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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 30 2010
Turkey not partner but owner of NATO, FM says
Saturday, October 30, 2010
FULYA Ã-ZERKAN
XI'AN/SHANGHAI ` Hürriyet Daily News
'Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO should
cover all member states and should remain outside any formula that
would geographically set one country against another," FM DavutoÄ?lu
says. AA photo
Turkey is not a partner, but an owner of NATO, Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu said Saturday, adding that an agreement within the
multi-national alliance is as important as an accord within the
European Union.
Speaking to a small group of journalists en route from Xi'an to
Shanghai as part of his weeklong China trip, DavutoÄ?lu related a story
about how a foreign minister from an EU member state referred to
Turkey as an `important partner' during a meeting involving European
security and defense policy.
`I took the floor after him in the same meeting and said that we are
not a partner here, but an owner. We are an owner of NATO. We are not
a partner,' the Turkish foreign minister said.
`I told my colleague the hat that should be worn in this meeting
should belong to NATO and if he wants to speak with his EU hat on, he
should go to another street in Brussels,' DavutoÄ?lu added.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is believed to be the EU
colleague to whom DavutoÄ?lu was referring.
`That was a pleasant discussion. My friend came later saying he had
been misunderstood and we hugged,' the Turkish foreign minister added.
Turkey is not a member state in the EU, but a candidate country that
began formal accession talks in 2005. The country has, however, been a
member of NATO since 1952. Most recently, Ankara has been the subject
of discussions over a potential NATO missile-defense system originally
proposed by the United States during the Bush administration. It is
unclear whether Turkey will actively participate in the proposed
system directed against Iran, which much of the international
community considers a threat due to its controversial nuclear program.
In discussing the plans, DavutoÄ?lu first said calling the proposed
system a `missile shield' was incorrect both technically and
politically.
`Missile shield, missile wars, where will Turkey be in this war? The
discussions within NATO are not about this at all,' he said. DavutoÄ?lu
added that the focus at the recent Brussels meeting of NATO foreign
and defense ministers was more about NATO-EU cooperation, which he
said did not have ramifications in Turkey.
Turkey not alone, but at the center of NATO
DavutoÄ?lu then clarified the basic three principles in Ankara's policy
toward the NATO missile-defense system.
`First of all, Turkey is not a country that has to be convinced by
NATO. Turkey is not alone; Turkey is at the center of NATO,' he said.
The foreign minister then gave another example from a different
international meeting where Turkey's role in NATO was being
questioned.
`I gave a similar reaction in this debate too. If one [official from a
member state] asks if the alliance is losing Turkey, this is an insult
to Turkey... Every matter is discussed in NATO together. Turkey's
position should be taken into consideration here,' he said. `NATO
regularly reviews its security defense concept as a whole and takes
necessary measures as a security organization. It is out of the
question for Turkey to oppose these measures.'
While explaining the country's second principle, the foreign minister
said NATO should take into account the principle of `indivisible
security,' meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every
member state's security.
`An understanding of exclusion of certain regions of Turkey [from the
proposed defense system] cannot be accepted. Turkey should entirely be
protected,' he said. `The essence of the focus is the security of
member states and only the security of member states.'
`Turkey will not be a frontier'
In explaining the third principle, DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey does perceive
any threat in its neighborhood and does not plan to be a frontier
country as it was during the Cold War era.
`Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO, while
doing threat planning on this issue, should cover all member states
and should remain outside any formula that would geographically set
one country against another,' he said.
The United States has often portrayed the missile-defense system as a
safeguard against a possible ballistic strike from Iran. Ankara is
concerned that such a perception could damage its growing relationship
with its neighbor and has said it does not want the system to
specifically identify any neighboring country, whether it be Iran or
Syria.
`It is true that Turkey does not consider it appropriate to refer to
neighboring countries in this [missile-defense] system... we want
stability, prosperity and peace in our neighborhood,' DavutoÄ?lu said.
`We are not afraid of loneliness'
Asked if Turkey had reached a compromise with Washington on the plan,
the foreign minister said it was in the works.
`If we defend one true thing, we never become afraid of remaining
alone... It is natural for NATO to develop a defense system and Turkey
will take part in this. It is not possible for anyone to oppose this,'
he said.
Commenting on cooperation between NATO and the EU, DavutoÄ?lu said, `An
accord within NATO is as important as an accord within the EU.' He
added that Turkey should be involved in the decision-making mechanisms
related to EU security studies.
The decades-old Cyprus impasse is a sticking point in NATO-EU
cooperation. Turkey objects to Greek Cyprus, an EU member state,
sitting in on EU-NATO meetings because it is not a member of NATO's
partnership-for-peace program. Such issues were discussed in detail
when NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Ankara
recently.
`The EU has not signed a security agreement with Turkey. Turkey's
accession to the European Defense Agency has not been approved. Turkey
is not actively involved in the European security and defense policies
and Turkey is the only country in this position compared to other
non-EU, but NATO member states,' said DavutoÄ?lu.
The foreign minister made clear that considering the abnormality, it
would not be correct to expect Turkey to approve Greek Cyprus'
involvement in NATO decision-making mechanisms.
`Our attitude is based on principles and well understood by all
parties concerned,' DavutoÄ?lu said.
Genocide resolution not used as leverage
Asked about whether Washington was using the threat of a resolution
acknowledging the alleged Armenian genocide as leverage against Ankara
during negotiations on the NATO missile-defense plan, DavutoÄ?lu said
it was out of question.
`It is out of the question for any friendly country and ally to use an
issue as leverage against us¦ This does not bode well with an alliance
understanding,' he said. `We have constructive dialogue with the U.S.
administration.'
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-not-partner-but-owner-of-nato-fm-says-2010-10-30
From: A. Papazian
Oct 30 2010
Turkey not partner but owner of NATO, FM says
Saturday, October 30, 2010
FULYA Ã-ZERKAN
XI'AN/SHANGHAI ` Hürriyet Daily News
'Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO should
cover all member states and should remain outside any formula that
would geographically set one country against another," FM DavutoÄ?lu
says. AA photo
Turkey is not a partner, but an owner of NATO, Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu said Saturday, adding that an agreement within the
multi-national alliance is as important as an accord within the
European Union.
Speaking to a small group of journalists en route from Xi'an to
Shanghai as part of his weeklong China trip, DavutoÄ?lu related a story
about how a foreign minister from an EU member state referred to
Turkey as an `important partner' during a meeting involving European
security and defense policy.
`I took the floor after him in the same meeting and said that we are
not a partner here, but an owner. We are an owner of NATO. We are not
a partner,' the Turkish foreign minister said.
`I told my colleague the hat that should be worn in this meeting
should belong to NATO and if he wants to speak with his EU hat on, he
should go to another street in Brussels,' DavutoÄ?lu added.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is believed to be the EU
colleague to whom DavutoÄ?lu was referring.
`That was a pleasant discussion. My friend came later saying he had
been misunderstood and we hugged,' the Turkish foreign minister added.
Turkey is not a member state in the EU, but a candidate country that
began formal accession talks in 2005. The country has, however, been a
member of NATO since 1952. Most recently, Ankara has been the subject
of discussions over a potential NATO missile-defense system originally
proposed by the United States during the Bush administration. It is
unclear whether Turkey will actively participate in the proposed
system directed against Iran, which much of the international
community considers a threat due to its controversial nuclear program.
In discussing the plans, DavutoÄ?lu first said calling the proposed
system a `missile shield' was incorrect both technically and
politically.
`Missile shield, missile wars, where will Turkey be in this war? The
discussions within NATO are not about this at all,' he said. DavutoÄ?lu
added that the focus at the recent Brussels meeting of NATO foreign
and defense ministers was more about NATO-EU cooperation, which he
said did not have ramifications in Turkey.
Turkey not alone, but at the center of NATO
DavutoÄ?lu then clarified the basic three principles in Ankara's policy
toward the NATO missile-defense system.
`First of all, Turkey is not a country that has to be convinced by
NATO. Turkey is not alone; Turkey is at the center of NATO,' he said.
The foreign minister then gave another example from a different
international meeting where Turkey's role in NATO was being
questioned.
`I gave a similar reaction in this debate too. If one [official from a
member state] asks if the alliance is losing Turkey, this is an insult
to Turkey... Every matter is discussed in NATO together. Turkey's
position should be taken into consideration here,' he said. `NATO
regularly reviews its security defense concept as a whole and takes
necessary measures as a security organization. It is out of the
question for Turkey to oppose these measures.'
While explaining the country's second principle, the foreign minister
said NATO should take into account the principle of `indivisible
security,' meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every
member state's security.
`An understanding of exclusion of certain regions of Turkey [from the
proposed defense system] cannot be accepted. Turkey should entirely be
protected,' he said. `The essence of the focus is the security of
member states and only the security of member states.'
`Turkey will not be a frontier'
In explaining the third principle, DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey does perceive
any threat in its neighborhood and does not plan to be a frontier
country as it was during the Cold War era.
`Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO, while
doing threat planning on this issue, should cover all member states
and should remain outside any formula that would geographically set
one country against another,' he said.
The United States has often portrayed the missile-defense system as a
safeguard against a possible ballistic strike from Iran. Ankara is
concerned that such a perception could damage its growing relationship
with its neighbor and has said it does not want the system to
specifically identify any neighboring country, whether it be Iran or
Syria.
`It is true that Turkey does not consider it appropriate to refer to
neighboring countries in this [missile-defense] system... we want
stability, prosperity and peace in our neighborhood,' DavutoÄ?lu said.
`We are not afraid of loneliness'
Asked if Turkey had reached a compromise with Washington on the plan,
the foreign minister said it was in the works.
`If we defend one true thing, we never become afraid of remaining
alone... It is natural for NATO to develop a defense system and Turkey
will take part in this. It is not possible for anyone to oppose this,'
he said.
Commenting on cooperation between NATO and the EU, DavutoÄ?lu said, `An
accord within NATO is as important as an accord within the EU.' He
added that Turkey should be involved in the decision-making mechanisms
related to EU security studies.
The decades-old Cyprus impasse is a sticking point in NATO-EU
cooperation. Turkey objects to Greek Cyprus, an EU member state,
sitting in on EU-NATO meetings because it is not a member of NATO's
partnership-for-peace program. Such issues were discussed in detail
when NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Ankara
recently.
`The EU has not signed a security agreement with Turkey. Turkey's
accession to the European Defense Agency has not been approved. Turkey
is not actively involved in the European security and defense policies
and Turkey is the only country in this position compared to other
non-EU, but NATO member states,' said DavutoÄ?lu.
The foreign minister made clear that considering the abnormality, it
would not be correct to expect Turkey to approve Greek Cyprus'
involvement in NATO decision-making mechanisms.
`Our attitude is based on principles and well understood by all
parties concerned,' DavutoÄ?lu said.
Genocide resolution not used as leverage
Asked about whether Washington was using the threat of a resolution
acknowledging the alleged Armenian genocide as leverage against Ankara
during negotiations on the NATO missile-defense plan, DavutoÄ?lu said
it was out of question.
`It is out of the question for any friendly country and ally to use an
issue as leverage against us¦ This does not bode well with an alliance
understanding,' he said. `We have constructive dialogue with the U.S.
administration.'
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-not-partner-but-owner-of-nato-fm-says-2010-10-30
From: A. Papazian