ROAD MAP OF POLITICS SHAPED

ROAD MAP OF POLITICS SHAPED

2004 will be a critical year for Turkey during which time the settlement of the Cyprus issue and stability in Iraq as well as membership to the EU will be major headings that will occupy the agenda. It will also be a year shaping the road map of politics for the years to come. Meanwhile, AKP; the ruling party has its own political agenda which includes moving into a presidential system. Such a plan would involve the creation of a new constitution which could also possibly be a prerequisite for Turkey’s accession to the EU in case the EU puts it forward as a condition for negotiations to commence. Another main area of concern for AKP is the issue of legitimacy for the legitimacy of the ruling party is still question in the eyes of the public at large for they did not come power with a majority of the votes of the voting population in the country. This is closely related to AKP’s positioning in the political spectrum of Turkey. The party needs to re-define itself and its long-term political discourse.

The medium and long-term targets of the US in the region are also of utmost importance for Turkey for the US is always highly interested in the developments taking place in this part of the world. The US seems to be supporting Turkey as the only model of a secular democracy in the region and cooperation with AKP may well be considered by the US as far as American interests in the region are concerned. All in all, an important road map is being drawn in the political arena and it is inevitable to take part in it. Yet, participation would ensure a more effective and stable structure to be established