Suat KINIKLIOGLU, AK Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs and Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish Parliament, responded to an op-ed by Mr Soner Cagaptay titled ‘Turkey’s Turn From the West’ published in the Washington Post.

KINIKLIOGLU stated that Mr. Cagaptay’s piece contained grossly misleading information directing harsh criticism to the Turkish government.

Underlining that their delicate and sophisticated efforts within the framework of Turkey’s ‘neighborhood policy’ was misunderstood. KINIKLIOGLU stated that AK Party pursued a vigorous regional policy that aimed to correct an anomaly of the Cold War era since 2002. He added that Turkey strived to reintegrate itself into the Balkans, the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

KINIKLIOGLU, pointed that this was a necessity due to Turkey’s geographical position. He said “Far from being a choice, our outreach to our neighbors is not done at the expense of our relationship with the West. On the contrary, it is complementary to it.”

Explaining that Cagaptay’s interpretation of Turkey’s regional policy as a shift in Turkey’s orientation missed the sophistication behind Ankara’s efforts to stabilize a troubled neighborhood. KINIKLIOGLU noted that Mr. Cagaptay’s piece smelled of ill-intent or was simply another sample of his poor analysis on Turkey.