Over the issue of refugees, the lenses are once again turned to the issue of Syria. The increasing debate in recent months seems to have focused on the problem of asylum seekers. However, this issue shows an important part of the problem, but only one dimension. The main focus is on the ongoing problem in Syria for more than ten years. Why did it start and how can it be resolved?
As it is known, we do not come across political evaluations much nowadays. Perhaps the events in Ukraine may have put the developments in Syria into the background. However, even if this is the case for today, the Syrian issue will continue to directly affect Turkey and then the countries in the region. If the issue of asylum seekers is not discussed and discussed together with the political dimensions of the issue, it means that this issue will not be resolved on a healthy basis. As we have said before, saying "let's send the whole thing as soon as possible" and making evaluations on the basis of "ansar and immigrant definitions" will unfortunately not make the necessary contribution to the understanding of the issue. While these facts are clear, the statements made by the government, especially in Turkey, in order to save the day, do nothing but move the issue to an inextricable point. The officials of the government, who subjected the opposition to heavy criticism because they would send the refugees if they came to power a month ago, are able to make a statement that their "honorable return" will be ensured this time when the public debates increase. Although it is an issue that should be kept away from polemics as much as possible, seeing that the officials of the Ministry of Interior are the leading parties of the most incomprehensible polemics about asylum seekers and immigrants is a real cause for concern.
Is it because those who make a habit of constantly using the discourse of survival as a political argument fail to see that the issue of asylum seekers and immigrants is one of the biggest problems of survival, if it is not managed properly, because they think the state is a toy? Wouldn't the processes managed with such language and style be a deepening of the problem that will eventually be left in the palm of hand? Isn't it an approach that should find solutions suitable for the ordinary flow of life and ensure maximum returns, as well as carrying out integration processes that take care of the survival of the state and the nation, beyond current political debates, for those who will be permanent?
I cannot help but mention that we experienced great uneasiness when our friend said that "one third of the population is made up of asylum seekers, it is an environment open to provocation, and the accident is starting to boil" in our meeting with our friend, who is the head of an important NGO in Şanlıurfa recently.
On the other hand, Turkey has entered the normalization phase with the countries of the region, together with the tension between Russia and Ukraine, perhaps as a result of the acceleration of this war. First of all, it should be stated that efforts to get closer with Egypt are valuable. It is also important to try to repair relations with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Although the government has announced these normalization steps with big words they said yesterday as if there will be no talks with these countries in life, but now it is carried out as if all problems have been overcome and there will be no problems from now on, these steps are correct. It weakened the hand against the interlocutors and created a trust problem, but it is a gain for the country to have turned away from this.
At this very point, despite everything and all its risks, Turkey should speed up its talks with Syria, and take the initiative for the most correct solution to refugees and other problems while the world is dealing with an agenda focused on Ukraine. It would not be the right approach to keep Syria out of this circle while normalization efforts were made with other regional countries, even with Israel. It is clear that the Syrian issue has different dimensions. It is known that America does not want to keep Syria in one piece. It is also known that Russia wants to keep Syria. In an environment where both countries are arm wrestling far beyond the Syrian issue, the negotiations can be conducted on a healthier ground than yesterday. Of course, while expressing this, it should be added that Syria was not brought to the table as a condition by Israel during the normalization process.
In addition, there are irregular migrants, especially from Afghanistan and Central Asia, which is difficult to understand and define. Is the "open door" policy okay - if it is true- is the existence of people who pass our borders with a wave of their arms, a subject that can be reduced to the vulgarity, simplicity and irresponsibility of you won, I won in the polemic?
Turkey is going through a really difficult process. Unfortunately, the economic problems have the potential to trigger social problems. It should be noted that there is a direct relationship between the increase in discussions about refugees and the increase in economic problems.
In addition, I cannot describe the pain I felt when I heard Vice President Fuat Oktay's statement that "agriculture has taken such a turn that it has almost surpassed the defense industry". When we have said for years "agriculture is a matter of national security of this country", I thought of those responsible, who are stumped and irresponsible, trying to give us an answer by saying, "The costs are high here, we can import them with our own money if necessary."
So now, in the midst of intertwined problems like matryoshka, is it not a threat for a country to encounter problems related to the other, under every stone we remove?
As a result, the issue of asylum seekers and immigrants is an issue that cannot be resolved with emotional reactions or racist approaches. The problem has many interlocutors, but one of its leading interlocutors is Syria. It is for the benefit of both countries that Turkey and Syria take a step in the negotiations. Turkey, with its deep historical state experience, has an accumulation that is not found in any other country in the region. It has all kinds of infrastructure to solve this issue. Without turning the issue into a prisoner of political concerns, it should be evaluated in the short, medium and long term and necessary steps should be taken.