CUMHURIYET- Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the opening of a new think-tank institution called the "Strategic Research and Studies Center"(SAREM). A summary of his column is as follows:
The Strategic Resarch and Studies Center has a wide horizon which will significantly contribute to forming policies on national security issues. The statement made by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hüseyin Kivrikoglu at SAREM's inaugural ceremony underlined the significance of Turkey not only concerning its region, but also for the entire world. SAREM will gather together experts from all sectors, military and civilian and will be concerned with regions such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central Asian republics, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean-Cyprus and Europe. If Turkey's strategic partnership relations with the US are taken into consideration, it will be seen that Turkey is not a 'bridge country' as it is usually defined but rather a 'pivotal country.' The Balkan States have many organizations under the heading 'Southeastern Europe.' Turkey is a member of these organizations. Various cooperative agreements have been signed under these organizations, mainly among Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. The Black Sea countries came together under the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and Turkey has hosted many of the group's meetings. The countries of the Caucasus don't have a bloc among themselves. In that small area there are many alliances and enmities. An alliance has been formed between Turkey,Georgia and Azerbaijan as opposed to the one between Iran, Armenian and Russia. Georgia is of great importance to Turkey's reaching Azerbaijan and Central Asia. In the troubled situation in the Middle East, the only country which can talk with both sides is Turkey. The Mediterranean, which is the base of all civilizations, is in a state of disorder. However, there are many Mediterranean organizations ranging in subject from science to the environment. Turkey is a member of almost all of them. Our relations with Central Asian republics is being carried out at an institutional rather than personal level. Gen. Kivrikoglu stated that Turkey is a pivotal country both regarding the area it is in and the values it espouses. He added that many fault-lines also passed through Turkey, but that the country was working hard so that these fault lines do not crack open. In other words, Turkey is in a point left between many clashes and studies. This situation is sometimes an advantage and sometimes a disadvantage. The best way to be ready in countering these moves lies in information and foresight. SAREM is the product of a study made for catching up with the 21st century. All of society's sectors, starting with our politicians, should contribute to it.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION