1) A MIRACLE IS IN STORE, by INAF, SEPTEMBER 1999 A MIRACLE IS IN STORE Developments concerning the Greco-Turkish relations are moving towards a happy direction. For the first time in history, the Greek people and politicians are looking upon their Turkish neighbour as their incorporated part and seem to be advocating them. Turkish people have also begun to comprehend that these warm sentiments are not insincere. And this can be accepted as a significant phenomenon. The most important aspect of this development is the fact that, the lack of confidence of the Turkish people towards their neighbour throughout history is gradually vanishing. Nonetheless, not everything is over. Problems and conflicts that have existed, ever since the formation of the Greek State should be brought upon the negotiating table on diplomatic platforms and be repeatedly reviewed and the ailment should be diagnosed to be followed by a treatment. This friendship should not be as short-lived as three-four days but should be everlasting. Greco-Turkish friendship, which is intended to be established on the bloodstained and rotten foundations of an earthquake, cannot possibly endure a second earthquake. If this friendship is formed on new and strong foundations, instead of the demolished ones, it may be long-lived. There is no reason why it should not. However, in order for this wish to come true, Greek politicians should give up to use the Turkish entity for settling their political scores. This opinion holds true for foreign powers that are trying to improve the Greco-Turkish relations. One sees that, in the course of history, in each and every involvement of a superpower, Greco-Turkish relations have become from bad to worse. How was the wall of feelings of hatred and revenge formed between the two communities? Greek historian Panaiotis Kayas replies to this question in his book "Megalo Idea", as follows: "In every period, political and social leaders in Greece believed that a 'national ideology' was needed for the survival of the country. In this manner, Greek nation would be kept alert for new struggles and no one would exercise any opposition on economic problems so as not to be stigmatised as a 'traitor'. In brief, 'Megalo Idea' is the very heart of the Greek domestic and foreign policy. Everything apart from attaining the 'national goal'; eg. administration, education, public works could wait. Thus showing the territories within the Turkish boundaries as a 'national goal' led to the birth of a 'national ideology', which was called 'Megalo Idea'. Thus the political, military, religious and social leaders of the country pushed everything else aside and tended towards attaining this goal, as a result of which activities envisaging 'Megalo Idea' began in State departments. In line with this overall tendency, organisation of Greeks living in the Turkish territories claimed by Greece began. 'National organisations, 'unions', 'associations', and 'clubs' were formed for preparing the ground for the annexation of these territories to Greece. In this way, 'the Turkish existence' was abused, for one and a half centuries in the political life of Greece, by the King, Church, Army and politicians." Greece is a neighbour, which has always created problems for the Turkish State. Turkey always paid the price for her problems with this country by the territories she lost. This is the underlying reason of Turkey's distrust about Greece. Territories lost by a country during a war are lost territories. But if they are lost as a result of diplomatic intrigues at the negotiating table, it is not possible to forget this. Nevertheless, despite all these problems, the Turkish State has settled all the past scores and has pursued, and still pursues, a policy of a tolerant neighbour. She is determined to maintain this policy. But it is a must that the other side follows an equally trustworthy and honest policy. Though the rulers of Greece do not attack Turkey these days, the 'Turkish issue' still continues to occupy the agenda of this neighbouring country. It is observed that the Greek politicians are using two different languages vis-à-vis Turkey on one hand, and the rest of the world on the other. Turkey is shouldering this with self-restraint and is not getting involved in a tug of war. The Greek politicians have used issues of Cyprus and the Aegean for years within the political structure of the country, as 'national issues'. No one can expect that the Greek politicians, who claim now that 'they will improve the Greco-Turkish relations', will all of a sudden give up everything. As the Cyprus-Aegean problems, two major issues in the Greco-Turkish relations, cannot be solved overnight, Turkey and Greece should set up a mechanism for waging a joint struggle against those forces that can impair the relations between the two countries. There have always been circles that have provoked for the worsening of the relations. So long as positive developments occur in the Greco-Turkish relations, ill intentioned forces will be involved on the scene and will constantly change outlooks and resort to all sorts of agitation in order to plunder their own share from a Greco-Turkish war. These forces will, as in the past, constantly speed up their activities. Whatever is their source, the rulers of the two countries should give a joint combat against activities aimed at impairing the bilateral relations. WHAT'S GOING ON AFTER EARTHQUAKE? Helping hands extended by the world to Turkey, which was deeply wounded by the earthquake, have somehow alleviated the pains of this country. But those who want to capitalise on this pain, and grab something from Turkey have continued to act in the same manner. Diplomatic circles in Washington speak of a number of unsurfaced pressures upon Turkey within September. The same atmosphere is overwhelming in Europe as well. Turkey is used to various pressures coming, for years, from her allies. But this time, they are face to face with a Turkey "that received a natural wound" and not a "sick man" of early 1900s. Stars of a scenario drawn up for offering the "wounded Turkey" a package of "grace" have again stepped up on the stage, doing the same things they have been doing so far. One of the foremost demands put forward is Turkey's improving her relations with Greece. Turkey is told that in order fore her to improve her relations with Greece she has to accept Athens's conditions: ie. Turning of Cyprus into a Greek island, the Turks on the island going on to live as a minority, accepting Greece's increase her territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean; otherwise, she is told, there is no place for her in Europe. EU officials go one step further by making such extreme statements as: "For Turkey, road to Europe passes through Greece.." Well, what will be the price of this? As one Greek politician satirically told at a program on the Greek TV: "Maybe after 40 years, Turkey can be a candidate to EU." It appears that, as Turkey is an honourable country and won't accept any of these conditions, Greco-Turkish relations will remain as it is now, just because foreign powers want it so. Nonetheless, the final word is Greece's. A Greek journalist, who came in September to Istanbul for watching a "Taksim meeting", together with the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, had an interesting comment. The journalist said: "European countries are resolved not to admit Turkey amongst themselves. They cherish a covert sense of hostility against Turkey within themselves. I asked and inquired them about the reason of this. The ambassador of a major EU country had this to say: 'Though we forget what they had done to us during the Ottoman times, our history would not.' In brief, they cannot digest Turkey's being a Muslim country and a heir of the Ottoman Empire. That's why I felt that they are determined not to accept Turkey among themselves. But because (Turkey) is a rich market, I do not think that they will easily give her up. To speak in more clear terms, they may occasionally approach her sympathetically and make promises to her. This may continue for another 50-100 years. As a matter of fact, I often hear Greek and European politicians saying, 'Turkey can hardly enter EU after 50 years'. In my opinion, the biggest mistake made by Turkey is to join the Customs Union. I do not think that this has benefited Turkey, except a few private commercial institutions. If you ask my opinion, Turkey should pull out from EU and shelve her relations with the Union, saying, 'if you decide to admit us, we are here'. Then everything can change. Even five countries that seem to be supporting are resorting to forgery to you. Because, they do not want to lose their benefits in Turkey. They are using us (Greece) and some other EU members to vote against Turkey. This is the EU scenario played about Turkey…" Turkey already knows about all this but it is important to know all about this from the mouth of a Greek journalist. Just after the earthquake, we saw that Greece propagated that she would not veto EU's quake assistance to be given to Turkey. Quake assistance is a humanitarian aid. Whether Greece wanted it or not, it would be given anyway. Athens cunningly jumped on to this issue of assistance and won the sympathy of the world as a goodness angle. CAN INTERNAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN GREECE AFFECT FRIENDSHIP WITH TURKEY? Nowadays, domestic politics has considerably become busy. Elections will be held in September 1999 in Greece. As the term of President Stephanopoulos will end, re-election of a new president will also be on the agenda. Coming to the political atmosphere in Greece…Following the death of Andreas Papandreou, almost a war broke out for leadership within PASOK party. The struggle was between the hardliners and Simitis's followers who represented a somewhat more moderate wing. As a result, Simitis was elected as the part leader. But the "hardliners" have seized every opportunity to weaken the position of Simitis. As a result, we learn from the Greek press that PASOK has come to the brink of disintegration. While the "group of Italians", sympathisers of terrorists (friends of PKK), broke from the party in preparation to form a separate party, former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told "To Vima" newspaper that there were eight candidates for Prime Ministry. In the meantime, it is said that Prime Minister Simitis does not approve the positive policy of Foreign Minister Papandreou towards Turkey and thus has been standing against him. Political circles in Athens even argue that Simitis has formed an alliance with Pangalos, who had resigned because of Öcalan, against Papandreou. It is rumoured that a movement has been launched within the party to replace Simitis with Papandreou. It is said that moderate Greco-Turkish policy pursued by Papandreou has played a role in this. Winds blowing in Greece regarding the Greco-Turkish relations signal that the bulk of the Greek opinion is in favour of this friendship. Greeks in the street were asked by the TV surveyors their opinion on the Greco-Turkish relations. Almost all of those who answered the survey questions stated that they were in favour of a Greco-Turkish friendship, holding the politicians responsible for the current tension and demanding of no reverting back from the present point. But before accusing Simitis of being hypocrite regarding friendship with Turkey, we have to search for his political problems. Simitis is having hard times nowadays when preparations for elections are under way. Following the death of Andreas Papandreou, a war broke out within the party for leadership. The fight was between hardliners and Simitis's adherents who represented a more moderate line. As a result Simitis became the leader. But the hardliners seized every opportunity to weaken him. As a matter of Simitis is currently in a difficult position. If he continues his positive policy towards Turkey, he will be the target of his opponents who would claim that "he is betraying Hellenism…" And this will mean the end of his political life. Greek people who, throughout history, were dragged by their politicians, and demonstrated on the streets shouting slogans for "war" against the Turks. Today, the situation is much more different. Now that were on the eve of a new millennium, Greek people do not look upon their Turkish neighbour as their enemy but a partner who cooperated for their destiny. Their only concern is about politicians. *****

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