Published: December 12, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - Military Leaders in Turkey in Serious Dispute with PM
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - ANKARA WATCH - European Theatre: Ankara/Brussels; Military Establishment in Turkey Seriously Critical of Prime Minister Concession to the European Union
Night Watch: ANKARA - AKI reports that Turkey's military establishment registered strong disapproval with a concession made by Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan to the European Union in Brussels. The Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit stated, "I learned about this decision (to open the Ercan Airport and Famagusta port to Nicosia) only through the TV. " He then added ominously, "And this move is a deviation from state policy." President Ahmet Necedet Sezer also stated that he, "...was not informed about this move, either directly or indirectly." [
AKI]
The reason why this displeasure should be taken so seriously is that the military leadership always plays an active, important, day to day role in Ankara's decision making. The slightest indication of any attempt by any political administration which threatens their influence can be dealt with very quickly by another military coup and in the name of restoring stability. But with President Sezer supporting the military on this issue he could be kept as titular head of state.
I suspect the vast majority of Turkey's population hate the idea of the Prime Minister being so eager to impress Brussels and his desperation to join the prestigious but unreal European Union Club of over regulation, which is why the French voted the EU out in a spirit of realistic nationalism a year or so ago. I was surprised the French hadn't done so sooner since the Brussels bureaucracy years ago, in order to justify their existence, criticised the way the French made their cheese. The Turkish population probably view Erdogan's desperation as fawning and demeaning.
Ankara knows that if what is left of the EU had genuinely wanted Turkey as a full member of the European economic community then it would have accepted Turkey decades ago. But due to historical rivalry that goes back millenniums that will never happen. Of course Brussels doesn't say that is the reason they just keep finding excuses to reject them. For that reason Turkey has increased its economic and military agreements with the Islamic world principally Iran. Ankara is also an important member of the Southeast European Community's support for Belgrade and other capitals in the former Yugoslavia during their wars and economic confrontations with NATO - EU. That support will become even more obvious when the war resumes over Kosovo. Six years ago Reuters reported that Turkey-Iran were comparing intelligence information but it didn't say about where. In February 2001 fighting began in Macedonia.
The last time Turkey's military had to replace the political administration was in 1980 by staging a bloodless coup to end 21 months of political assassinations which had killed 3,710 people. This time the reason could be other foreign policy difference besides this issue over Cyprus that caused a war between Greece/Turkey in 1974. The war now will be in order to remove Brussels' military presence from Southeast Europe and with Greece fighting side by side with Turkey.
Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com
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