Two years ago, we launched a campaign titled “Women Call For Peace” to demand an end to the tension between Turkey and Greece in relation to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are still making that call.
Begum Zorlu
There is again a worrying escalation of militarist language demonstrated with President Erdoğan’s statement “we can come suddenly in the middle of the night.”
In his statement a couple of days ago the president stated that Greece would pay a “heavy price” if it does not halt military buildup on Greek islands near its coastline. The escalation of the threatening language drew attention regionally as the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, stated “threats and aggressive rhetoric are unacceptable and need to stop.”
In our weekly meeting for the Equality, Justice and Women Platform, we discussed how the language of escalation mirrored what has been termed the “masculine” style of politics, that disregards the language of reconciliation and conflict resolution. However, this language is unfortunately not new and it can be argued that it emerges when the incumbent wants to distract the public and create an environment to justify its “style” of politics by amplifying a hostile other.
Two years ago, with a joint effort, we wrote a statement to demonstrate that the need for the promotion of a peaceful language along with diplomacy in relation with the Eastern Mediterranean crisis. Our statement rejected the concept of a hostile other and demonstrated the togetherness of women from the two counties.
Our statement underlined that “the rhetoric of conflict and potential conflicts threaten not only the security of the citizens of both countries but also the entire region. We focused on the areas of cooperation between the two countries arguing that it was more important than ever at a time when the global pandemic is deepening inequality, leading to economic crises and increasing the marginalization of women. By amplifying the need for peaceful coexistence we called for Greece and Turkey to negotiate their differences through peaceful diligent diplomacy under the guidelines of international law and equity, if necessary, with observers from international institutions.
I took part in the formation, circulation and the exhibition of this call which was opened to signature on a website that we named “Women Call For Peace.” In an overwhelming and rewarding moment, we received hundreds of messages and signatures, from women living in both countries. The existence of an alternative call and the ties of solidarity created by that interaction has demonstrated to us that another reality and a rejection of the militarist language can be achieved.
So this week again the utilisation of a militarist language again has demonstrated how our endeavour to say “no” to this tone and to promote diplomacy, links between civil society agents is essential to change the conversation.
We believe that women can promote this change.
