Emin Colasan: The rest is just talk....

Empty talk, is that the case?
 
Fine Mr. Prime Minister, but we really don't understand what either of you have said! Or we didn't hear anything concrete I guess.
 
After this big trip to the US, there were really only two things that stuck in anyone's mind:
 
1-The fly in the Oval Office, how it got there and who killed it. Apparently, Abdullah Gul went after it, but the US authorities dealt it the final blow.
 
2-The state of alcoholic drinks on the airplane. A private plane was bought for the use of the Prime Minister, the cost is hidden like a government secret. There are luxurious bathrooms, it has a bedroom.....there was apparently alcohol on the plane, but none of the journalists invited ordered any. In order to look good to the Prime Minister. Well, good for them! When you're a journalist, the first order of business is to be respectful to the Prime Minister! After all, if you order a drink, the Prime Minister might put you on his black list! And after all, the next time you might not be invited on the trip, and you might not get to interview him.
 
***
 
Yes, all that's left in our minds about the big US trip is the fly incident and the non-ordering of alcoholic cocktails on the plane. What else? Nothing else. Everything else is just talk. Ah yes, there was also this: we were so happy because the half hour rendezvous extended to Erdogan was pushed up to a full hour. And of course the Prime Minister had the chance to tour monuments and parks, and to have his picture snapped with tourists and children. Oh yes, and we're so sad that Mrs. Bush couldn't even set aside 15 minutes for tea with our First Lady. Yes, all this is true.
 
***
 
OK, but what about the other matters? Like the PKK, Syria, Cyprus, the Heybeliada Monastery, Armenia, Northern Iraq, the recent Kurdish government? Was there anything concrete to come out of discussions on these? No.
 
Well, one thing. Abdullah Gul requested this of US authorities: "We lose soldiers every day in Iraq. Please pay attention to the situation, and let's take measures in Northern Iraq against the PKK." Yes, a Foreign Minister should always be direct and concise like that!
 
Then, let's see, we also signed a helicopter purchase contract. We will pay the US around 500 million dollars to buy helicopters. Because our principle is this: "Since we can't get anything, let's give something."
 
Then Tayyip Erdogan went on CNN International for 10 minutes. He gave answers to some questions with the help of a translator. And he complained about his country, I mean our country, to the world, on the subject of the turban.
 
If I had been the CNN interviewer, I would have said this:

"You are complaining, but you are in the majority in your parliament. Pass a law, make the wearing of turbans legal in government offices. Let all the female police, government officials, judges, teachers, doctors, and university students who want wear the turban. Why don't you do that?"
 
I wonder how this Prime Minister, who complains about his country on a foreign news channel, would have answered such a question?
 
Anyway, the US visit ended this way.
 
Tayyip Erdogan and his team managed to have talks with Bush. How well he said it himself: The rest is just talk!