For the first time in many years Turkey is faced with an intense agenda in both the domestic and foreign policy-related arena that is binding the hands of a country seeking to join the European union.Domestically work is ongoing to shift the country from a Constitution that is a remnant of the 1980 military coup, while on the international stage relations with neighboring Iraq and the United States are at stake due to the terror threat. The Armenian question is also on Turkey's agenda.
Just three months after the July 22 general elections described as a victory of stability.Turkey feels backed into a corner in a certain number of areas. Many observers in Ankara believe this situation is narrowing the government's ability to maneuver and say the ruling Justice and Development Party will only have the chance to take a breath in the challenging foreign policy arena by making concessions on domestic policy such as delaying the work on the draft constitution.
Will Turkey enter N. Iraq?
Today's frequently posed question is whether the Turkish military will conduct an operation into Iraq despite objections from the international comminity particularly its NATO ally, the United States.
A senior official at the Foreign Ministry recalled the Turkish army's cross-border operation in 1996 and said, the whole world went against us. The current situation is graver than 11 years ago.
Elaborating further the official said the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is one of the major differences that make the situation more complicated. Coincidentally, the timing of the genocide resolution put up for a vote in the U.S. Congress and which has already strained ties caused uproar among the Turks.
Both the cross-border operation and the genocide issues are harming relations. We should find the best way to solve both of them without damaging bilateral ties,said the official who wished to remain anonymous.
The domestic scene
The situation domestically is not that brilliant either. Turkey has speeded up efforts for a referendum on a constitutional package set for Oct. 21. The government decided to remove two controversial articles from the package to avoid further legal debates on the status of President Abdullah Gül. Many believe that the referendum was unnecessary, as the government has decided to rewrite the Constitution.
As work on the draft constitution continues behind closed doors, the debates focus on just the secularism principle and the headscarf issue, something that has polarized society and weakened the government's position.