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TURKEY IN THE ANTITERRORIST CAMPAIGN
Zakir CHOTOEV
Zakir Chotoev, M.A. in International Relations, works on doctorate thesis at the Department of International Relations, Institute of Social Sciences, Ankara University (Ankara, Turkey)
Instability in the Middle East and the new threats created by international terrorism made Turkey a front-line state within the present world security system. In addition, Turkey borders on two out of three states Washington included in an “evil triangle or axis of evil.” In the latter half of the 1990s when America tried to create a strategic triangle out of its closest allies in the region (Turkey, Israel, and Egypt) it set itself a task of making Turkey its strategic partner and drawing it into the Mid-Eastern security system. Washington failed to fully realize these tasks because of the protracted conflict between Israel and Palestine yet the relations between Israel and Turkey and between Turkey and Egypt became stronger. Turkey, as a NATO member and the state seeking a EU membership that was actively involved in peacekeeping in the Balkans has preserved its strategic value for Europe and the United States.
To better understand Turkey’s intentions and possibilities as the West’s strategic partner let us examine some aspects of its foreign policy and security, the course of the U.S.-led antiterrorist campaign and Turkey’s place in the process and trace their impact on Ankara’s Central Asian and Caucasian policies.
Foreign Policy Problems
Today Turkey is concentrated on joining the European Union therefore its foreign policy department is engaged in settling several problems. The problem of Cyprus is undoubtedly central among them. If the contradictions between the northern (Turkish) and southern (Greek) parts are eliminated within a federal state by 2004 Cyprus will stand a good chance of joining the EU. Otherwise, the Greek part recognized by the international community will join the European Union on its own leaving the northern part out of the process. This will make the Turkish military contingent based in Northern Cyprus to maintain peace and order an “occupation force” in the eyes of the European Union. In the eyes of the military in Ankara it guarantees Turkeys’ Mediterranean borders and…………..
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