One does not need to be an expert in diplomacy to understand the benefits of the so-called “positive agenda” in Greek-Turkish relations.
Beyond the quantifiable data that emerges in specific areas, the most important thing is the positive mood in society – which requires consistency, continuity and time to build, while it can collapse overnight – which is the necessary background for any effort to resolve the difficulties between the two countries to have a chance of success.
The former president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, emphasized the significance of the positive agenda in a discussion we had during the recent Delphi Economic Forum, but also privately.
A deep connoisseur of Greek-Turkish relations, as before his seven-year term as president (2007-2014) he had also served as prime minister and foreign minister, Gul stressed that from all the positions he held, he consistently supported a positive agenda with Greece “and this is a moment when we need a positive agenda.”
After noting that Greece and Turkey are neighbors and will remain so in the future, he said that “instead of creating problems, it is good to solve the ones that exist. At this moment, our leaders know each other, they meet often, the framework is good. Of course there are problems, but it helps to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.”
To this point, he revealed an interesting past incident. It was in 2006 when Greece’s National Bank was about to buy the Turkish Finansbank (QNB today), and the head of the latter visited and asked him whether it would ok to sell an important Turkish bank to the Greeks, both politically (there had also been skepticism on the Greek side), and also for fear of a potential mass withdrawal of deposits by Turkish depositors.
As Foreign Minister at the time, Gul replied that the only criterion should be the price. Otherwise, there was no problem, nor would there be one in the future, if the ownership passed into Greek hands.
The price was good, and the acquisition went ahead. It quickly became clear that there was indeed no negative reaction from Turkish depositors. Surveys even showed that the acceptance of the agreement exceeded 90%, while a very positive climate was created for Greece.
The case of Finansbank is indicative of both the intense skepticism of many, including the elites, but also of the positive reaction of the wider society, in this specific case of Turkish society – and with deeds, in the sense there were no cash withdrawals – which sometimes proves to be more mature than many believe.
Our big problems will not be solved easily. However, the small steps are not as small as many think, as they constitute the foundation for building the social support that is necessary for the delicate management of the big and difficult ones.