This may require Turkey engaging in dramatic gestures. But 'gesture politics' can work wonderfully. Take, for example, the case of Dr. Mahathir, prime minister of Malaysia. Following critical press reports in the UK criticising the level of corruption in Malaysia, he publicly threatened to ban all British companies from tendering for Malaysian work. In no time at all, Britain's foreign minister and heads of industry flew to Malaysia to apologize.
Turkey suffers a serious image problem abroad.
As Turkey develops into a growing regional and international force, it needs to remedy this problem. The sooner the better. For at the moment Turkey's international credibility is too easily being undermined by those who criticise its record on human right, its treatment of the Kurds or its policy towards Cyprus. Too seldom is Turkey's side of the story heard. Too seldom is Turkey seen to be remedying or countering these accusations.