Ankara steps up Eurasia diplomacy

Ankara expects Gen. Faheem to play a significant role in Afghanistan, advises more realism on Rashid Dostum

SAADET ORUC

As United States is readying a retaliatory strike on Afghanistan after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in Eurasia. A senior Turkish diplomat, just back from a trip to Uzbekhistan, flew Sunday to Iran and a trip to yet another regional country was on the agenda, Foreign Ministry sources said.

Turkey has had a broad evaluation with Uzbekistan on the recent situation of the Afghan opposition, in a recent meeting in Tashkent held between the visiting Turkish envoy Ambassador Aydemir Erman, leading Turkish expert on the region and the Uzbek Foreign Ministry officials, including the Uzbek foreign minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

Erman was not received by the Uzbek President Islam Karimov, despite former expectations.

The evaluations of the Turkish Foreign Ministry were shared during recent talks in Tashkent.

Ankara considers Gen. Muhammed Faheem as the main leader of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, advising caution concerning the expectations from Uzbek Gen. Rashid Dostum, a top Turkish diplomat said.

"The struggle against terrorism would be a long-term one, and we should be realistic and should avoid exaggerating things, such as the role of Uzbek Gen. Rashid Dostum," Turkish officials said.

"There are pockets scattered throughout Afghanistan, which are being controlled by different groups, such as Dostum. But when we consider the Faizabad city in Afghanistan, with its charisma and leadership, Faheem seems to be the suitable name to be in control of the Afghan opposition," the Turkish official, who asked not to be named told the Turkish Daily News.

(Turkey has built an equipped medical school in Faizabad, one third of the students of which are female.)

Dostum might have a role in the special operations but the role of unifying the opposition politically can be played by Faheem, officials say.

After the death of Tajik Gen. Ahmed Shah Massoud, Faheem set about the task of replacing him.

Meanwhile, Dostum made remarks to the press saying that he had launched a military campaign against the Taliban.

Turkey gave signals that military support would be provided for Afghan opposition and mainly the Uzbek groups, without leaving a cautious approach on Dostum.

Erman stops in Ankara on Saturday

After having two-day talks in Uzbekistan, Ambassador Aydemir Erman stopped off in Ankara and informed the top officials of the Foreign Ministry, who were on duty at the weekend, about his talks in Tashkent.

A meeting chaired by Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal was held at the Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Turkey and Uzbekistan decided to meet more frequently for talks on Afghanistan.

Erman left for Tehran on Sunday evening, where he was scheduled to have meetings with Muhammed Ibrahim Taheryan, the special Afghanistan coordinator of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

KKTC's ministers to visit Ankara for additional credit

Salih Cosar, deputy prime minister and state minister responsible for economy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Mehmet Bayram, minister of finance will visit Ankara on Monday.

Cosar and Bayram will jointly review the economic programme and protocol, which was shaped by the KKTC cabinet, together with State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and a protocol will be signed afterwards.

It was stated that during the Ankara talks ofúthe ministers, additional protocol, concerning the 140 million dollars of credit that Turkey planned for the KKTC, would be signed.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Aytekin leaves for Switzerland

Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin left for Switzerland, where he will attend the Regional Ministerial Meeting.

In his statement at the airport before departure, Aytekin told the reporters that the Ministerial Meeting, which will be hold in Sept. 25, aims to determine the contributions of European Economic Commission to the World Sustainable Development Summit between Sept. 2-10. This Summit will also be a platform for the ten-year assessment of Rio Summit, which has been held in 1992, and established the basis for the worldwide environmental policies.

Aytekin stated that he will sign a bilateral environmental Cooperation protocol with Holland authorities, and pass to Germany after the Meeting in Geneve. Turkish Environment Minister added that the agenda in these meetings include the improvement of environmental consciousness in energy sector, and the establishment of a data bank for this aim. Aytekin's program also includes a briefing by two German companies that desire to invest to the energy sector in Turkey.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Moderate Muslim states are essential to countering terrorism

David L. Phillips

In the wake of the abominable terrorist attack, the U.S. Administration and Congress have set a course that will not be denied -- America shall employ all necessary and appropriate means to retaliate against terrorist groups. Regimes that abet or harbor terrorists will be held accountable and face dire consequences. But terrorism is an elusive scourge. The United States must rely on strategic coalitions, including its allies and moderate Muslim states.

More than interdiction is needed to safeguard national and world security. Military action can reduce the capacity of terrorist organizations, but it cannot eliminate the risk of attack. For every suicide bomber, many more are waiting to take his place. So a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy must go beyond punitive actions. In addition to military measures, incentives and rewards should be provided to those who reject violence in order to advance political objectives.

For such a strategy to succeed, it is necessary to consider the attitudes and conditions that give rise to extremism, and as a result, to terrorism. We need to ask ourselves some essential questions: Why does much of the Islamic world feel estranged from the West? What can be done to alleviate the inequity, poverty and despair felt by many Muslims? And how can public diplomacy promote mutual understanding, and thereby help reduce radicalism, militancy, and violence?

Muslims have a hugely ambivalent relationship with the West, with cultural differences playing an important role. The West embodies qualities that are anathema to the mullah's teachings, but a magnet to the individual's desires. Many Muslims aspire to Western lifestyles, despite being repelled by its opulence and perceived hedonism. And America is a symbol of something alluring, but unattainable. Extremists tend to disdain or destroy what they cannot possess, and find righteous indignation in suffering and martyrdom.

Political issues are, however, at the crux of the estrangement between the United States and the Muslim world. U.S. policies in the Middle East have had the unintended consequence of fanning the flames of Arab rage. For example, American support for corrupt and autocratic Middle Eastern regimes is deeply resented. The Islamic Conference (OIC) sees sanctions on Iraq as an instrument of oppression, and strongly object to the continual bombing of the country. Further, many in the Arab world question the need for a U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites.

Cultural and political issues converge in Israel, a bastion of Western civilization in a sea of Islamic states. Many Arabs see Israel as an oppressor state, an agent of imperialism, and a proxy of the United States. They believe that Israel's well being is achieved at the expense of displaced Palestinians, and they are angry about America's unconditional support for Israel. Much of the Arab world's fury directed at the United States is an extension of deeply rooted rage regarding Israel's "occupation."

Further, as Israel thrives and America prospers, Arabs feel increasingly disenfranchised and impoverished. And as the world's sole superpower and major economic engine, the United States is blamed for the inequity, injustice and insecurity that many Arabs feel and attribute to globalization.

Today relations between Islam and the West are at all-time low. It is critical that the campaign against terrorism not be allowed to cascade, as many fear, into a cultural war. Last week's terrorist attackers are not representative of the overwhelming majority of Muslims. In fact, the Koran prohibits the taking of human life. It emphasizes that Allah is compassionate, good and forgiving.

The United States can rise above its national tragedy by demonstrating compassion and understanding. Doing so does not imply weakness. America's resolve in rooting out terrorism is unshakable, as its imminent actions will demonstrate most forcefully. At the same time, the United States should more effectively communicate a message of sympathy, support and solidarity to Muslims around the world. To this end, the United States should expand its public diplomacy efforts via satellite, the Internet and through people-to-people programs. Muslims worldwide need reassurance that the United States is not hostile to their hopes and dreams.

Above all, public diplomacy must start at home -- by ensuring tolerance towards Arab-Americans and other American Muslims. U.S. citizens of Muslim persuasion absolutely cannot be held responsible for last week's tragedy. Authorities must make every effort to counteract prejudice and ensure the civil liberties of Arab-Americans. Moreover, unwarranted recrimination could undermine cooperation with the international community in counter-terrorism efforts. A blue ribbon commission on U.S.-Islamic relations should be established to identify ways of enhancing mutual understanding and promoting confidence-building measures.

On other fronts, the United States should create a meaningful forum in which Western and Middle Eastern leaders can gather to discuss ways of ensuring that globalization enriches everyone, not just a few. By engaging Arab leaders in this dialogue, and involving civil society representatives from across the Arab World, Arabs will become stakeholders in the process of globalization rather than antagonists to it.

Most important, the United States should take steps to reactivate the Arab-Israeli peace process and work towards a regional peace settlement. In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers, the United States can validate its constructive role by finding strength in adversely and, with support from around the world, renewing its resolve to mediate an agreement. Such steps would send a signal of revitalized U.S. leadership, and demonstrate the sincerity of U.S. intentions to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Public diplomacy can serve -- indeed, must serve -- as a bridge between the United States and the Muslim world. However, it is no substitute for responding to last week's horrendous attack, nor does it obviate the urgent need to protect U.S. citizens from future strikes. Incorporating foresight and patience, a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy can help end the cycle of violence. Statesmanship combined with military measures will prove the most powerful deterrent to future terror.