
Sunday, July 06, 2008

Turkey - NATO Relations in 2003

NATO had busy days in regard to Iraqi crisis and restructuring of the alliance in 2003. Turkey was an ally playing an active role in this tense atmosphere.

The United States proposed to take measures for protection of Turkey against possible attacks in case of a war in Iraq, but could not get full support of allies in the beginning in NATO which started the year with tension and uncompromising attitudes of some allies stemming from Iraqi crisis. Belgium, France and Germany which had the view that ''NATO should not interfere in Iraq war'' prevented sending defense units to Turkey for a while.

After ''crisis of esteem'' which took place in NATO in the first weeks of 2003, Turkey applied for the Article 4 of North Atlantic Treaty to be put into effect on February 10. Article 4 enables an ally which feels itself under threat to ask NATO to launch negotiations and preparations in order to take defense measures.

NATO Secretary General George Robertson sent a harsh letter to Belgian, French and German governments as crisis was not overcome despite extraordinary meetings of the council. Robertson said in his letter that those countries were playing a dangerous game on Turkey's security and stated that Turkey was the only NATO ally which was in shooting range of weapons of Iraq.

Robertson said that Turkey was really under threat and stated that NATO should fulfill its mission.

After crisis which lasted seven days as of application of Turkey, the decision which was taken as a result of compromise under the body of NATO Defense Planning Committee (DPC) put into effect officially Article 4 of the Treaty.

The decision said that all allies confirmed that they would fulfill their duties for defense of Turkey in conformity with the Treaty. In the decision of DPC, military authorities of alliance were asked to prepare several plans for defense of Turkey and inform the committee on the issue.

The list of preliminary studies and plans covered AWACS (airborne warning and control system) aircraft's' extending logistic support to Turkey, air defense systems' being put into action and NATO's contributions in protection methods against chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.

Extraordinary meetings were held in NATO as Iraq war started in March and measures which aimed to protect Turkey against possible attacks were put into practice.
NATO also accepted to extend logistic support to Poland which undertook to play a role beside the United States in Iraq.

RELATIONS WITH EU

NATO which signed a security cooperation agreement with the European Union (EU) transferred the administration of peace keeping force in Macedonia to the EU. Turkey supported searches for cooperation between alliance and the EU and assumed an attitude in favor of the EU's launching initiatives which would not overshadow NATO.
The U.S. soldiers' operations and attitudes which targeted Turkish military units in Iraq in July caused concern and disturbance in NATO, but it was found appropriate not to bring officially the issue to the agenda of the alliance.

NEW COMMAND STRUCTURE

NATO decreased the number of commands in its new command structure and it was foreseen that Southern Region Air Forces Command to be set up in western Izmir province in the new structure. NATO Southern Region Air Forces Command which will be responsible for air control and operations in NATO southern region will start to serve in 2004 as a multinational headquarters. This headquarters can also undertake mission in an EU operation in which capabilities of NATO will be used. United Air Operation Center which will be set up in Greece will also be under the body of this command which will be responsible for air defense of NATO southern region.

Meanwhile, it was also decided that three centers will be set up to give training in Turkey under the name of NATO. Tactical Air Training Center will be opened in central Konya province and Partnership for Peace Training Center will be opened in Ankara. Training on Fight Against Terrorism Center will also be opened in a place which will be determined later.

SUMMIT

The decision on holding NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29, 2004 which will bring together heads of government and state of NATO member countries was also noted as an important development.

The last of NATO summits which are held biannually was held in Prague, Czech Republic in November 2002.
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will officially join NATO in summit which will be held in Istanbul.

NRF

NATO Response Force (NFR) which was set up under the body of NATO started to serve officially. NRF which will be comprised of vehicles and soldiers who will come from land, naval and air forces of member countries of NATO can be put into action between 15 and 30 days ''in case of a crisis.'' NRF will be ready for fight against ''new threats targeting modern NATO anywhere in the world.''
Alliance military officials said that those threats especially were terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

NRF in which Turkey also participated completed successfully its first maneuvers in Izmir and Istanbul in November.

HIKMET CETIN

Former Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin became NATO Secretary General's senior political representative for Afghanistan. NATO earlier undertook the command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Cetin will play role in coordination, dialogue and talks with local authorities and talks with neighboring countries.

Cetin will work as ''NATO Senior Civilian Representative'' in Afghanistan.

After terrorist attacks in Istanbul in November, NATO Council and NATO Secretary General George Robertson made statements harshly condemning those attacks. Issues on the alliance's forming a more concrete and active cooperation atmosphere against terrorism were brought to the agenda.

NATO which undertook the command of ISAF in Afghanistan this year and broadened its field of influence in the region had some difficulties in finding military equipment and especially helicopter. Turkey gave three Black Hawks helicopters aiming to contribute to efforts to meet needs of NATO units in Afghanistan.

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