYKAL CRITICIZES ERDOGAN'S STANCE ON UNEMPLOYMENT

[04] BAHCELI URGES BIG TURNOUT IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

[05] REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN: "TURKEY'S ROLE IS CRITICAL FOR THE US"

[06] US STATE DEPT'S BRYZA: "WE AREN'T ASKING TURKEY FOR A BASE FOR OUR AFGHAN OPERATIONS"

[07] TURKEY'S EXPANDED HORIZONS

[01] ERDOGAN INAUGURATES NEW METROBUS LINE IN ISTANBUL

[02] IN EGYPT, BABACAN MEETS WITH SYRIAN FM MOALLEM

[03] BAYKAL CRITICIZES ERDOGAN'S STANCE ON UNEMPLOYMENT

[04] BAHCELI URGES BIG TURNOUT IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

[05] REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN: "TURKEY'S ROLE IS CRITICAL FOR THE US"

[06] US STATE DEPT'S BRYZA: "WE AREN'T ASKING TURKEY FOR A BASE FOR OUR AFGHAN OPERATIONS"

Speaking to Milliyet daily yesterday, George Friedman, the founder of Stratfor, a US think-tank catering to businesses, said, "I can't think that Turkey would lose its secular character and system; even if it becomes partially an Islamic country it won't lose it, because it has received a historical heritage from the Ottoman Empire. There has never been extremism in Turkey. Turkey will become a huge regional force in the future whether it's a secular or Islamic country." At a meeting in Istanbul, he said, "2009 will be difficult year for everybody, but later, Turkey will pick up where it left off. While European countries are regressing economically, in 2020 Turkey will be a big economic power in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East."

FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…

[07] TURKEY'S EXPANDED HORIZONS

Columnist Erdal Safak comments on a new report's projections for Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:

"When I read the projections made by George Friedman, the founder of the Stratfor think-tank, one of the US' most important strategic research centers, I remembered a recent CIA report. Addressing the question of what the world will look like in 2025, they highlighted the following:

US power and influence will decrease, and it will give up its bid to remain the only superpower.

The US position will erode due to its flabby structure and aging population.

China will become one of the most important players on the world stage.

Turkey is set to be not only a regional power but also possibly a global power.

Friedman has similar ideas:

The US is losing its power and influence.

The European Union is also on the wane due to the global economic crisis. Turkey will abandon its EU bid.

Turkey will become a great power in its region in the near future. Then it will become one of the global powers.

I'm not surprised that at these similarities, as Friedman's Stratfor is seen as the 'private CIA.' His arguments that Turkey will inevitably become a major player first in the region and then in the world are actually known by many, but when they are listed, a very impressive picture emerges:

Turkey's importance in the Islamic world is gradually rising.

Its influence in the Balkans is growing stronger.

It has become an indispensable response to Russia.

Central Asia has turned into its natural zone of influence.

It has become a sea power whose presence is felt over the entire Mediterranean.

Turkey is now the world's 17th-largest economy and it will reach number 10 by 2020. (Even today it's the largest economy in the Islamic world, the seventh-largest in Europe, and the most stable economy in Central Asia.)

Along with Israel, Turkey has the strongest and most effective army. This army also constitutes the second-largest armed force within NATO.

It has an extraordinary potential with a young population of 70 million.

Friedman thinks all these factors will upset current paradigms. From now on people will talk about the US' need for Turkey, rather than the reverse, and soon Turkey won't pursue the EU, but vice versa, he believes. What's more, he considers this an inevitable and irreversible process, because he thinks by its nature Turkey has to become a superpower.

I agree with him completely. In addition, I see the signs that the dynamics which will carry Turkey to those broad horizons are picking up speed �" for example, the special care and importance which were placed on Turkey at the G-20 group, the Turkic republics' efforts to accelerate cultural integration with Turkey by adopting the Roman alphabet, the regimes of certain great countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt which accept Turkey's position as the most important actor in the Middle East particularly due to its stance against the attacks in Gaza, and thus its image as the sole and natural protector in the eyes of Arab nations, and also the fact that the US finally saw the need to redefine relations between the two countries.

But as Friedman stresses, there's also a risk running in the opposite direction. As he says, the greatest danger for Turkey lies not outside, but inside: domestic tensions and conflicts. So this means that we should strengthen our domestic peace by solving the Kurdish issue and deepening democracy. And we can deepen democracy through bold reforms which would accelerate Turkey's modernization process. That's why we reiterate whenever we can that our priorities must be more democracy, a solution to the Kurdish issue as part of basic human rights, and strengthening national fellowship. I'll keep on saying this, because the rest will come automatically."

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