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East And West
BYEGM: 12/14/2004

BY TAHA AKYOL

MILLIYET- Abraham Foxman, director of the US’ Anti-Defamation League (ADL), one of America’s largest Jewish groups, is currently visiting Turkey. Today Foxman will meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu. I was able to speak with him in Istanbul. Foxman emphasized to me how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic had helped Jews who faced anti-Semitic oppression in other countries to settle in Turkey. Foxman also told how the US Jewish lobby supports Turkey against those who oppose it. Even if there is a disagreement about the Palestinian issue, the friendship of this lobby is invaluable for Turkey.

Foxman said that the lobby supports Turkey’s European Union membership bid and emphasized a very important issue: There are considerable disagreements between the US and Europe. Turkey could have difficulties in policy making if tension rises on these issues. This is true. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul recently said that Turkey may have neglected its relations with Washington due to its emphasis on the EU. On the other hand, some Europeans are anxious about Turkey being a trustworthy US ally, and this is one reason for their opposition to Turkey’s EU bid. Countries like Britain, Spain, Italy and Poland which support Turkey are also close to the US. France and Germany (except their social democrats) stand against the US and are skeptical about Ankara’s bid. What Foxman said is a proper warning. Turkey must develop consistent policies and weigh in on events.

How could we do this? Turkey has to have a stable government and economy as well as strong and stable relations with the US, the EU and the countries of Eurasia and the Islamic world. Turkey’s power in the West is dependent on its power in the East, and vice versa. Explaining why American Jews value Turkey, Foxman emphasized Turkey’s geopolitical situation. Turkey’s good relations with both the Arabs and Israel are a model for doing the same with the US and the EU. Turkey has an important function in the age of globalization. It is a harmony of civilizations standing against the clash of civilizations.