Obama or McCain: What Do Turks Think?
In Turkey, it’s almost as heated an argument on who will be the next US president as it is around the world. There is no consensus among the Turkish nation, and until later on today we will not know who the winners of this race are. As for the general public, Senator Obama has captured all of our hearts with his charisma and leadership qualities. He truly represents the much needed change and development that the world needs. He is successful of projecting himself as the “world’s president.” Although there are many pro’s to Obama, from a Turkish perspective there is one alarming con. That is of the Armenian issue that has been well debated and still is. Ilter Turkmen, a Turkish diplomat and politician, who served as the Foreign Minister of Turkey, in the early 80′s, analyzes this situation in great depth from a Turkish perspective: ”No referral has been made to the so-called Armenian “genocide” allegations in the document but we already know through letters Obama wrote to some Armenian institutions, that he will support them. According to an article posted on an Armenian Web site, the chief adviser on foreign policy to the Turkish Prime Ministry had contact with Obama’s advisers and said recognition of the “genocide” will cause critical damage to Turkey-U.S. relations. Is this not an untimely move? In fact, according to the Armenian Committee in the United States, a later announcement by Obama renewed his support of the Armenian claims. A presidential candidate getting together with his aides before elections, focusing on a specific matter and tying the future of the entire relationship to this matter is arguable. Nuance is critical in diplomacy and officiousness is dangerous.” Whatever the results, we all want a more stable and peaceful world. Weather that is possible or not depends on us.
Aylin Ece Cicek
