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TURKEY REMOVES "REACTIONARYISM" FROM NEW THREAT LIST
WorldBulletin.net
Oct 28 2010
Turkey
MGK agreed to make radical changes to a document referred to as
the "Red Book," in which the main threats to Turkey's security are
outlined.
The National Security Council (MGK) on Wednesday agreed to make radical
changes to a document referred to as the "Red Book," in which the
main threats to Turkey's security are outlined, referring to Israel's
instability-inducing actions in the Middle East as a threat.
Turkey's approach to its neighbors has changed with the revisions,
which were drafted by a team of experts headed by Prime Ministry
Undersecretary Efkan Ala. Syria, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia are
no longer among Turkey's list of external threats. The changes made
to the National Security Policy Document (MGSB), which was drafted by
the military in the past, are a sign that the government's priorities
are finally reflected in state policy.
Turkey has for the first time referred to Israel's actions in the
Middle East as a threat to Turkey. In the section on relations with
neighbors and external threats, the document draws attention to the
instability in the region caused by Israel and the possibility that
Israel's actions may lead the countries in the region to be engaged
in an arms race.
Turkey's bilateral relations with Israel have also changed since
the deaths of nine Turks in a lethal attack by Israeli soldiers on
a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid convoy on May 31.
The MGK convened on Wednesday under the chairmanship of President
Abdullah Gul to discuss changes to the MGSB, also known as Turkey's
secret Constitution or the Red Book. The statement made after the
MGK meeting said, "The new MGSB was discussed and approved." The new
document will be in effect for five years.
As for Greece, with which Turkey has come to the brink of war three
times in the past over territorial disputes in the Aegean, Turkey still
sees any Greek attempt to extend the country's territorial waters
to 12 nautical miles as a casus belli (a cause for war). Turkey and
Greece are at odds over the boundaries of their territorial waters
and airspace in the Aegean due to the peculiar geography of the
Aegean Sea, where some Greek islands are lined up along Turkey's
western coasts. In 1995, Parliament declared any unilateral attempt
by Greece to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles from
the current six miles as a casus belli.
Greece is not included in the "external threats" list either, aside
from the "12 mile problem." Iran, seen as a major threat in earlier
versions of the confidential document because of its Islamic rule
and nuclear capacity, is no longer the number one threat for Turkey,
although the document emphasizes that the Middle East should be
cleansed of nuclear weapons.
Reactionaryism no more a threat
Turkey's perception of domestic threats has also been revised with
changes to the document, which has been in effect since 2005. In the
document, religious reactionaryism is no more mentioned as a domestic
threat. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) had been
working on the changes for a long time and said the state should
not see its citizens as potential threats. The military wing of the
council also agreed with the government on the issue and the famous
"reactionary threat" was not cited in the new document. Instead, it
mentions "radical groups exploiting religion," a term which, under the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK), refers to groups that, by employing violent
methods, use religion for destructive and separatist activities.
The MGSB was prepared for the first time after Turkey became a NATO
member with US support against the threat of communism. Until the coup
d'état of Sept. 12, 1980, communists and all of the left were seen as
the biggest threat to Turkey. After the coup, separatism was included
in the list of domestic threats. With the rise of the Welfare Party
(RP) in 1995, religious reactionaryism and separatism became the main
domestic threats. The latest version of the MGSB was approved on Oct.
24, 2005 by the MGK and then by the Cabinet on March 20, 2006.
New threats: Cyber terror, global warming and aging population
The edited MGSB also contains new threats such as cyber terror, global
warming and the aging population of Turkey. The document says cyber
threats pose a threat to national security and that global warming
may lead to environmental disasters.
The problem of aging population, an issue which started to dominate
Turkey's agenda recently, also found a place in the new security
document.
Population increase has been a matter of debate since the foundation
of the Turkish Republic; for decades people have argued about whether
it poses a challenge or is an advantage for Turkey. Latest demographic
data reveal that the productive population, aged between 15-65, is
on the rise in Turkey, while the population below 15, which had been
on the rise until recently due to the high fertility rate in Turkey,
is now on the decline.
Currently, 10.1 percent of the overall population is above 60 and it
is predicted that that this percentage will increase to 10.7 in 2011,
14.3 in 2014 and 20.3 in 2020.
The document says the aging population may pose a threat for Turkey
if the country fails to develop specific policies on the issue.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been expressing concern over
the declining younger population in Turkey and suggests that his
government may consider giving a "prize" to families that have at
least three children.
PKK and missile shield issue
The changes made to the MGSB were not the only agenda item during
Wednesday's MGK meeting. Another topic on the agenda was a missile
defense system project proposed by the US. Several US officials have
implied in various statements that part of the missile shield could be
set up in Turkey. The issue was taken up at a summit between defense
and foreign ministers of NATO members in Brussels. Prime Minister
Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. IÅ~_ık
KoÅ~_aner had a brief meeting after the MGK and reportedly discussed
whether Turkey should be part of the defense shield.
The activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were also
discussed during the meeting. The council once again drew attention to
the clandestine support given to the PKK by some countries, accusing
these countries of insincerity in supporting Turkey's counterterrorism
efforts.
Cihan news agency
From: A. Papazian
WorldBulletin.net
Oct 28 2010
Turkey
MGK agreed to make radical changes to a document referred to as
the "Red Book," in which the main threats to Turkey's security are
outlined.
The National Security Council (MGK) on Wednesday agreed to make radical
changes to a document referred to as the "Red Book," in which the
main threats to Turkey's security are outlined, referring to Israel's
instability-inducing actions in the Middle East as a threat.
Turkey's approach to its neighbors has changed with the revisions,
which were drafted by a team of experts headed by Prime Ministry
Undersecretary Efkan Ala. Syria, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia are
no longer among Turkey's list of external threats. The changes made
to the National Security Policy Document (MGSB), which was drafted by
the military in the past, are a sign that the government's priorities
are finally reflected in state policy.
Turkey has for the first time referred to Israel's actions in the
Middle East as a threat to Turkey. In the section on relations with
neighbors and external threats, the document draws attention to the
instability in the region caused by Israel and the possibility that
Israel's actions may lead the countries in the region to be engaged
in an arms race.
Turkey's bilateral relations with Israel have also changed since
the deaths of nine Turks in a lethal attack by Israeli soldiers on
a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid convoy on May 31.
The MGK convened on Wednesday under the chairmanship of President
Abdullah Gul to discuss changes to the MGSB, also known as Turkey's
secret Constitution or the Red Book. The statement made after the
MGK meeting said, "The new MGSB was discussed and approved." The new
document will be in effect for five years.
As for Greece, with which Turkey has come to the brink of war three
times in the past over territorial disputes in the Aegean, Turkey still
sees any Greek attempt to extend the country's territorial waters
to 12 nautical miles as a casus belli (a cause for war). Turkey and
Greece are at odds over the boundaries of their territorial waters
and airspace in the Aegean due to the peculiar geography of the
Aegean Sea, where some Greek islands are lined up along Turkey's
western coasts. In 1995, Parliament declared any unilateral attempt
by Greece to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles from
the current six miles as a casus belli.
Greece is not included in the "external threats" list either, aside
from the "12 mile problem." Iran, seen as a major threat in earlier
versions of the confidential document because of its Islamic rule
and nuclear capacity, is no longer the number one threat for Turkey,
although the document emphasizes that the Middle East should be
cleansed of nuclear weapons.
Reactionaryism no more a threat
Turkey's perception of domestic threats has also been revised with
changes to the document, which has been in effect since 2005. In the
document, religious reactionaryism is no more mentioned as a domestic
threat. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) had been
working on the changes for a long time and said the state should
not see its citizens as potential threats. The military wing of the
council also agreed with the government on the issue and the famous
"reactionary threat" was not cited in the new document. Instead, it
mentions "radical groups exploiting religion," a term which, under the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK), refers to groups that, by employing violent
methods, use religion for destructive and separatist activities.
The MGSB was prepared for the first time after Turkey became a NATO
member with US support against the threat of communism. Until the coup
d'état of Sept. 12, 1980, communists and all of the left were seen as
the biggest threat to Turkey. After the coup, separatism was included
in the list of domestic threats. With the rise of the Welfare Party
(RP) in 1995, religious reactionaryism and separatism became the main
domestic threats. The latest version of the MGSB was approved on Oct.
24, 2005 by the MGK and then by the Cabinet on March 20, 2006.
New threats: Cyber terror, global warming and aging population
The edited MGSB also contains new threats such as cyber terror, global
warming and the aging population of Turkey. The document says cyber
threats pose a threat to national security and that global warming
may lead to environmental disasters.
The problem of aging population, an issue which started to dominate
Turkey's agenda recently, also found a place in the new security
document.
Population increase has been a matter of debate since the foundation
of the Turkish Republic; for decades people have argued about whether
it poses a challenge or is an advantage for Turkey. Latest demographic
data reveal that the productive population, aged between 15-65, is
on the rise in Turkey, while the population below 15, which had been
on the rise until recently due to the high fertility rate in Turkey,
is now on the decline.
Currently, 10.1 percent of the overall population is above 60 and it
is predicted that that this percentage will increase to 10.7 in 2011,
14.3 in 2014 and 20.3 in 2020.
The document says the aging population may pose a threat for Turkey
if the country fails to develop specific policies on the issue.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been expressing concern over
the declining younger population in Turkey and suggests that his
government may consider giving a "prize" to families that have at
least three children.
PKK and missile shield issue
The changes made to the MGSB were not the only agenda item during
Wednesday's MGK meeting. Another topic on the agenda was a missile
defense system project proposed by the US. Several US officials have
implied in various statements that part of the missile shield could be
set up in Turkey. The issue was taken up at a summit between defense
and foreign ministers of NATO members in Brussels. Prime Minister
Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. IÅ~_ık
KoÅ~_aner had a brief meeting after the MGK and reportedly discussed
whether Turkey should be part of the defense shield.
The activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were also
discussed during the meeting. The council once again drew attention to
the clandestine support given to the PKK by some countries, accusing
these countries of insincerity in supporting Turkey's counterterrorism
efforts.
Cihan news agency
From: A. Papazian