Erdogan emerges stronger from the summits

Not long ago, just a few years in fact, Turkey was a country that faced many difficulties, both domestically and internationally.

It both wanted to become a member of the European Union but was failing to take the necessary steps.

The Cyprus problem had reached a dead end. We were struggling to free ourselves from the traps set by the Greek Cypriots.

Our relations with the United States were at the most vulnerable level in years.

Our understanding of the Kurdish problem was limited to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel), ignoring the expectations of our Kurdish citizens.

We were involved in our relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) only grudgingly. There were fears that the stand-by agreement with the IMF would be suspended any minute.

Our guys produced this distortion
All this was done by leaders who respected Western values and were very sensitive on the issue of secularism (the leaders we ourselves elected): Suleyman Demirel, Bulent Ecevit, Tansu Ciller, Mesut Yilmaz and the military governments that came to power three times through coups. This was the balance sheet of the past 50 years.

The team we looked down on changed everything
First Turgut Ozal wanted to change this distortion. He made some headway, but most of it remained. However, then the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power. Some looked down on them, seeing the Anatolian peasant in their movement. Others described them as "religious fundamentalists" who had a hidden agenda. And then everything changed.

No matter what we think about them or their beliefs, we should give them the respect they are due.

Together with the AK Party government, the policies I listed above have changed.

They amazed us with the speed and courage with which they undertook reforms. No one should doubt this fact: This party turned Turkey into a respected member of the international community, which today describes Turkey as the "land of surprises."

Final summit meetings
Some of us argue that we are the ones who are making all the sacrifices, while we get nothing in return. They still don’t understand the fact that the steps taken are not sacrifices but rather are measures to satisfy the demands of our own people.

Moreover, we are getting much in return.

If you want an example, just look at the recent international summits.

Erdogan being invited to the G-8 summit, the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) meeting in Istanbul, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting at the foreign ministers’ level and lastly the NATO summit.

The support Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received at these summits was very interesting. Not the phony support hosts usually receive. You can easily reach this conclusion when you add up all the things the German and British prime ministers and the U.S. and French presidents said, such as, "The fears and doubts we had about the AK Party have disappeared. We are now faced with a moderately Islamic, courageous and trustworthy leader."

The West has accepted Erdogan and has started to show its support openly. Additionally, the United States and Europe are now treating Turkey as a "model state."

This status may carry Turkey into the big leagues. If we don’t ruin this opportunity ourselves, we might benefit in the end.

Erdogan’s self-confidence is also increasing
I’m sure you’ve noticed it, too. His self-confidence is gradually increasing. The effect of the international support he is receiving is reflected in his statements.

Other commentators have also noticed the change. Erdogan is rejecting the fanatic attitude of a part of the Islamic world.

He is openly condemning the kidnappers in Iraq. He attacks those who kill in the name of Islam. He is saying that Islam can exist but needs to change.

He went even further at the NATO summit and described NATO as "us," demonstrating that he now viewed Turkey as part of NATO.

All this is happening because of the domestic (increasing votes) and international (signals coming from the international community) support he is receiving.

Turkey is changing at a very fast pace.

A portion of the nation is insisting on following the same tenets, but the rest is going in a different direction.

I hope no one misunderstands. The road is not towards anti-secularism, but just the opposite, towards an EU that will strengthen secularism.