How far with cynicism in foreign policy?

The crisis with Russia, which began with the downing of its aircraft that violated our airspace and lasted seven months, undoubtedly harmed both countries greatly, and the cooling of relations between the two countries has also greatly harmed all the peoples of the region. There is no point at all in measuring and competing over who came out of this bad relationship worse off. Seeing that all of them were harmed makes it much easier to understand why the restoration of these relations has developed so quickly.

The coldness of relations between the two countries further widens the field of intervention for more distant, more foreign or upstart elements of the region, and the interventions made in the meantime make securing the peace and stability the region needs harder with each passing day. When relations are severed, neither side has anything it can explain to, or get accepted by, the other.

Diplomatic power is something that can exist when there is a relationship.

For example, at present the US, despite all its world power, cannot get North Korea, with which it has severed relations, to accept a single word of it.

Diplomatic relations are a kind of mutual dependence, but they are also a source that gives both sides mutual power.

What exists even in simple social relations is far more valid in international relations.

In the social world no one can claim self-sufficiency and break away from society

. The social division of labor makes human beings dependent on other human beings. Especially in modern society, where specialization has increased and social life has become more complex, however much the individual or the philosophy or ideology of individualism develops, the individual's ability to stand on his own feet decreases proportionally. To meet even the most basic daily needs, everyone becomes needy of, and dependent on, other individuals doing different jobs in society.

If absolute freedom is a level at which a person needs no one, it was at one time thought that this could be achieved only by remaining entirely outside civilization or social life. That is why the anti-political, anti-capitalist or anti-social stances put forward with inspiration from the Greek Cynics could never go beyond a kind of hippiedom that tried to sustain life by feeding on garbage dumps.

Cynicism, in the name of not needing anyone, also rejects participation in social or political life, but it also abstains from any claim about the world.

For those who do not give up any claim or demand in their social relations, who even demand the best of everything, to propose almost a kind of cynicism in international relations is a great contradiction.

First of all, it is quite clear that they badly miss the basic reality of human life. A political movement that claims to build civilization and to cultivate the world cannot act on a ground so detached from human nature. Human relations by their nature produce dependence to the extent that they produce mutual benefit, but at the same time, whether these dependencies can be regulated on a basis of law and respect fitting human dignity shows the level of civilization.

In international relations neither Turkey nor any other country can stand on its own without needing anyone.

You will somehow obtain the energy you lack from somewhere, and for that you will give something else you have in surplus. Is there anyone who knows what kind of solution is in the minds of those who demand the highest comfort of life in the field of energy and yet dislike the relationship entered into to secure it? Should Turkey take this energy source from some people by force? Honestly, since judging by the reactions no reasoning worth debating has been put forward, it is not possible to go further.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's

"expressing his regret" in the letter he sent to Russian leader Putin over the downed plane in the incident 7 months ago and the pilot who lost his life, and his saying "forgive us" to the pilot's family, was quickly perceived by Russia as "Erdoğan's apology."

Although in fact the word "apologize," which Turkey expects and stipulates from Israel, was not used, Russia's regarding this much as sufficient as an apology shows both that they attach great importance to this level of approach from Erdoğan and how much they want the restoration of relations with Turkey.

It had been known for quite some time that such a gesture was awaited from Russia. Turkey, for its part, from the beginning did not adopt an approach that in any way fanned the flames, knowing that there was no intent targeting Russia in this incident and how heavy a cost this level of relations has for both sides and for regional stability. This was also very clearly perceived by Russia, but the national emotional atmosphere created by the incident showed that even a simple gesture would be very important.

When President Erdoğan took this step, the environment to accept it and turn it immediately into a key for repair had been prepared.

What comes after this is the launch of a dialogue process that will be decisive on Turkey's regional issues, Syria first of all.

Do not think that the policy Russia has been following in Syria at a distance from Turkey brings it any gain.

On the contrary, every operation puts Russia in an even more difficult position. Yet in a state of reconciliation and dialogue with Turkey, Syria's future will be built much better, with the rights of regional actors, first of all the Syrian people, being taken into consideration.

On this occasion, I pray to Almighty God that the seeds that the Ramadan we have just experienced has sown in our spiritual climate this year bear blessed fruit and bring goodness and abundance to our whole year and lifetime, and I congratulate you on the Ramadan Feast with my best wishes.