The ’border’ card vs ’genocide’

A parliamentary delegation visited the United States on March 2 and 6. Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission President Murat Mercan went with Suat Kınıklıoğlu and Nursuna Memecan of the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Şükrü Elekdağ of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and Mithat Melen of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, to make contact with American officials. The Turkish parliamentarians met the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Chairman Gary Ackerman, U.S. Congress Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Co-Chair Alcee Hastings, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman and representatives of Jewish organizations. Officials discussed the Armenian issue in particular.

The AKP members of the Turkish delegation dwelled on two key issues. First, they asked President Barack Obama not to utter the "genocide" word in his speech April 24. Second, Turkish parliamentarians asked the refusal of the Armenian Genocide Bill at the House. The AKP deputies in return used the "border gate" as a trump card. They briefly made the following remarks: "Approval of this bill or the utterance of the word ’genocide’ in Mr. President’s speech will harm Turkish-Armenian relations that have been blossomed recently. We are planning to open the border gate between Turkey and Armenia. This move will be blocked otherwise."

Such remarks by AKP officials in the delegation disturbed CHP and MHP delegates. The CHP and MHP officials disagreed with the AKP officials. However, the AKP delegates kept sending similar messages during the visit.

The second item on the agenda for the Turkish parliamentarians was U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. The United States wants to gradually pull out from Iraq via Turkish land that they see as a "secure line." The Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, however, stands against "armed passing." The AKP delegates openly addressed this issue to American officials that they remained in contact. Turkey’s sensitivities were addressed as follows: "We are against the armed passing because the unlawful Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) may seize weapons. We cannot stand even a single set of night-vision goggles to be obtained by the PKK. We are very sensitive in this subject."

After hearing out the Turkish parliamentarians, American officials said U.S. troops should leave Iraq with their equipments and for security reasons an unarmed passing is impossible. "We note your sensitivities however," said U.S. officials. On April 24, we’ll see if mutual sensitivities will be cared for. We’ll also see if the "border gate" trump card was effective against the word "genocide."

’Quit smoking, buy a house instead’

According to the Law on Preventing Tobacco Harm, smoking was banned in public buildings, including corridors, as well as in any education, health, trade, social, cultural, sports, entertainment facilities in May of 2008. As of May 19, 2009, smoking will be banned in restaurants, bars, cafes and coffee houses. It will be difficult for heavy smokers. Parliament Health Commission Chairman Cevdet Erdöl is trying to help smokers quit by making a suggestion "Don’t smoke, buy a house."

"If a person smoking a pack of cigarettes a day saves the money he spends on smoking, he can buy a house by paying 100 Turkish Liras monthly to TOKİ. But just for pleasure. His house is going up in smoke, so to speak." The offer is quite attractive. I wonder how many smokers will quit. That Chairman Erdöl cannot guarantee.

Finding a mutual foe

They are two different ends of political factions. They get up at 5 in the morning, get trimmed, wear ties and begin to work. They are involved in domestic issues as well as world issues. They keep in touch with people. Both are over 80. One is the former President Süleyman Demirel and the other is the former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. The most important quality they had in common was the fight between them during the "post-modern" Feb. 28 coup. And today, they unite in a struggle to lift up the opposition against AKP.