Today's Zaman, Turkey Feb 15 2009 The future with Obama by Ã-zlem Türköne* "This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." These were the tremendous words of newly elected US President Barack Obama in his inaugural speech and they contain a very profound meaning. On Jan. 20 a genuine historical moment was recorded in the minds of all the world's people: Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the nation's first African-American president. As we have been passing through a tough chapter struggling to alter a world economy in turmoil and deal with seemingly intractable foreign policy challenges, Obama reminded us of a sense of hope and the possibility of better days to come. We really needed that. As in other countries, many people in Turkey joined the worldwide celebrations over the US president's inauguration as the Obama era officially began. A statistical glimpse of hope from a poll conducted for the BBC World Service indicates that the percentage of Turkish people who believe Obama will strengthen US relations with the rest of the world has risen from 11 percent to 51 percent over the last six months. Turks' expectation of Obama This means that the Turkish people expect Obama to take important steps toward saving the United States' image in Turkey and helping revitalize the relationship between the two countries. So there is a new wave of sympathy rising, as if the darkness that has covered the world for the past eight years is finally about to be lifted. The specifics of Obama's foreign policy have not yet materialized. Hence, they are full of uncertainties. Given the high-profile problems of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia, will the US want Turkey to play an important role in the Obama era? One should also note that there must be a kind of harmony between Obama's perception of the issues regarding Turkey's concerns and the expectations of the Turkish government, as well as the Turkish people. Bearing this in mind, it will be helpful to categorize these expectations and perceptions as follows: The questionable approach of the new administration to the so-called "Armenian genocide" issue remains the main roadblock to improving Turkish-US relations. It is still unknown whether President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, both of whom have expressed support for the Armenian position in the past, will back any kind of recognition again. The second important issue on the common agenda is related to the previously announced plans for a rapid withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and an increase in pressure on the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Where does Turkey fit in to the Obama administration's plans? Maybe it would be better to analyze this by recalling Turkey's participation in the history of the region's crises. Turkey is located at one of the most important strategic crossroads in the world today and its position is very close to many flashpoints for ongoing conflicts. The potential threats that are on the top of the agenda have led Turkey to preserve the foundations of peace and stability in the broader region and the predominance of the culture of reconciliation and common values that can be found within its stable democracy and dynamic economy. It is customary for Turkey to contribute to international efforts seeking peaceful resolutions to disputes and rebuild peace and stability in regions suffering from conflict. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is one these significant initiatives. Launched by the secretary-general of the United Nations in July 2005, it aims to facilitate harmony and dialogue by emphasizing the common values of different cultures and religions. On anyone's shortlist, ensuring Arab-Israeli peace, stabilizing a unified Iraq, maintaining stability and security in Lebanon and coping with the issue of Iran's nuclear program must top the list of priorities. We have already been actively engaged in all of these problems. The most recent example is the peace talks between Syria and Israel. These talks started and were conducted in an indirect way, which means the talks proceeded through Turkey. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we have dealt with all the groups involved. Turkey is one of the only countries that has good relations with Israel and with Arab countries at the same time. This is meaningful. Also, in the Caucasus, another key region afflicted with complicated issues, such as the Russia-Georgia conflict, Turkey paid close attention and took delicate care as a significant actor, feeling responsibility and taking initiative. Turkey and the US have worked together in all of these critical regions and their relations have expanded and evolved over the decades from a military alliance to a "strategic partnership" based on common interests and mutual values. Today Turkey and the US are working together to combat terrorism, bridge the gap between the West and the Muslim world, support critical transitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, stabilize the Balkans and the Caucasus, pursue peace in the Middle East, integrate the former Soviet republics of Central Asia into the community of democratic states and transport Caspian energy resources to world markets. Turkey has joined the US and Iraqi governments in a trilateral effort to eliminate enduring terrorist threats in the region. This effort, along with Turkey's assistance in Iraq's democratic transition, exemplifies its continuing leadership in promoting global security and stability. However, there are some concerns about the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. After the US troops go back home we -- Turkey -- will be staying here, as the neighbors of the Iraqi people. As Americans watch news about the Middle East on TV across the ocean, we will be the ones seeing the ongoing chaos nearby firsthand. It is, therefore, no wonder that a peaceful Iraq is as important to Turkey as it is to the US. Turkey can play a key role in helping to stabilize Iraq, particularly its Kurdish region. Moving away from militarized US policies in favor of diplomacy will allocate new roles to the region's actors and this new era will resonate well with Turkey's new role as a regional peacemaker, our country hopes. For Iraq, we believe the solution has to be a political one. Political reconstruction will be the key concept for Iraq. We are talking with all groups in Iraq without any exception. Coming to the other issue, Obama's intention to increase pressure on the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, we can say that it most likely means arguing for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists. Bearing in mind that Turkey, which ranks second -- just after the US -- in the number of forces available for NATO missions, did not preserve its military support for the organization in many cases where its help had been requested, some wonder whether Turkey will agree to send more troops to the region and, if so, whether it will attempt to draw advantages from its contribution in return. We cannot blame Turkey for acting too emotionally because, in the past, much has been asked of Turkey but, from Turkey's standpoint, not enough has been given. Turkey and NATO A member of NATO since 1952, Turkey fought side by side with US forces in Korea to stop the spread of communism in Asia. Turkey defended NATO's southeastern flank during the Cold War, protecting vital Western interests in the Middle East and guarding against Soviet access to the Mediterranean. From this point of view, it is not asking for much, only for a more empathetic approach to be taken. Aside from these concerns, the Obama administration is likely to take a much more active role in trying to resolve problems in the Middle East. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an has also expressed hope that Obama would contribute to international peace and reiterated his belief that Turkey and the US would maintain their strategic relations. Turkish-American relations have a history of more than 200 years, albeit with occasional ups and downs, but always with the aim of reaching the common goals of peace and freedom in the world. Relations between the two countries have always been based on shared values and mutual trust. This is how things were in the past; now the threat of terrorism is higher than before and there seems no change in the tremendous instability of the Middle East. So the world is very different now than it was in the last century, when Turkey was always there for the US. While all these developments have been occurring, Turkey itself has also changed. It has more confidence and is now determined to play a leadership role in the Middle East and the Caucasus. But if there is one thing that has not changed much, it is the vital importance of the relationship between Turkey and the United States for our policy, because there is indeed a synergy between us built upon decades of relations and mutual confidence and now reaffirmed by shared visions. It is our hope that this synergy will be saved and carried to the future by the hopeful wind of change that has come upon us with the beginning of the Obama era. *Ã-zlem Türköne is an Ä°stanbul deputy for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) working in the party's Foreign Affairs Department and deputy chairperson of the Turkish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). 15 February 2009, Sunday