Ertugrul Ozkok:My worry grows; but not about Rahsan's claims
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 06, 2006 13:33
Last Monday afternoon, I was in the Ankara office of Hurriyet representative Enis Berberoglu, talking with Rahsan Ecevit. Joining Rahsan was Emrehan Halici. She said that she had come to explain to us about her "alliance talks." Her other aim is clearly to "make suspicions grow" in us.
Rahsan Ecevit believes that "Turkey is under siege." She draws a picture of what is happening in the nation, from Thrace to Ardahan. The tableau she sketches is like this: "Just think, the Greeks have bought up all of Thrace." She passes on to the Aegean: "As you know, the Greek islands in the Aegean are all militarized, with weapons. And now, the Greeks are buying up all the coastal properties which face these islands." I start to listen more closely, since I have a home in this area. She continues: "And so, while we insist that weapons be taken off these islands, the property is being sold right out from under us." She moves from this point, swiveling her focus to the Mediterranean coastline. She says of Hatay: "It was sold long ago." No matter that the Hatay governor insists that there is not a single property bought by foreigners there for the past 20 years. Rahsan continues: "As for GAP (the South Anatolian Project), the Israelis have bought in that area. Every last bit of land is gone."
Just to show I am still interested, I ask: "We have looked into it a bit, but have not been able to find any documents which prove these claims. Do you have any documented proof?" She answers: "Well, right now, the land survey directorate can't say anything. But he has already come and told us....." She goes, affirming "We don't have any documents, but we have reliable sources."
*****
We continue to listen to the "reliable sources," as Rahsan Ecevit continues her tour of an "Anatolia under siege": She maintains next that Turkish Jews are buying up middle Anatolia. I point out that since Turkish Jews are citizens of the Turkish Republic, they have every right to buy homes and properties in this country. She insists: "But they are buying them in the name of Israeli firms." As I listen in surprise, she comes in with her final punch: "And do you know what I have just heard? The area around the Kus Cenneti (Bird Paradise, near Bodrum) has been completely bought up by foreigners! That place has gone!"
After leaving the meeting with Rahsan, I ask myself: does she really want an "alliance," or some sort of disaster?
*****
Well, in the end, Rahsan Ecevit really was successful sparking worried suspicions in me, though not in the area she had perhaps hoped for. No, my worry is now that the number of people actually believing her claims could be higher than I had once thought.
Just to show I am still interested, I ask: "We have looked into it a bit, but have not been able to find any documents which prove these claims. Do you have any documented proof?" She answers: "Well, right now, the land survey directorate can't say anything. But he has already come and told us....." She goes, affirming "We don't have any documents, but we have reliable sources."
*****
We continue to listen to the "reliable sources," as Rahsan Ecevit continues her tour of an "Anatolia under siege": She maintains next that Turkish Jews are buying up middle Anatolia. I point out that since Turkish Jews are citizens of the Turkish Republic, they have every right to buy homes and properties in this country. She insists: "But they are buying them in the name of Israeli firms." As I listen in surprise, she comes in with her final punch: "And do you know what I have just heard? The area around the Kus Cenneti (Bird Paradise, near Bodrum) has been completely bought up by foreigners! That place has gone!"
After leaving the meeting with Rahsan, I ask myself: does she really want an "alliance," or some sort of disaster?
*****
Well, in the end, Rahsan Ecevit really was successful sparking worried suspicions in me, though not in the area she had perhaps hoped for. No, my worry is now that the number of people actually believing her claims could be higher than I had once thought.