World press on Egyptian coup and political situation in Middle East (July 14, 2013)

Hurriyet Daily News published an article by Soli Ozel headlined 'Egypt and the region.' "No doubt that the coup in Egypt has exceedingly upset the ruling party in Turkey. They have a right to be upset. It is not quite necessary right now to bring up the subject of the huge mistakes the government has made in its Middle East policy. However, it is also difficult to mention the achievements of a foreign policy where, after Syria, a heavy blow was received also in Egypt, where it is indefinite how much of an initiative it holds in Iraq, at odds with Israel, cold with Iran, resentful to its allies, with no power to persuade the United States and where not even a word can be said to Russia," the article reads.

"Since foreign policy closely concerns the interests of everybody living in this country, it should also be expected that everybody contribute to drawing correct conclusions and correct lessons. The first thing to do is to understand what the regional equation looks like after the not-so-well-planned coup in Egypt. In parallel with this, it should also be debated where Turkey made a mistake and how that mistake could be made up for," the author writes.

"Recent developments in Egypt should especially be looked into. The army conducted a massacre after morning prayers. Some witnesses who appeared later said some motorcyclists and some armed people fired upon the congregation in the mosque. The accuracy of these statements will be understood later. But after Mohamed Morsi’s and hundreds of his brothers’ arrests, we can say the Muslim Brothers and the army are weighing each other," the article reads.

"Furthermore, the fact that almost all rulers in the Arab world welcomed the coup in Egypt requires a serious pondering on the future regional order. The conjuncture that has formed in recent years and that works in favor of Ankara is fast changing. Moreover, because of its policy on the Syrian crisis, Turkey has demonstrated the limits of its own capacity to the entire world, has not been able to persuade its allies on a joint policy and has had no effect on Iran and Russia. It is fast being isolated. Its closest friend, even the Kurdistan Regional Administration is redeveloping, actually strengthening its relations with the government in Baghdad; the one Turkey is at daggers drawn with."

"Part of these developments is related to the Iranian elections and the fact a moderate personality has been elected as the president. Turkey is in a situation where it has to draw a different route for itself swiftly and try to improve its relations with countries it is at odds with or is resentful of or troubled by. Otherwise its wish to become a regional power is to end in disappointment," the author concludes.