The situation is deepening...

It was accentuated that ambiguity was growing because the prosecution fell short and could not prepare the indictment in time.

Attention was raised when a few generals were released after the Chief of General Staff Gen. Başbuğ met with the Prime Minister Erdoğan and the impression came up that the situation would slow down. It was put forth that fine tuning would step in.

But the opposite became true.

The 11th detention wave surprised many. Especially the names of detained people were a sign of a deepening of the Ergenekon investigation. Now, for a moment let’s stop here and try to evaluate this development.

Prosecutors are careful people.

Especially if Prosecutor Öz, who received much criticism up until now, decided on a new wave and pressed the button, something must underlie this decision and he must have sufficient, persuasive evidence in hand. Otherwise the risk of such a new wave could not be run.

Despite all allegations and general sense, I can’t and I don’t want to believe that all these people within this detention campaign are taken into custody on directives issued by the administration. It is a crime and cannot be hidden for long. In the end it will be audible and cost the political authority much. The administration can direct with statements, indirectly and secretly, but that’s all. But if it steps outside of this, then it should accept the risk.

Prosecutors care about their future. They would not sacrifice themselves easily for a political party.

Detentions still continuing in view of these findings, I reason that "the prosecution is about to finish preparing the indictment and perceive the evidence in hand as sufficient." I prefer to wait for the indictment.

In the end, if this case comes to a point where it satisfies the conscience of the public, the Ergenekon file will be a gain for democracy. Otherwise we’ll face a big loss.

For exactly 45 years now I have been monitoring Turkey’s foreign politics. To tell the truth, Ankara had no such thing as a general approach. Be it within NATO or the United Nations the Turkish delegates take a glimpse of the American delegates and vote respectively. There was no need for getting exhausted and spending efforts on new politics.

The Balkans and Caucasus are split between the United States and Russia according to their sphere of influence. Turkey also votes or takes an approach within its alliance lines. Turkey’s approach regarding the Middle East conflict was even weirder. They did not want to get their hands dirty. Turkey would turn its back on the Arab and take a negligent approach.

In case of any event Turkey would monitor the situation and Ankara would publish a statement written in a bombastic way, not comprehensible or understandable by anyone, calling "for an inducement of common sense to parties involved." Not engaged with the ball, generally uncommitted. They did not want to get their hands dirty. Only with respect to Cyprus or the Aegean was their interest expressed. Turkey is undergoing a basic change in recent years. The former attitude does not exist anymore. On the contrary, we are facing an involving attitude. It rolls back its sleeves as one of the biggest countries in the region and intervenes, even at the cost of taking risk, in different conflict areas.

It plays the role of a catalyzer. Behaves extremely active. The interesting thing about this is that we see a political approach that is unlike Sarkozy’s model of glitter, fame and glory taking place backstage without stealing anyone’s role.

The Prime Minister takes time and makes phone calls for hours if necessary. If that doesn’t work he travels internationally to find a solution. The foremost visible person in this new approach is Ahmet Davutoğlu. Trusted by the Prime Minister and by now accepted by the Foreign Ministry, he is the architect of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s foreign policy and extremely successful.

No matter what anybody says or how much it is criticized, the AKP takes in this respect a satisfying approach. Maybe we underestimate it but today Turkey has taken on small and huge roles in almost every event in the Middle East, Caucasus or the Balkans.

Lebanon, Palestine, Georgia, Afghanistan... wherever you look there is a trace of Turkey. Countries that do not act at all, don’t take risks, won’t get their fingers burned. Turkey maybe takes some risks but also attracts attention.

Turkey's role in the region
In efforts during the Gaza cease-fire operation Turkey was very effective behind closed doors.

Interesting enough that Turkey’s most valuable negotiation card is Hamas.

The Prime Minister does not defend Hamas without reason. His approach gives him a card that no other country has. Besides, Turkey also believes that Hamas is right. He draws attention to that the isolation of a political movement elected by people, that has been pushed into a corner and beaten up, which would only create more problems.

Turkey’s other important card is to keep its promise and not show off, to assure countries with which it established a relationship, to not to speak only to attract the media but stay in the background, which is mentioned among the best-liked approaches taken by Ankara.

Turkey’s name was never mentioned before. For it was out of sight. For the first time Turkey’s presence and contributions are being mentioned in the international press. Maybe this is not mentioned as necessary or adequate to its contributions but it doesn’t escape the attention of specialists who can read between the lines.

As you might guess, to come out with the Hamas card, visits to Middle East countries and opposing anti-Semitism in a brisk way, all is taken as a sign of Turkey starting to change its direction. Is it maybe true?

Ahmet Davutoğlu speaks clearly in this regard. He says, "Could taking care of problems in the region count as changing direction? Could we turn our backs on a fire right next to us? Turkey’s priority is still the European Union and relations with the United States. In addition, these active politics will draw Turkey closer to Europe and America." As far as I’m concerned, he is completely right.