Foreign Policy : Synopsis


In 2005 Turkey celebrated the 82nd Anniversary of the Lausanne Peace Treaty, which is one of the founding documents of the modern Turkish Republic that emerged from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. Guided by the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey has been pursuing a policy of “Peace at Home and Peace Abroad” since the establishment of the Republic in 1923. Consequently, the Republic of Turkey with her democratic and secular political system, robust free market economy that is in a Customs Union with the EU, social tradition of reconciling modernity with cultural identity, pursues a foreign policy that is a generator of security and stability in her region and beyond.

The primary objective of Turkish foreign policy is to help secure and nurture a peaceful, stable, prosperous and cooperative regional and international environment that is conducive to human development at home as well as in the neighboring countries and beyond.

Turkey pursues this objective by following a principled and proactive foreign policy that employs a broad spectrum of peaceful means. These entail, inter-alia, membership in the NATO Alliance and full integration with the European Union, taking the lead in regional cooperation processes, promoting good neighborly relations and economic cooperation, extending humanitarian aid and assistance to the less fortunate, participating in peace-keeping operations, and contributing to the resolution of disputes as well as post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.

As an active member of today's globalized world, Turkey employs a multi-dimensional foreign policy that reconciles the West with the East and the North with the South and is active in all continents. She serves by way of her geographic disposition and close historical and cultural ties across a vast landscape as a crucial bridge for dialogue and interaction between civilizations at the heart of Eurasia.

The multi-dimensional character of Turkish foreign policy finds expression in and is best reflected by Turkey’s membership in a wide range of leading international and regional organizations, such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Developing 8 (D-8), along with her candidature to membership in the EU as a country to have officially started the process of accession negotiations. Turkey also participates in the Euromed/ Barcelona Process which celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year.

Turkey also participates as a permanent observer in the activities of the Organization of American States, the Association of Caribbean States, the African Union and seeks to establish similar institutional links with the Arab League and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In hosting two important summits in 2004, namely the OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Conference followed by the NATO Summit Meetings of Heads of State and Government, Turkey displayed her commitment to multilateral cooperation in the context of her multi-dimensional relations. These consecutive summits gave visibility to the important role Turkey plays in strategic cooperation at a vital junction between different cultures.

To this end, Turkey seeks to nurture a culture of understanding and cooperation between civilizations. Following the tragic events of September 11, Turkey hosted in February 2002 the first ever joint forum meeting of the EU and OIC in an effort to promote the crucial dialogue between civilizations. Moreover, Turkey together with Spain has become the co-sponsor of a new initiative for an Alliance of Civilizations launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations in July, 2005.





Turkey also intends to assume a more pronounced role to this end and in enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, with a Turkish Secretary General at the helm of the Organization. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, was elected as the new Secretary General of the OIC for a 4 year term as of 1 January 2005. Moreover, the President of Turkey Chairs on a permanent basis the OIC Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation which convenes annually in Istanbul.

In the post-Cold War era, international peacekeeping has gained new significance and Turkey has participated in many peace-keeping and peace enforcement operations, among others such as those in Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo and Georgia. Moreover, Turkey assumed the command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF II) and contributed around 1400 troops to this endeavor between June 2002 and February 2003. She currently continues to provide support to ISAF with approximately 250 military personel. Moreover, according to the rotation plan adopted by NATO, the 3rd Corps stationed in Istanbul (NRDC-TU) will assume command of ISAF VII between February and August 2005.
Turkey’s commitment to peace keeping across the globe continues through its participation in and support for various UN, NATO and EU led missions.

Humanitarian assistance, to the best of its ability, to countries around the world in times of desperation as a result of natural and/or man made disasters also constitutes an integral part of her policies. Accordingly, Turkey has contributed to numerous international and bilateral aid efforts, the total amount of aid extended to various causes in 2004 being in the range of 10 million US Dollars. Turkey responded immediately to the emergency needs of the South Asian countries in the wake of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami catastrophe with aid in the range of 30 million US Dollars. For information visit the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mfa.gov.tr) or alternatively, click here.