Azerbaijan, Baku, 8 July / Trend corr S.Ilhamgizi/ Recent events taking place in Turkey prove that from political standpoint the country is experiencing its recent years' most tense and contradictory period. The criminal proceedings regarding a demand to shut down the governing Justice & Development Party (JDP) and arrests of high-ranking servicemen still more aggravated domestic tensions in Turkey. It seems like an invisible hand mixed up the country from inside and now the events are taking place in an unknown direction.
A fact attracting attention most of all is coincidence of arrests of a group of people, including former generals, journalists and public, with JDP trial. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ergenekon (name of an epos about origin of Goy Turks) operation accompanied with arrests was not ordered by the Government. He flatly denied any connection between the operation and JDP trial. But a couple of days before the operation, Erdogan met one-to-one with the commander of Armed Forces general Ilker Bashbut. Although, Bashbut also said he had not discussed the operation with Erdogan, he noted that Prime Minister did not give him any 'instructions'. However, it is unlikely for the head of the government not to be interested in such an important issue for the country.
The visible side of Turkey's problem is open struggle between staunch supporters of secularity and believers. Although, the issue gained crucial importance after JDP's initiative to lift the ban on wearing of scarves in state and education establishments, in fact the root of the problem is much deeper. Once a party with Islamic bent came to power, secret rivalry occurred in Turkey amongst military structures being guarantors of secular state model. The sides keeping off one another tried not to lose vigilance. However, the war between both flanks remaining loyal to their ideology became more open and radical since the beginning of this year.
Islamic groups stating that they support innovations and liberal values have already launched their levers together with staunch supporters of secularity protecting Ataturk's ideas and today's state model. Taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the Constitution, the supporters of secularism decided to close down JDP and they achieved their goal step by step - Constitutional Court commenced the execution of suit to close down JDP, two court sittings were held in this regard and the court is going to issue a decision soon.
The opposite side achieved the arrest of group of radical secularism supporters, arrest of military men considered to be source of real internal threat for Erdogan's government and it prevented the attempts of 'coup d'etat' as it is indicated in the official statement of the Prosecutor's Office. Even if the decision is issued to close down JDP, the chances to make changes in the government by the oppositional military groups has been restricted. So, the account between the parties is 1:1.
The further development of events will depend on the decision of the Constitutional Court; if JDP is closed down, Erdogan will divulge the name of a new party. The establishment of new party on the basis of JDP means that this struggle will go on. And the supporters of secularism will prefer to work out plans to destroy Erdogan's regime. The new plans may include unexpected steps based on the support of the outside forces.
However, Erdogan is not likely to step back because of pressures and protests; on the contrary, he is expected to shift to more open war which can necessitate extraordinary elections in the country.
Probably, all of these are signs of the clashes within Turkey. The invisible part of the problem is the clash of interests of foreign states, various religious and political groups in within this country. It looks like as if there is struggle between an attempt to create an Islamic state in Turkey and an initiative to shift it to democratic and strongly secular state dependent on West.
It is really difficult for Turkey to pursue balanced, favourable and reasonable policy as it is located in position important and very difficult from the viewpoint of policy, economy, culture, geo-policy and geography, at the crossroad of Christian and Islam world and between Europe and Asia.
The state which will is able to cope with all of that, to decode all conflicting interests and prolong its existence, will also be able to achieve the development of the Turkish people. But, for the present, the state is going through this difficult period and whether it will maintain its worthy existence will depend on its policy.
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