Will Turkey get a share from Iraqi reconstruction?
RUNNING A STATE IS NOT LIKE COOKING OMELET
Ekovitrin: Should Turkey have actively taken part beside US. in Iraqi operation?
Erdem:I would like to see the problem had been solved in a peaceful way. But when it was clear that the war was indispensable, than Turkey should have acted together with US. When the Middle east is reshaped, Turkey as the only democratic and secular muslim country of the world, ofcourse should not have stayed out of the picture. If once we made a big mistake in the past, we should at least be careful in the future when the next steps will be taken. Turkey will otherwise be drifted away with the currency. Deceased President Turgut Özal used to say “to run a state is not like cooking an omelet. It’s difficult and need experience” I can understand the inexperience of a new government. But they should have consulted with the experienced bureaucrats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military officers.
PRESIDENT BUSH SUPPORTED TURKEY
Let’s take a look at President Bush. He was also new in his office. When Turkey was undergoing through a deep economic crisis, what did he do? He wrote a letter to Ecevit and said, “don’t worry about the crisis, US is beside you” Then came 36.8 billion dollar. When Turkey was combatting against terrorism and Europe was supporting the otherside, it was US, always beside Turkey.
TURKISH PARLIAMENT MADE A BIG MISTAKE
Ekovitrin: Do you say that the Turkish government made a mistake.
Erdem: Not only them. All the leaders of the country and the members of the parliament are all responsible for the situation.
Ekovitrin:You mean the bill should have passed through.
Erdem: Absolutely. It would make such a big difference.
Primarily if Turkish army had marched into Iraq, together with American troops from northern border, the operation might be completed in a shorter time, Iraq would not be destroyed this much and the number of casualty would be much less. Turkey would surely have an important saying in the reconstruction and administrative reorganization of Iraq. These are the preliminary losses of Turkey. In the future those who caused this much loss to the country will surely be held responsible. I hope they take their lessons for the future. I do not have any objection to the parliamentary democracy ofcourse.
TURKEY SHOULD DECIDE AT WHOSE SIDE TO BE
Let me mathematically define you at whose side Turkey should be in the future. The next war in which US will get involved, will be a digital, unmanned one. And the 47% of the world’s electricity generation is consumed by the 285 million American citizens, versus the world population of 6.2 billion. At whose side do you think Turkey should be?
ARE LOBBYING TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIPS
Ekovitrin: Do you think there is an improvement between the relationships?
Erdem: I think there is. Important NGO’s are working hard. TOBB, TÜSİAD and TABA are the main lobbying groups.
WOLFOWITZ IS NUMBER ONE FRIEND OF TURKEY
Ekovitrin: What are the concrete steps to repair the relations?
Erdem: We should cooperate with the jewish lobbying groups. We should support Colin Powell. We should listen to whatever Wolfowitz says very carefully. He is our friend since Özal times. We should also know that at the beginning, we may not establish same degree of relations with American officers. But we should not give up our efforts. We should focus on longer term strategies rather trying to find immediate solutions of the present day problems.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICA?
Erdem: America is such a power that with 285 million population its GNP is 11 trillion dollar, versus 7.4 trillion of Europe with 350 million population. In scientific innovations and technology, 200 years old United States, is hundred years ahead, of 1000 years old Europe.
THERE WILL BE NEW FIGHTINGS IN ISLAM GEOGRAPHY Ekovitrin: Is Turkey still an important country for the US.?
Erdem: I say US can run Middle East without Turkey. But can better direct with Turkey. If US really wants to avoid the clash of religions, which is the main reason of international terrorism, Turkey should serve as an example with its democratic and secular system. With Turkey’s geographic location, imperial background, powerful military and educated work force it is surely quicker to change the Middle East. I believe there will be further fightings in Islam geography where Turkey is just in the center.
38 BILLION DOLLAR IRAQI CAKE
Ekovitrin: Do you think Turkey can get a share from Iraqı reconstruction cake.
Erdem:Not directly. There are informations that the tenders were mostly distributed to the American and British companies. But there may be some sub-contracting opportunities for Turkish companies within the range of 3 to 5 billion dollars if they work well. This volume can be increased, if Turkey tries coordinated efforts with the United States and Turkish contractors. Let me explain what do I mean by coordinated efforts. During Ecevit’s time we were in the United States. A joint committee had been formed between the United States and Turkey to realize Qualified Industrial Zones in Turkey. Ministry of foreign Affairs İsmail Cem told us on return flight that no one should talk too much about the deals when go back home. And remember what? Everybody played a different tune. And Turkey lost this opportunity.
WE COULD EASILY INCREASE TURKEY’S EXPORT TO US TO 20 BILLION DOLLAR
Ekovitrin:What is today’s trade volume between two countries?
Erdem: Turkey’s export to US is, 3 billion dollar and import from US, 4 billion dollar. If Qualified Industrial Zones had been put into operation our export could easily increase to 15 – 20 billion dollar. Our trade volume with US at present counts only 0.2 % of the US trade volume. It could easily be raised to 2 % if Turkey had managed the continuation of good relationships. More than this anyway would be unthinkable since there are some competitors like China and far East Asian countries.
TURKISH OLIVE OIL IS SOLD UNDER THE GREEK BRAND
Because of Turkey’s failure in lobbying activities and export organizations we continuously lose. Turkey is maybe good on the first three export items but when it comes fourth to sixth items the quality drops. For instance Turkey was one of the best cotton exporters. The good was of the best quality. But inspite of warnings for not leaving synthetic threads, this simple nuance was disregarded. A lot of exported cotton rejected just for this reason. Why do you think Turkish olive oil is sold under Greek brand Turkish fig for export is repacked in America. Because Turkish exporters are not reliable to fulfill their commitments.
TURKEY CAN NOT YET RENDER INTERNET SERVICE
Ekovizyon: You are in the telecommunication sector. There are a lot of software knowledge accumulation in Turkey. Can we not elaborate our relationship with US in software development like India does.
Erdem: Wait a moment. Let us speak the essentials first. Turkey can not yet render a reliable internet service. An earthquake somewhere in the world immediately cuts off Turkey’s whole internet communication. We can not trade on internet for 15 days. Deceased president Özal had aimed at equipping each school with computers. Could we reach that target? India waived all kind of tax obligations on software investments. Consequently they now sell software to the whole world.
SILICON VALLEY PROJECT WAS HINDERED
Ekovitrin: Can Turkey not elaborate a silicon valley?
Erdem: Deceased president Özal had already initiated such a project. He even made the budgetary allocations and fixed the land. If for more than 10 years, investors are invited and then the tenders are cancelled on this project how can you expect something good to be done in our Country?
Ekovitrin: Do you mean that silicon valley project was hindered?
Erdem: Absolutely yes.
ECONOMY SO FAR ON GOOD TRACK
Ekovitrin: How do you value economic performance?
Erdem: So far it is on good track. Turkey is not under the pressure of negative expectations. But everything is dependant on timely debt servicing. If Turkey fails and public expectations turn negative then dollar is highly appreciated and we undergo a crisis period.
Ekovitrin: How about the relations with IMF?
Erdem: That is also dependant on US attitude. I hope will continue positively.