Eurasia Initiative

MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the visits by the president, deputy prime minister and chief of General Staff to Eurasian countries all taking place at the same time. A summary of his column is as follows:
In an interesting coincidence that the visits abroad by Turkish political and military leaders were all paid to Asian countries. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s talks in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China and Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu’s going to Russia are showing that the ‘Eurasia dimension’ in Turkish foreign policy is gaining more importance. These shouldn’t be viewed as ordinary protocol visits. Turkish diplomats are paying attention to relations stretching from Russia to China, from the Caucasus to Central Asia in addition to the primary place given to the US and Europe. It is clear that the new circumstances in the world play an important role in the establishment of such an understanding in Turkish foreign policy. When these three important visits are analyzed, the formation of a multi-dimensional foreign policy can be seen. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s visit to Almaty had more than one reason. The first one was to attend the Asian Cooperation and Security Conference where 16 Asian countries were represented. This presented Turkey the opportunity to express its views on terrorism to a broad platform. The other aim of the visit was to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of regional countries, in particular host country Kazakhstan. Another important aim was to launch a joint initiative with Russia to solve the Indian-Pakistani crisis as agreed upon at the Rome NATO summit. In fact, President Sezer, after talking with Russian President Putin, met with the Indian and Pakistani presidents and conveyed his recommendations. Thus, Turkey took its place among the great states trying to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad. The most important part of Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China was that it covered the Xinjang Uigur autonomous region. The opening up of a region which has ethnic and cultural ties with the Turkish nation to a Turkish statesman by Chinese hosts demonstrate the level which relations and mutual confidence have reached. China, which has reached an important place in the international arena not only through its increase in population but also with its political influence and economic power, has a significant place in Turkish foreign policy. Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu’s visit to Moscow took place just after the strengthening of Turkish-Russian relations. Turco-Russian rapprochement and cooperation in various fields will be more easily and quickly improved due to the new climate seen in Rome. This cooperation with now-friendly Russia also covers defense and security issues. While following these developments in foreign policy with pleasure, we must note that these initiatives are efforts aimed at adding new dimensions and therefore cannot be regarded as alternatives. These new relations should not be seen as strategies which could take the place of ties with the US or the EU. These ties should be preserved in order for Turkish diplomacy to attain a regional and global role and influence.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION