Turkey's policies may limit its power in eastern Mediterranean
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Israeli gas platforms are seen in the Mediterranean Sea, some 15 miles west of the port city of Ashdod, in this Feb. 25 file photo. (Photo: Ebubekir Koran, Cihan)
20 October 2013 /CÜMALİ ÖNAL, İSTANBUL
Attracting attention with its large gas reserves, the eastern Mediterranean has become an area of interest for many countries and has led to a strategic conflict between world powers and the region; however, experts say that if Turkey maintains its current foreign and economic policies on the region, it is likely to be left out of the game.
“If Turkey continues boasting as it did before 2002 [before Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power], economic and political developments in the region may harm Turkey's interests and weaken its hand," Dr. Mehmet Hasgüler, a lecturer of Mediterranean studies at Çanakkale 18 Mart University, told Sunday's Zaman.
The eastern Mediterranean rose to importance due to its natural gas reserves, explored by Israel and Greek Cyprus, and it is believed that the region holds reserves sufficient to supply Europe's energy needs for decades and break Russia's monopoly on the energy sector.
Another expert on the eastern Mediterranean, Nejat Tarakçı -- mostly known for his books on the eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus -- also advised Turkey to abandon its current policies and act wisely in the region. According to Tarakçı, if Turkey acts reasonably and takes the real situation into account, it can rediscover its voice in the region and even receive important benefits from the gas to be extracted.
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