New Turkey" under the rule of Erdogan heading towards isolation

Mark Lewin BBC-Istanbul

• November 20, 2014

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Erdogan (middle) found himself increasingly isolated on the international scene recently

There is a saying in Turkey says that "Turkey is not only a Turkish friend," At a time when Turkey is heading towards isolation under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this proverb frequented actually echoes are alarming.

During his tenure as prime minister for 11 years, emerged as Turkey strongly in the international arena, it has started negotiations to join the European Union, and the increased strength of its existence, especially in Africa diplomat, and hosts the largest city of Istanbul is one of the largest airports in the world and the airline going the largest number of flights compared to other countries.

But over the past few months, maybe two years or thereabouts, bad evolution in terms of Turkey's relations event. International political leaders still visit Turkey for brief periods, and will receive Ankara this week, US Vice President Joe Biden to meet with Turkish officials, but Turkey today lacks clearly to her friends.

Erdogan has achieved an economic boom in Turkey occupies the center of the 17 most powerful economy in the world

When the United Nations General Assembly voted last month to choose the non-permanent members of the Security Council, Turkey was believed with confidence that they'll get a seat. But, it is shameful, is that they lost this seat in favor of Spain and New Zealand, which is a slap in the face of Erdogan, who was elected president in August / August last.

It started with the "Arab Spring", where Turkey has resorted to bet loser through its support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and also bet on the rapid overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

And now has no ambassador in Cairo, condemned Erdogan his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, describing it as "an unelected tyrant."

Slipped in Turkey can not flee to Syria's nightmare, and faced sharp criticism for allowing foreign militants to cross its border, and weakened its relations with Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

And became a previous strategic partnership with Israel in a state of disrepair, and Ankara withdrew its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Erdogan described the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip as a "genocide ... remember the Holocaust."

But now even the old ties with allies such as the United States has declined.

And when it established Washington, an international coalition to fight the organization of the Islamic state, Turkey excluded from this alliance, and refused to allow the United States to use its bases there for strikes unless they have also targeted President Assad and supported the imposition of no-fly zone over Syria.

Erdogan's description of him came out in demonstrations that they are a group of "the mob."

After a few hours of warning Erdogan, US President Barack Obama last month to refrain from arming the Kurdish fighters in Syria, the United States dropped weapons by air, and barely no clearer signal on the dispute between the two sides.

"Great success"

He said Sinan Ulgen of the Foundation "any complete" research "There is the realization of the government the extent of the ground lost (Turkey), but Ankara justify it by claiming that the reason for the isolation of Turkey is that it is the only state that has boldly enough to adopt an upscale ethical foreign policy based on values." .

"This is the argument put forward (also) voters are supporters of Erdogan, and for him this is the most important."

This in the end is who leads the movements of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Venjaha unrivaled in the elections quite firmly convinced him that his policies are the right policies.

Mass street, which was launched in June 2013 against the backdrop of a plan to build the "Gaza" garden in Istanbul protests did not change from Erdogan's path, and while the invited dignitaries around him to dialogue, Erdogan described the protesters as a group of "the mob."

Erdogan described his Egyptian counterpart Sisi as an unelected tyrant

Also survived the leak is offensive to his image a private phone calls in his predicament before he and allies close to him in allegations of corruption.

"Undo influence"

Erdogan responded to condemn leaks "an attempted coup" and sacked thousands of judges, police, and sought to ban social media, and cemented his ties based on loyal allies.

He said Sinan Ulgen "The protests in Gaza and the subsequent reaction (Erdogan) on corruption allegations coincided with the transformation of the global point of view about Erdogan."

He said that "the isolation of Turkey pose a problem for her, but also to the West, if the West wants to achieve security objectives in the region, it probably will not have a better partner than Turkey."

But he added that "with the decline in the influence of Turkey, the West will be restricted, Erdogan believes that democratic legitimacy is the ballot box, (but) others are expecting more than that of Turkish democracy, freedom of the press and independence of the judiciary and the rule of law."

Erdogan criticized in a similar Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip earlier this year

In recent weeks, criticism has increased at home, to build a presidential palace featuring thousand rooms at a cost of $ 615 million in a protected forest, in defiance of the 30 legal challenge, to verbal attacks on foreign journalists to controversial statements in which he said that Muslims and not Christopher Columbus are discovered America.

These statements and referred to the feeling that the government is suffering from confusion.

"Economic power"

But Erdogan still maintains support among his supporters, voters do not care much who represented 52 percent of the vote to ban social site Twitter or allegations of corruption, which they see as most politicians hovering around approx.

For them, the transition from weak economic state to the center of the 17 best in the world economy in the last decade is the most important thing, (which is reflected in the building) new hospitals, roads and schools.

Turkey refused to allow the United States to use its bases to attack militants organize an Islamic state in Syria unless targeting Assad

And feel the supporters of Erdogan, and Mho mainly conservative Islamists, they invite their boss freed and allowed to wear headscarves in schools and universities, which was banned in the past during the secular rule which lasted for 80 years. They love his image as a man of countries, as a leader willing to stand up to the West Nada.

Ibrahim Kallen adviser Erdogan said that Turkey Turkish president to make "political and economic power center."

He added that Erdogan began "a new process for the settlement of the Kurdish issue, and took a number of historic steps to recognize the rights of religious minorities and fought military influence," in reference to the steps which won high praise to rein in the army, which has ousted four governments since 1960.

But the first successes of his folded into oblivion due to the growing tyranny.

Lee said a European official, "in individual meetings, it is a very attractive, and can listen to the advice. But in front of the audience, it's about winning the battle, Valtuaqat and checks and balances are signs of weakness. Normally it moves to adopt the positions of more aggressive and tougher, and then realizes ( later) that there is a need to adopt a different approach. "

Faded attention that it exists in the first instance the EU because of concerns about freedom of expression. After the movements of Turkey stopped for membership of the European Union and the enthusiasm faded (Turkish) to expand the membership, also fell here the influence of the European Union, which increased the sense of isolation.

Erdogan Palace yuppie case sparked controversy in Turkey

European official acknowledged that "good feeling about Erdogan has faded, there is greater caution, but we want to keep the interest in the accession process (for EU membership) and want to have more to do, there is a realization of the importance of Turkey."

The EU official said "Erdogan's personal ambition is to become the greatest Turkish at all, even if the decline in enthusiasm about it, it is still the man who must deal with him."

Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to build what he described as the "new Turkey", and others describe Turkey under his leadership as polarized and miserable, the state began to rapidly disappear friends at home and abroad.