The Özal Era in Foreign Policy

Özal’s leading personal impact Single-handed approach to the foreign policy i.e. his role in the 1991 Gulf War The Foreign Ministry was sidelined Share of the responsibilities with other Ministries Lacking co-ordination among the actors of foreign policy

The role of economy bureaucracy raised in importance. Some departments like the State Planning Organization and the Undersecretariat of Treasury and Trade started to challange the traditional roles of the Ministry, especially in the field of international economic relations. Rise of the influence of business circles in foreign relations

Special advisers gained influence. Lacking co-ordination among the actors of foreign policy Rise of the influence of business people in foreign policy issues

Traditional role of “president” in foreign affairs transformed Unusual rhetoric in his statements on “critical” issues i.e. the Cyprus issue, the Kurdish question

Bilateral Relations with the US Mostly cordial relations Coordination with the US over Iraq, the Turkic Republics and the Balkans Attempts to transform the relations from a sole strategic alignment to a more multidimensional partnership with increasing level of trade, tourism etc. Admirer of US presidential system of governance, liberal values, religious freedom and liberal capitalism

Desire to resolve “taboo” issues in the Foreign Policy A Suggestion of Quadrpartite talks over Cyprus A Raproachment with the Greeks -The Davos Spirit First ever application to the EC for full membership First Contacts with the Kurdish Leaders, Talabani and Barzani Talk of Federalism as to the settlement of the Kurdish issue

“Functionalism” “Interdependence” in the Foreign Policy Recognition of the importance of “interdependence” Interdependence, most simple defined, means mutual dependence

-Interdependence reflects an encouraging feature for peace and cooperation -Military and security affairs do not monopolize the agenda of international politics

-David Mitrany’s “spill over” or “ramification” argument -Cooperation in one field can spread into other fields for further integrations -International relations are not only about competition and confrontation, but cooperation -Functionalism as a challange to realism

Military force is not used by governments toward other governments within the region, or on the issues, when complex interdependence prevails (Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye)

Functionalism “Interdependence” in the Foreign Policy The Peace-pipeline project The Davos process

Active in promoting and supporting Regional Groupings -The Black Sea Ecomomic Cooperation Organisation -Economic Cooperation Organisation

Multiple Identities of Turkey in Use in the Foreign Relations Islam Turkish Nationalism Modern Western identity

Neo-Ottomonism – Attempts to Get Benefit from the Ottoman Past More evident in the policies towards the neighbouring areas i.e the Balkans, the Turkic World, especially after the Cold War period

Fluctuations of Relations with Greece Crises - The 1984 Limnos Crisis -The 1987 Continental Shelf Crisis Co-operation

The Continental Shelf Dispute The Turkish view Non-signature of the 1982 Sea of the Law Convention Islands in the Aegean Sea cannot have their own seperate continental shelves Islands are located on the extension of the Anatolian peninsula The Greek View Signed the 1982 Convention and the 1958 Continental Shelf Convention The Aegean Islands should have their own seperates continental shelves like the mainlands have

The Continental Shelf Dispute The Turkish View Issues should be settled by bilateral negotiations The continental shelf dispute is not the only dispute, but one of those (i.e. Territorial waters, demarcation of airspace, FIR) Aegean problems The Greek View The problem should be resolved by legal means with the involvement of the International Court of Justice The Continental issue is the only problem waiting to be settled

The Continental Shelf Dispute The Turkish View Equity principle- the Aegean sea should be treated as a special case The Greek View Equal distance – a median line between the nearest Greek island and Turkey