MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen writes on Russia's new status in world politics and on Turkish-Russian relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
Russia, which was NATO's greatest enemy during the Cold War, has recently become an ally and a partner to the organization. Russia's new status was confirmed at a recent NATO meeting in Reykjavik attended by the foreign ministers of the member countries. A few decades ago, nobody would believe that relations between NATO and Russia would improve that much and that they would become such friends. In the words of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, the world has entered a new era and a new world order is being established which will inevitably include Russia. Under these circumstances, NATO's functions are being redefined and its members have begun to ask certain significant questions such as 'Which countries are our enemies now?' John Hushman, an analyst at US think tank the Heritage Foundation, yesterday told a conference organized by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen' Association (TUSIAD) that NATO had to redefine its functions and assume new responsibilities. Issues which are expected to dominate NATO's new agenda are the international fight against terrorism, regional crises and the formation of new peacekeeping forces to help regions which suffer from problems of stability. Although the enemies of NATO have changed, its member countries still have important responsibilities to protect world peace. Since the world is continually undergoing significant changes, the problems of regions such as the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus, regions which NATO has long shied from taking a role in, are now becoming organization's central concerns. According to a decision made in Reykjavik, a NATO-Russia Council will be established and it is expected to deal with the issue of the fight against terrorism. Turkey is also aware of these developments. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated in Reykjavik that Turkey supported the establishment of the NATO-Russia Council. In addition, Fiona Hill, a member of US think tank the Brookings Institution, told yesterday's TUSIAD conference that Russia had begun to consider Turkey a friend and an ally. Both Ankara and Moscow are determined and willing to improve bilateral relations. Russia is our new friend now...
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION