NEW YORK - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey would become a full member of EU within a reasonable time period, adding that Turkey would have a central status in transportation of Middle Eastern and Caspian natural resources to international markets.
Erdogan announced the outlines of Turkish foreign policy in the 21st century in New York.
Turkey which would play a central role in security field, would be a symbol of culture and civilization with its stability, successful development model, its status in western world, rich historical inheritance and identity in the 21st century, said Erdogan. Erdogan noted that Turkey would do that not only with its concrete economic and military power, but also with its values.
Turkey would become a reliable power in its region particularly in the Middle East for overcoming the instabilities, be a partner in efforts of ensuring economic development and installation of security. ''Thus Turkey can be a source of inspiration for regional regime's taking steps not to become weak administrations,'' he said.
Erdogan stressed that the government was resolved to present the most advanced economic and social standards to Turkish people, adding that Turkey was resolved to continue cooperating with its 50-year ally the U.S. in the changing world within the scope of their common interest understanding, common values and the common target of making peace, prosperity and freedom prevail in the whole world.
Erdogan said that the unchangeable target of Turkish foreign policy was presentation of the highest political, economic and social standards to Turkish people and to contribute to efforts of making peace prevail in international relations. ''Turkey regards this as an attainable goal with its historical experience, human resources, culture, common sense of its administration, democratic and secular regime and wishes to make cooperation with countries having similar goals,'' he said.
Erdogan remarked that the region where Turkey was situated had great potential, but it could not be used effectively due to instability and conflicts, adding ''Turkey has to be on the alert in foreign policy in order to prevent the negative repercussions of instability and conflicts that could come out in its region, on Turkey. In that respect Turkey does not restrict itself to national interests, but it pursues a proactive foreign policy to contribute to regional and global stability and peace, and it also encourages and motivates regional cooperation mechanisms.''
''The principle of 'realism' and integration with the west' maintains its importance in Turkish foreign policy. Turkey set up regional cooperation mechanisms with the Balkans, Black Sea basin, Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle East countries. Our target is to make these mechanisms become more effective in the coming period,'' he said.
Erdogan said that Turkey encouraged its neighbours to open to the world and to act within the rules of international law.
Erdogan said that one of the basic elements of Turkish foreign policy was Turkey's place in the Western world and its institutional membership, adding that ''this is not only the expression of Turkish Republic's historical orientation, but also of Turkish nation's modernization efforts and democratic development.''
Erdogan said that democratic, free countries and open regimes respecting the rule of law would benefit more from the benefits of globalization.
Noting that Turkey's EU candidacy was a continuation of this process, Erdogan said that integration of Turkey with Europe and EU would mean more than a simple partnership.
''Turkish people's being Muslim has not prevented its interaction with the west and Europe in particular and its being an effective member of institutions and organisations in Europe. In that respect Turkey has been one of the strong advocates of Transatlantic solidarity. Successful completion of Turkey's accession process to the EU will be a new dimension of Turkish society's harmony with European peoples on the basis of common, universal and democratic values. We think and voice that the Muslim world has to realistically focus on its problems and assume its responsibilities rather than accusing others. In that respect we stress the importance of concepts such as democratization, human rights, rule of law, good-administration, making accounting for the things done, transparency, woman-man equality,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan stressed that these values were the product of all humanity's common reason and of harmony among civilizations, adding ''we appreciated Mr. President Bush's focusing on this issue during his address to the U.S. nation last week. One of the main obstacles to people's living in peace and freedom can be their inadequacy to understand each other well. We must not permit that. Turkey which is situated in a difficult geography regards its security as its number one priority, but we also know that the security of our neighbours is also very important for our security. In that respect we think that our search for security should be a collective effort. We must fight against common threats like terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, poverty, starvation, contagious diseases, change of climates in a resolved, rational and cooperative way.''
Erdogan noted that the U.S. which was a global power had a very good opportunity in that regard, adding the U.S. should use this opportunity well in order to make the developed world be better known by the developing world.
''We are ready to help the U.S. in that regard. The Turkish-American close cooperation and solidarity which continues for more than 50 years, constitutes a strong basis for our common efforts. Our search for peace and justice with the U.S. continued during the cold-war and during the First Gulf Crisis. Despite the negative repercussions of the sanctions imposed after that crisis on the Turkish economy, Turkey continued its support to international coalition in operations such as Operation Northern Watch. The two countries also showed their common effort for ending clashes that threatened world peace and finding peaceful solutions in a broad geography. Today our common efforts for bringing peace and stability to Iraq and Iraq's integration with the international society continue,'' he said.
Erdogan said that they worked to strengthen the independence of Central Asian countries and to support democracy and stability in those countries with the same goals, adding that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline which would open to use big oil reserves of Caspian basin would serve the common interest of countries. Erdogan stated that the transportation of this energy source to the world via Turkey in 2005 would bring important results for economic development and regional stability.
Erdogan said that different societies should know each other, overcome their prejudice in order to reach these long term goals, adding that Islam should be regarded more objectively in the west and it should be seen that those who resorted to violence on behalf of Islam didn't represent Islam.
''The belief in presence of an opposition between the Islamic world and the West is misleading. There are people in both sides who believe in it. Intellectuals, politicians have a role to play to overcome this misperception. The U.S. has a particular mission in that regard with its distinguished universities, and think tanks,'' he added.

(AA) 26.01.2004