Mr Chairman, Your Highness, dear ministers, distinguished delegates and friends, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for me to be here and to address such a distinguished audience. I wish to also express my appreciation to our hosts, the government of Bahrain and the International Institute for Strategic Studies for a wonderful organisation and a very warm welcome.
This year’s theme of the Manama Dialogue, the role of the international community in regional security, is particularly relevant for all of us as the threat of security challenges on the global level are on the rise, and their ramifications are becoming more complex on the regional level by the day.
I would like to draw your attention to some critical facts. The world is going through the pains of change and transformation. Commercial threats and risk are replaced with an environment of uncertainty, and threats such as terrorism, exploitation of weapons of mass destruction, illegal immigration, climate change, and water and energy scarcity have taken the place of the evident military threats of the Cold War era. An important characteristic of these new risks and threats is that no nation has enough power and capacity to cope with them alone. Consequently, coordination and cooperation have become outstandingly important for international security as never before in history.
Dear colleagues and distinguished guests, Turkey’s unique geographical location has a direct impact on its foreign and security policy. Turkey is a major trade, transportation and energy crossroads, and it is also in close proximity to several conflict-torn regions, such as the Middle East, Caucasus and the Balkans. We feel that it is incumbent upon Turkey to play a constructive role in the region by both taking its own initiatives, and by cooperating with the regional countries and organisations, to advance peace, stability and prosperity.
Turkey, both alone and under the auspices of international organisations as a staunch member of the international community, has been contributing to regional and global peace and stability. In addition to being a member of NATO for 56 years, Turkey, a founding member of the United Nations, has a record of strong and dedicated participation across a wide spectrum of activities. I am very happy to express here that Turkey was recently elected to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2009-10 period. As you know well, Turkey received 151 votes from a total of 192 member states. This is an expression of the confidence placed by the international community in Turkey’s ability to effectively contribute to achieving our common goals of maintaining peace and security around the world and in our region.
Turkey is located in a region that is at the centre of the international community’s interest and attention. Aside from being a key NATO ally, having consolidated its place in the Euratlantic institutions with the EU accession process, Turkey attaches paramount importance to its relations with its neighbours in the Middle East. Turkey deeply shares historical, social and cultural ties with all the countries of the region, and it has a special responsibility to play a constructive role in its affairs.
I would like to take a closer look at some of the regional issues. The situation in Iraq is of particular concern for all of us. Turkey would like to see an Iraq that is politically united and economically prosperous. It is very important for the Iraqis themselves and for the countries in the region that the territorial integrity of Iraq be preserved. Turkey believes that if these conditions are achieved, Iraq will once again start generating security and stability for the region. We are glad to see that the security situation in the country is improving, even if the whole situation is still fragile. In order to prevent the likelihood of further conflict and instability in Iraq, Turkey will continue to remain one of the strongest supporters of the stabilisation process in Iraq, which has long been the aim of Iraq’s neighbours, launched by Turkey.
Security and political progress should be complemented by economic development. We have intensified our efforts to consolidate this positive trend to help the Iraqi government improve the living standards of the Iraqi people. Prime Minister Erdoğan, during his visit to Baghdad last July, launched a high level strategic cooperation council, together with Prime Minister al-Maliki, and we are currently working on solid projects through this strategic partnership.
Let me address an issue that is very relevant to regional security and stability, which remain the sole element that has been hurting relations between Turkey and Iraq. I am referring to the presence of the PKK terrorist organisation in the northern part of the country. The elimination of the PKK presence from the agenda of Turkish-Iraqi relations is crucial. Such a development will boost our bilateral cooperation and will help achieve our common objective of establishing a stable, prosperous and peaceful Iraq that is free of terrorist activity. To this end, we continue our dialogue with the Iraqi government, as well as the local administration in the north. A recent visit by our interior minister to Baghdad in November to initiate the mechanism among Turkey, Iraq and the US to fight terrorism is another good example of our sincere intentions in this regard.
The question of Palestine, on the other hand, remains a core issue in the Middle East. Achieving permanent peace and stability in the region will require a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to this long-standing issue. Turkey supports a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Principles for a Just Peace initiative, and the roadmap that will ensure two states living side by side within secure and recognised borders. The Annapolis Conference was a milestone on the path to such a solution. Turkey welcomed the re-launching of peace negotiations regarding the final status issues after a seven-year interval. The inclusion of all other relations in the agenda of the conference was also encouraging since the Middle East peace process cannot be complete in the absence of progress on Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese relations, as well.
Thus, Turkey attributes special importance to continue to provide its auspices for the Israeli-Syrian indirect peace talks, in which four rounds have been held to date.
The continuing rift among the Palestinians which is hurting both the Palestinian cause and the peace process needs to be overcome, and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, aggravated by the obstructions of the movement of people and goods, needs to be urgently improved. Turkey remains committed to contributing to peace efforts through both a political and economic process. Accordingly, Turkey has pledged $150 million for the economic and institutional capacity-building of the future Palestinian state. Turkey attributes the utmost importance to the realisation of "The Industry for Peace Projects" of the "Ankara Forum" a tripartite group established on Turkey’s initiative in 2005 among Turkish, Israeli and Palestinian private sector representatives.
Turkey also made contributions to the efforts to overcome the political crisis in Lebanon. We maintain high-level contacts in Syria, as well as with Lebanese groups. Turkey considers the decision of Syria and Lebanon to establish diplomatic relations to be an important step towards building a secure future in the region.
We all have a responsibility and interest in working for a peaceful, secure and prosperous future in our region. To ensure close cooperation that is results-oriented, Turkey has given impetus to efforts to institutionalise its relations with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Our efforts have found their expression in the establishment of strategic dialogue between Turkey and the GCC in September of this year, and in the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum in November last year. The signing of the agreement was yet another milestone in Turkish-Arab relations. In less than a year after the signing of the agreement, we managed to bring it to life at the highest level, with the meeting convened at the foreign ministerial level on 11 October 2008 in Istanbul.
The strategic dialogue mechanism with the GCC aims to develop existing good bilateral relations between Turkey and the Gulf countries. The strategic dialogue constitutes the first regular consultation process to date between the GCC and this single country covering wide-ranging bilateral, as well as regional and international, issues of common concern. These include enhancing our economic and trade relations with the GCC countries, and concluding a free trade agreement with the GCC.
One such initiative, which not only aims to enhance cooperation and interoperability between NATO and the Gulf countries, but also to further strengthen security and stability in the Middle East, is the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI). As a long-standing member of the alliance, Turkey is ready to further contribute to developing closer relations between NATO and the Gulf countries, both in the framework of ICI and on a bilateral basis.
One of the issues that have direct impact on regional security in the Gulf is the Iranian nuclear programme. This issue continues to be a matter of concern for the region. We will continue supporting and facilitating the diplomatic process to find a solution on that issue, which should recognise the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and address the concerns of the international community regarding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Let me turn to yet another important issue that has serious potential to affect our region’s security, the situation in Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan has not yet stabilised after seven years after international military engagement, as well as billions of dollars of investment in this effort. As it is well known, a military approach alone cannot solve the problems in Afghanistan. All instruments – political, diplomatic, economic – need to be utilised together for a lasting solution.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is the most seriously affected country by the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. We cannot separate the security situation in these countries from each other. The trilateral summit process among Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, initiated by Turkey last year, seeks to contribute to the creation of a much-needed trust and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We just recently hosted the second summit on 5 December in Istanbul, and it is our sincere hope that the process will not only serve the efforts to establish peace and stability in the region, but also to directly contribute to the welfare of the Afghan and Pakistani nations.
Another issue that has implications for our extended region is peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey supports a just, viable and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue based on the long-established UN parameters under the good offices of the UN Secretary-General. This year, a new sense of optimism has emerged for progress in Cyprus. On 3 September, the two leaders on the island initiated negotiations for a comprehensive settlement. The Turkish-Cypriot side is constructively engaged in this process, with a view to reaching an agreeable solution in Cyprus. This would entail a new partnership state to be established by the two constituent states of equal status, on the basis of the UN parameters of zonality and political equality of the two sides. Turkey fully supports this process. We count on our friends to help end the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, and to also support them in their quest for a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus.
Dear colleagues, I would like to briefly touch upon the South Caucasus, which neighbours both Turkey and the Middle East. As revealed by the conflict between Georgia and Russia, the unresolved conflict in the Caucasus continues to be a main obstacle in developing a favourable environment for peace and stability in the region. The existing mechanisms to find solutions to these conflicts have not been able to achieve any substantial result. As the tension between Georgia and Russia develops into a hot conflict, we thought that it would be necessary to find a new approach to address the problems of the Caucasus region.
Turkey right from the outset has argued that the problems in the Caucasus region have to be solved by peaceful means, with due respect for the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of states. With this understanding, Turkey has launched a new initiative, namely the "Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform" (CSCP), to bring a new and fundamental impetus to the region. The Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform will aim to strengthen regional peace, stability and security, encourage regional political dialogue, enhance economic cooperation, and develop good neighbouring relations in the region. It is not an alternative to any institution, mechanism, or any international organisation which currently deals with the problems of the Caucasus. It will be a facilitator, not a competitor. We believe that the CSCP constitutes a significant and forward-looking initiative to facilitate the creation of common platforms.
Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, contemporary Turkish foreign and security policy is actively engaged in efforts to resolve some of the chronic issues that have troubled our region for so long. In doing so, we underscore engagement, dialogue, and economic cooperation. Possible solutions to individual conflicts in the Middle East will be sustainable only if they adopt a comprehensive approach based on a positive vision for the future. To this end, Turkey is willing to take advantage of its strong ties with Euro-Atlantic institutions and at the UN Security Council to work hard with its neighbours and its partners in the Middle East for a better peaceful and promising future.
