Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Occupied Cyprus
Dec 31 2004
Revised National Security Policy Document classifies Greece as
Turkey´s partner
At a time when the violations of Greece’s airspace by Turkish
warplanes has become a routine practice, the casus belli decision by
the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) if Greece exercises its
rights deriving from the international law is not revoked, Turkey’s
occupation of Cyprus and the violation of the human rights of EU
citizens is going on unhindered, the revised National Security
Document classifies Greece as a partner.
A commentary in HURRIYET, the full text of which follows, outlines
the views expressed in the National Security Document, under
formulation, for which certain Turkish military units have not yet
expressed opinion and from which it seems that Turkey’s perception of
neighbourly relations is based Ottoman criteria.
The commentary by Sukru Kucuksahin under the title: “Al-Qa’ida and
Shahab-3, rather than Greece, constitute threats”, is published in
HURRIYET on 27.12.04.
“The work related to the rewriting the National Security Policy
Document (MGSB) will be completed in one or two months.
Despite the fact that the Foreign Ministry and certain military units
have not yet expressed their views, efforts have already begun to
draw up the framework of the new document.
Looking at this framework, it is possible to see that this time major
changes will be realized in the document that was accepted during the
meeting of the National Security Council in 1997 and that underwent
certain changes in 2001.
Despite the fact that no one has any doubts that separatist and
reactionary activities will continue to top the list of domestic
threats, “idealist mafia” primarily and certain old chapters will be
totally removed.
The demand to intensify the struggle against the mafia, in turn, will
maintain its place.
Subtitle: Greece Is becoming Turkey’s partner
In the MGSB the most important changes will be realized in the
perception of foreign threats.
Greece has stopped topping the list of foreign threats for the first
time in the 82-year history of the document and it has moved toward
the bottom of the list.
Turkey, which is making progress en route to the EU, cannot continue
to view a country that will become its partner after 10 years as a
threat. This runs counter to seriousness of the state.
Therefore, the term “the possibility of clashes exists” that had been
used in the past also becomes history, but attention is drawn to the
fact that certain problems still remain on the agenda.
In relation to Greece the previous document had noted that Syria “may
take place by the side of Greece in case of possible clashes with the
latter.” In the new document, however, Syria is moved toward the end
of the list.
In the new document the relations with the neighboring countries are
removed outside the scope of the phrase “the former assessments
should be maintained as they are” — a phrase that was included in
the previous document. Furthermore, the new document calls for
developing Turkey’s economic relations with its neighbors and
encourages good neighborly relations.
Subtitle: The Shahab-3 may hit Istanbul
Despite the fact that compared with the past, Turkey has improved its
relations with its neighbors, the new MGSB will differ from the
previous documents where Turkey’s relations with a certain
neighboring country are concerned.
Despite the fact that the relations with Iran seem to be warm, there
is a serious crisis in the relations between the two countries. It is
seen that Turkey has serious concerns regarding Iran’s missile power
and nuclear capacity.
The fact that the Shahab-3 missiles that have recently been tested by
Iran are capable of hitting Istanbul, places this country at the top
of the list of foreign threats.
There is a second issue that is viewed as equally dangerous and that
is Iraq and, in this regard, international terrorism.
Al-Qa’ida is viewed as synonymous to international terrorism.
The terrorist actions undertaken by the organization in question
against the synagogues, the British Consulate, and the HSBC building
in Istanbul as well as the recent massacres conducted against Turkish
citizens and security officials in Iraq are noted down.
These actions undertaken by Al-Qa’ida against Turkey are perceived as
the organization’s efforts to alienate Turkey from Europe and to
create internal confusion.
Subtitle: All institutions constitute the guarantee of the regime
It is possible to list some of the important points in the document
as follows:
— Turkey does not have an important problem with Armenia. Rather,
the problem stems from the Armenian diaspora. This is why attention
is drawn to the diaspora which also seems to distress Armenia.
— The fact that the border with Armenia is closed stems from
Armenia’s Azerbaijani policy, rather than the relations between
Armenia and Turkey.
— Full membership in the EU continues to be Turkey’s goal, albeit
cautiously.
— The relations with the Turkic world should be further enhanced. It
is greatly beneficial to resolve the problems that have recently
emerged with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
— Economic cooperation with Russia in particular and the relations
with this country in general should be further developed.
Left-wing terrorism will take place at the bottom of the list in the
new document, which puts emphasis on safeguarding economic stability
and strengthening social peace.
It is not clear whether or not the sects will be included in the
document that will recall that it is the duty of all the state units
to safeguard the regime.
It seems that this problem stems from the fact that an answer has not
yet been found to the question on “whether or not the Community
Houses are places of worship or culture clubs.”