Debates have increased of late about a shift of axis from West to East in Turkey's foreign policy. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who said that Turkey having been pushed by some in Europe away from the EU and into the East has brought a new dimension to the debates. Two incidents played an important role in the flare-up of debates. One of them is the Israeli raid on the humanitarian aid vessel Mavi Marmara,which led to a crisis in the relations of the two countries, and the other is the NO vote Turkey used at the UN Security Council against the imposition of sanction on Iran. In the meantime, two developments took place to clear the haze over the developments. The first was about the European Parliament which took a resolution condemning Israel's attack on the aid flotilla to Gaza, urging the launching of an international investigation into the incident and calling on Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza. The second was the Israeli Security Council's decision to ease the blockade of Gaza.

Professor Dr.Ramazan Gözen of Ankara's Çankaya University has this assessment on the subject.

These two developments yielded favourable results in terms of Turkish foreign policy. First and foremost,Turkey's efforts for Israel's blockade of Gaza resonated throughout the world. Much as the Israeli raid on the humanitarian aid vessel and the ensuing deaths were lamentable, they played a pivotal role , causing many countries and communities in the West and the East to press Israel to lift the blockade in Gaza. Many leaders and prominent actors of international politics from US President Barrack Obama to former British Premier Tony Blair and to the Secretaries General of the UN and NATO and the European Parliament stressed that the blockade must be lifted. In point of fact, all this is not a demand by Turkey and the other actors but one put forth by the UN Security Council resolution number 1860 taken on January 9, 2009. Resolution number 1860 calls on Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza and give permission to the extension of humanitarian aid to the region.However, Israel who is notorious for its non-compliance with UN resolutions saw resolution number 1860 as one to easily ignore. What is understood is that the initiatives by Turkey and the aid organizations prompted the entire world into action for this resolution to be implemented and ratcheted up pressure on Israel. The Israeli Security Council's decision to partially lift the blockade of Gaza is a sign of this. This can be seen at the beginning as a favourable step but is not sufficient at all. The ideal formula is to provide for Gaza to be re-connected to the rest of the world and its people to be given as much freedom as is enough for them to meet their humanitarian and social requirements. Taking the measures safeguarding the security of both the Gaza people and the Israelis is of course inevitable. Gaza is not the only stumbling block in resolving the Palestine problem. There is also the issue of the West Bank and Gaza being re-structured as an independent state for the Palestinian people. In line with international law and UN resolutions, Palestinians are entitled to set up an independent state. This is a right acknowledged by the United States and the other leading actors of the international community. The " two-state formula" to the Palestine problem is Washington's official policy. Many other countries also give backing to this formula. The Israeli state has also officially accepted it. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and PLO leader Yaser Arafa agreed in 1993 the foundation of a Palestinian state next to Israel with an agreement in Washington brokered by US President Bill Clinton. However, this agreement has never been put into implementation because of the barriers and difficulties originating from both sides.

The essence of Turkey's foreign policy has to do with the effort to have this formula implemented. Turkey has been pursuing an active foreign policy for this problem, to which many countries and organizations are indifferent, to be found a lasting solution. With a style, rhetoric and implementation a little stronger than everyone is accustomed to, Turkey has clearly stood out more than the others.

Turkey's Palestine policy can be summarized as follows: To translate into life the two-state formula by ensuring, on the one hand, Israel's withdrawal from the territories under its occupation and by uniting Palestinians split into two as Hamas and Al Fateh under a single roof, on the other.

Turkey's Iran policy is also aimed, as has been pointed out by the Obama administration, at finding a peaceful solution to Tehran's nuclear programme. That is why Turkey is working for the channel of dialogue with Iran to be kept open . The swap agreement Turkey signed with Brazil and Iran is within the knowledge of the Washington administration and one struck to serve a peaceful purpose. Turkey's NO vote at the UN Security Council alongside Brazil is again a strategic step conforming to this purpose.

Although these developments have been found a little mind boggling by a large part of the international community, including the US, it cannot be said to have constituted a shift of axis in Turkey's foreign policy in general because Turkey is still continuing to defend the understanding that the conflicts around it should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The aim of Turkey's foreign policy which we can refer to as the " Peace Vision" is to create a new regional order around the marriage of its traditional western goals and its historical and cultural assets. This policy necessitates neither a shift away from the West nor being crushed under the burden of Middle Eastern problems. On the contrary, Turkey has been trying to resolve the Middle Eastern problems within the framework of the principles it has forged in the course of its EU accession process. That is why EU officials have now and then been making statements expressing understanding and support of Turkey's policy. Finally, there is a change in Turkey's foreign policy toward bringing to the fore such values as peace, justice and judiciary. However, this change should and can never be perceived as Turkey's drift away from the West, at least for the time being.