Glimmers of Hope
Excerpts from Nicole Pope’s column:
… “This is it. We have really become a Middle Eastern country, jumping from one crisis to the next,” a Turkish friend lamented when she heard the news of the bloody attack [on the US consulate in Istanbul].
The remarkable resilience that Turks have always displayed in the face of difficulties, whether faced with coups, earthquakes, financial meltdown or political crises, has in the past been a double-edged sword. Resilience should not become an acceptance that violent events and endless turmoil are an inescapable part of daily life….
Although the attack feeds into a sense of helplessness that many feel these days, it should not mask more hopeful developments that are taking place in this country…
Turks are more attuned to manipulation attempts than ever in the past… The debates and the soul-searching that have been generated by recent events may have fueled polarization in the society, but they are also forcing it to address some unpleasant realities.
Positive developments in the international arena too, if properly assessed, could make a productive contribution to this process. Take for instance, the invitation extended by Armenia to President Abdullah Gül to attend a football match in Yerevan in September and President Serzh Sarksyan’s stated wish to build ties with the Turkish government and secure the opening of the border. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad could also tip the balance in favor of a constructive dialogue between Ankara and the Iraqi Kurds. And last but certainly not least, the rapprochement between the Cypriot leaders could positively affect one of the more contentious issues in Turkey’s European Union relations.
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