Foreign relations of Turkey
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Foreign relations of the Republic of Turkey are primarily with the Western world and its neigboring countries. From 1963 to the present, Turkey has continued to pursue its candidacy for membership in the European Union.
Policies
The European Union
Turkish ambitions to join the European Union in the early 1960s soon resulted in associate status in the European Economic Community. The Turkish government hoped that full membership would follow in the years to come. Turbulence from the 1970s until the late 1980s forced Turkey to delay formally applying to join the European Community until 1987. The application was rejected, although the EC did say that Turkish membership could occur at some point in the future.
An EU-Turkey Customs Union came into force on January 1, 1996, allowing goods to travel between the Turkey and European Union member states without customs restrictions, although it crucially stopped short of lifting restrictions in such areas as agriculture.
The European Union confirmed Turkey's status as candidate for membership at its Helsinki conference in 1999. The Turkish Accession talks did not follow immediately however, as the EU said Turkey had to make significant reforms, particularly in the field of human rights, before the talks could begin. Talks have restarted as of October 2005.
Turkey's current administation has identified EU membership as its top priority, and has taken many - and sometimes controversial - reform packages through parliament aimed at gradually harmonizing Turkey with EU standards. When membership talks begin, this harmonisation will become more structured, as it will be conducted over the acquis communautaire.
The History of Turkish and Jewish Relations
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The history of the Jewish-Turkish relations dates back to the Ottoman Empire when the British-Jewish Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Benjamin Disraeli advocated for the Ottoman empire.Disraeli was a Sepheridic Jew.There have been various historians and theologians such as Rabbi Dr.Joachim Prinz of Berlin who have suggested that the founder of Modern Turkey,Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a Sepherdic Jew whose family had fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisiton and settled in the Ottoman Empire [1].Ataturk was born in Thessaloniki which had an important community of Sepheridic Jews .A story by Hillel Halkin which appeared in the Jewish Newspaper" Forward" discussed the [1][2] . He also gave European Jews refuge to settle in Turkey before the start of WWII supporting the evidence that he was of Jewish ancestory.[3]Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a strong secularist which some have labelled anti-Islamic because he abolished the Caliphate . He changed the Turkish alphabet from an Arabic script to a European script.Major Jewish figures like David Ben Gurion who was the first prime minister of Israel were born in Turkey [4]. He studied law in Turkey before joining the Zionist movement.
[1].Hillel Halkin .When Attaturk Recited Shema Yisrael.Forward,January 28,1994.
The relationship between Turkey and Israel
Turkey was the first Muslim-majority nation to formally recognize the State of Israel [5].Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey. Military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation between Turkey and Israel is accorded high priority by the governments of both countries, which share concerns with respect to the regional instabilities in the Middle East[6] [7] [8]. In 1996, the Israeli Mossad played a major role in the capture of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan [9]. The Israeli and Turkish navies have conducted joint exercises. There is a plan to build a massive pipeline from Turkey to to supply water, electricity, gas and oil to Israel [10] \In 2000, Israel and Turkey signed a free-trade agreement [11].In the beginning of 2006, the Israeli foreign ministry characterized its relations with Turkey as "perfect". However, in February 2006, a visit paid by Khaled Meshal, a leader of the newly elected Hamas, changed this status. Israeli diplomats went so far as to compare this visit to a possible official visit of Abdullah Öcalan (the imprisoned PKK leader) to Israel, but Turkish authorities immediately denounced this comparison as "irresponsible and erroneous". After Khaled Meshal paid an official visit to Russia, Turkish-Israeli relations entered a "cooling down" process. Some have suggested that this was only an public relations stunt to show the Islamic world that Turkey was on their side because Turkey had been silent in major issues important to Arabs and the Islamic community like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Lebanon crisis [12] Israel has even advocated that Turkey make up a majority of peace keepers in Lebanon because it has said that it does not trust troops from other Islamic countries like Bangladesh and Malaysia [13].
The Balkans
Turkey has close ties with the Balkan states. The Balkans are important as they are a gateway to continental Europe and also because historical and cultural ties exist among the peoples of both regions.
Turkey attaches importance to the creation of an atmosphere of understanding and peaceful co-habitation through closer ties among the Balkan countries, which would lead to the preservation of peace and stability in the region. Turkey has participated in NATO operations and peacekeeping missions. Turkey has contributed to KFOR and the UN police mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the EU police mission (EUPM) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the EU-led police mission “Proxima” in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Turkey is also contributing to the EUFOR-ALTHEA.
For the reconstruction efforts; Turkey is part of launching the Southeastern European Cooperation Process (SEECP), and the Multinational Peace Force Southeast Europe (MPFSEE)/Southeastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG). Turkey also plays a role in regional economic initiatives as well as the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe initiated by the EU and the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI).
Southern Caucaus
The Caucasus is important for Turkey as there is political, economic, social and cultural ties with the peoples of the region. Turkey develops policies in this region taking into account of strategic importance due to its energy resources and pipeline corridors. Turkey, recognized all three states of the region came out after the demise of the USSR.
Armenia
Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia's independence in 1991. Currently, relations between Turkey and Armenia are strained due to Armenia's occupation of the mostly Armenian populated Azerbaijani enclave Nagorno-Karabakh. Armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karbakh began in 1991 and has been in a cease-fire since 1994. As soon as Armenia began to get the upper hand in the war in 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia and imposed economic sanctions in an act of solidarity with Azerbaijan and has not re-opened it nor lifted sanctions. There are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Turkey approaches the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict using the Minsk Process and with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey supported indirect bilateral talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. With the aim of playing a facilitator role, Turkey initiated a trilateral process of dialogue (Reykjavik, 2002 & Istanbul Summit, 2004) among the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Azerbaijan
Turkey shares a common language, culture and history with Azerbaijan. Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity and realize its economic potential arising from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.
Georgia
Turkey has close partnership relations with Georgia. Turkey views the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts as a potential danger to peace and stability in the entire region. The resolution of these problems is essential for the preservation of stability in the whole region. Turkey has shown a readiness to be a negotiator for the Abkhazian conflict.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan was the second country to recognize Republic of Turkey. Turkey support for the Bonn Process and the Central Government. Turkey participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since its inception and assumed the command of ISAF II between June 2002 and February 2003 and ISAF VII between February and August 2005. Turkey provides training for the Afghan National Army and Police Force.
Turkey has undertaken a number of reconstruction projects in the fields of education, health and agriculture. Turkish construction firms are also active in the country with investments.
Iran
The Republic of Turkey and its eastern neighbour Iran have had generally calm and good relations. One historically problamatic point was Iranian support for the Kurds, besides this relations have almost always been fair. A period of coldness passed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution which caused major changes in Iran and the world's status quo. Today Iran and Turkey cooperate in a wide variety of fields from fighting terrorism to Iraq and Central Asia.
Organizations
Besides its relationships with NATO and the EU, Turkey is a member of the OECD, the Council of Europe, and OSCE. Turkey also is a member of the UN and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
NATO
Turkey entered NATO in 1952 and serves as the organization's vital eastern anchor, controlling the straits leading from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and sharing a border with Syria, Iraq, and Iran. A NATO headquarters is located in Izmir, and the United States has maintained air forces at a Turkish base called Incirlik that is located near the Mediterranean city of Adana.
Trade blocs
Turkey is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has signed free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Israel, and many other countries. In 1992, Turkey and 10 other regional nations formed the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council to expand regional trade and economic cooperation.
Disputes
WWI Armenian issue
Turkey's disputes with Armenia date back to the times of the Ottoman Empire, when friction between Turks and Armenians living in Ottoman territory led to deaths on both sides. The most infamous incident was during the First World War in 1915: roughly one million Armenians were deported from eastern Anatolia, where Turkey was fighting Russia, to modern Syria and Iraq.
Armenia has since maintained that the Armenian Genocide was a deliberate and intentional attempt to exterminate Armenians. The Ottoman government said the deportation was for security measures, since many Armenians were siding with the enemy. Turkey has flatly denied there was a deliberate attempt to kill civilians and the issue remains highly controversial.
Border dispute with Armenia
Today, the border between Turkey and Armenia remains firmly shut, and has been since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out in 1994. Both this issue and the events of 1915 remain large stumbling blocks on the way to opening the border and establishing diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Turkey is a partner in the lucrative Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline which bypasses Armenian territory for these political reasons.
Territorial dispute with Greece
Turkey and Greece have clashed for decades over the status of Aegean islands and over the extent of territorial waters and airspace. The tensions came to the brink of war on a number of occasions, most recently in 1996, when Greek and Turkish warships faced each other close to the disputed İmia-Kardak rocks. Only U.S. and NATO intervention subsided the conflict (See also: Imia-Kardak crisis).
Relations have since improved, particularly after earthquakes struck both countries in 1999. However, the Imia issue sprang up again on a smaller scale in 2004.
Cyprus
The effects of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in 1974, which followed a Greek coup d'etat on the island, continues to be one of the most hotly-contested issues in Turkish foreign relations. A Turkish Federated State, what later became the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), was unilaterally declared on the island in 1975, and the UN Green Line has split the two sides ever since.
Turkey announced its support for the 2004 Annan Plan for Cyprus. The plan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots (but not by 2/3, although a simple majority was needed), but overwhelmingly (3/4) rejected by Greek Cypriots. Turkey continues to recognize the TRNC at the expense of the Cypriot government in the south. The issue of recognition became a thorn in Turkey's candidacy for European Union membership, particularly after the internationally-recognized south was admitted to the Union.
Illicit drugs
Turkey is a key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe, and, to a far lesser extent, the US, via air, land, and sea routes major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking. Organizations operate out of Istanbul laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate.
Source
See also
- Accession of Turkey to the European Union
- Politics of Turkey
- Armenian Genocide
- Greco-Turkish relations
- Cyprus dispute
- Ilisu Dam Campaign
- Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
External Links