Turkey moving away from Russia over Crimea

Turkey has decided to toe the Western powers' line, at least on principle for the moment, in dismissing the outcome of Crimea's referendum to break away from Ukraine, a clear sign that Turkey is moving away from Russia.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday that Turkey does not recognize the Crimean referendum, calling the poll " illegitimate," a day after the Crimean people voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
On Sunday, Crimean residents voted to break off from Ukraine and join Russia. According to the final results of the referendum, around 96 percent of participants voted to break away from Ukraine.

"I clearly stated that this referendum is not recognized by Turkey. This referendum has no legitimacy. We are in contact with the European Union (EU) and NATO on the steps that will be taken," he added.

That is easier to be said than done, as Turkey, a neighbor to both Ukraine and Russia, needs to tread carefully in order not to risk jeopardizing growing economic and trade relations with Russia.

Ankara is also uneasy over a new flashpoint in the north of its borders across the Black Sea that will complicate the security of Turkey that is already facing a spillover threats from destabilized Syria.

Gunceri Civaoglu, a Turkish political commentator, described the predicament of Turkey in Crimea as a situation that placed Turkey between a rock and a hard place. "Turkey parted ways with Russia in Syria. Now it is over Crimea," he said.

Praising Turkish policy makers for not making the same mistake in Crimea by not falling out with the Western powers, Civaoglu nevertheless warned that Turkey's high-pitched rhetoric over Ukraine carries risks.

"Turkey is the second biggest client for Russian natural gas after Ukraine," he said.

Both the United States and the EU imposed travel restrictions and asset freezes on Russian officials after the referendum and planned to take additional measures in the aftermath of Russian recognition of Crimean annexation.

Sami Kohen, a foreign policy expert, said Turkey is not so willing to join Western powers' drive to punish Russia for the annexation considering that Ankara needs to take into account its economic ties with Russia.

"At this point, it seems impossible to convince Putin to reverse his decision on Crimea," he said.

Turkey has advocated a policy that favors for finding a solution within the framework of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, political unity and territorial integrity.

It also called the referendum in Crimea "violated international agreements and law," describing the move as illegitimate step and not legally binding on Turkey.

From positions of principle, Ankara is clearly siding with the West. Yet there are signs that Turkey does not want to jump to the Western bandwagon right away.

The Turkish foreign minister's comments saying that Turkey doesn't find it appropriate to be in a "bloc" that is reminiscent of the Cold War era is an indication that Ankara is intent to navigate carefully on Crimean issue.

Ankara is also worried over the prospect of Crimean Tatars that has sizable diaspora in Turkey and exerts pressure on Turkish government. The kinship relations of Crimean Tatars with Turkey complicate matter further for Turkey.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu, a Tatar political leader, on Monday, Davutoglu called the well-being of Crimean Tatars as one of Turkey's "strategic priorities."

He reaffirmed Turkish nation's support for Crimean Tatars, ethnic Turkic Muslims who make up about 12 percent of Crimea's population, saying "Maintaining the peace of the Crimean Tatar people and securing their lives and property are among our main priorities."

Stressing that the issue of Crimean Tatars is a sensitive one for Turkey, Kohen said Turkey has already given assurances to defend their rights. 
globaltimes.cn
18/3/14