PERSPECTIVE ON TURKEY : No Longings for Ottoman Empire

Question: Are you going to the NATO summit with a feeling that there is a rising danger from Russia?

Answer: There is change going on in Russia; a reactionary movement in the former Soviet Union. It probably stems from the economic conditions as well as the political situation. Despite what President Yeltsin may have in mind, a theme has come to the surface now, not exactly going back to the old borders (but) definitely a nationalistic attitude vis-a-vis the rest of the independent countries. I think Russia is more inclined to put pressure on them, trying to sign bilateral military agreements with them. The will is there . . . to make Russia the sole protector of that region against the rest of the world, especially against Europe.

Turkey wants to coexist and cooperate with Russia. When I was there and saw President Yeltsin, the sole theme was that we have cultural affiliations with some of these countries that have become independent (the mostly Turkic-speaking states of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). We realize that they are going to have a relationship with Russia as well. Why not form a triangle? Instead of competition, let’s cooperate.

As far as Turkey is concerned, it has extended close to $1.5 billion to $2 billion credit to this region, including Armenia. This shows the commitment we have to stability in that part of the world. We have no inclinations for the old Ottoman Empire. We’ve been over this for years.

Q: You can say you will never have a military commitment in the region even if the Armenians go to Baku?

A: No, I never said that. We always are watching very closely. Only yesterday we had a summit about this, considering and reconsidering. As far as Turkey is concerned, we all feel that Armenia should withdraw.

In Bosnia, we also stood up. I am going there sometime in the future to draw the attention of the world one more time that this is simply a massacre. It’s against human rights. It’s a moral issue. We were there in Somalia when aggression took place. Of course, in Azerbaijan when the Armenian aggression takes place at our border we are even more concerned.

Q: Do you think the West is being too accommodating toward Russian policies for the newly independent republics of the former Soviet Union? Will you be raising your fears of Russian expansionism at the NATO summit?

A: Yes, of course, for a general evaluation. There are lot of crises taking place in all parts of the world and especially in this part of the world. There is no organization that tackles these crises any more. We are just talking about (standing up for) values against aggression, values for human rights. What is a more important as a human right than the right to live? I think we need to evaluate what we are doing not just for the day, but for the short term, medium term and long term. We need to look at history. The United States especially should just come and take a look at this part of the world. I am afraid that (Western) interests in the Middle East, the independent countries that have separated from the Soviet Union will not only be in danger but stability will be threatened.

I feel that (President Clinton’s proposed “partnership for peace” with the former Soviet bloc) is a realistic kind of attitude. We should be looking not for the separation of Europe, but for the unification of Europe. Maybe it’s even too gradual as far as we are concerned. Maybe we should move a little faster than that. The least that I expect (to see) is the principles set, adopted and agreed upon.

We need to recognize what Europe is. It is not a separation of cultures. It’s a kind of understanding of the bringing in of different cultures.

Q: Do you think the 9-year-old rebellion by the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas in Turkey’s southeast is only a military problem? Could you comment on the recent disturbances involving Turks and Kurds in Europe?

A: I think it’s about time to take this issue up. If we are going to share the same values, such as democracy, protection of human rights or the fight against terror, we have to stand together on all those issues. We should not mix up the issue of the PKK with the Kurds living in Turkey and elsewhere in the world. About 2,000 people have been killed in Turkey in the last year. The vast majority of them were Kurds killed by the PKK. We are trying to protect our citizens no matter what (ethnic) root they are from. Babies are being massacred.

I was in (Southeast Turkey) on New Year’s Day. I spent it with the people there. On the streets, on the balconies, in the houses; they were no different toward me than in any other city I have been to. There was a lot of love, a lot of relaxation there. People are frightened by the PKK. What they want is that the state protects their lives. They want employment.

Democratization is something we believe in. We are going to take giant steps in that. Not as a concession to the PKK. Not for that region only. But for the whole country. We have come a long way in democracy since the 1940s. And we are going to move further. The most potentially potent Cabinet members are of Kurdish origin; we have never thought of discriminating.

I am for democracy, I am for human rights. But never mix the two issues up (of Kurdish rights and the separatist guerrillas). There will never be a concession to (give up) some part of this country. There will be no minority, everybody is first rank. In 1994, there will be other steps we take for the whole country. This is the only way.