NATO needs to diffuse current Turkey tensions
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Mustafa Oguz
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Åžubat 02, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - With an extended struggle in Afghanistan and further enlargement disputes, heading into its 60th year, Turkey is posing a problem as to how the organization can coordinate its operations with the European Union. Turkey objects to information sharing between NATO and the EU because EU member Greek Cyprus has no security agreement with NATO.
As NATO prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, Turkey is posing a problem as to how the organization can coordinate its operations with the European Union, an aspiring security actor itself. Â
With celebrations planned for Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in April to mark the milestone, NATO will also have its hands full dealing with discussions of enlargement, revising the 1999 strategy document, and an extended operation in Afghanistan.
NATO-member Turkey has objected to information sharing between NATO and the EU because EU member Greek Cyprus has no security agreement with NATO.
Speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on the sidelines of the of the 17th International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, Turkey’s permanent representative to NATO, Ambassador Tacan İldem noted that NATO and EU cooperation appeared increasingly necessary as the security alliance heads into its 60th year.
"The point we strongly emphasize is that while NATO’s support of the EU is welcome, it must go together with providing room for the participation of non EU allies in EU decision making mechanisms in security policy," İldem said.
Turkey has no say in decision-making mechanisms of the European Security and Defense Policy, or ESDP, due to French and Greek objections.
The agreed framework between NATO and the EU stipulates that intelligence information can be provided only to EU countries that have a security agreement with NATO. Greek Cyprus is not such a member.
"From the EU’s perspective, it is very reluctant to continue arrangements that would have the effect of discrimination against an EU country," a source familiar with the matter told the Daily News. "Turkey is extremely reluctant to agree to arrangements that would involve full Cypriot participation in NATO-EU functions. As a consequence, NATO is finding it more and more difficult to share information with the EU," the source said.
"It makes it difficult to work out detailed tactical arrangements between NATO and the EU. It is a potential burden on operation settings. But commanders on the ground, whether from NATO or the EU do what they can to circumvent these difficulties," the source said, and underlined that there was a frustration against Turkey with regards to the problem.
"NATO understands Turkey"
But İldem was more optimistic on Turkey’s ability to convince its allies that its concerns were legitimate. "Our position generally is viewed with sympathy within NATO. When I took office two years ago, other NATO countries wanted to proceed with EU cooperation, but they were also negative towards Turkey’s position. In two years I think we gained considerable ground," he said.
"On the tactical level there is coordination. But on the strategic level, nothing can be done outside the framework we see. Since it can not be done, countries’ expectations increase. Given the obstacles Greek Cyprus brings to Turkey in EU institutions, we say that no flexibility is possible," İldem said. Pierre Lellouche, chairman of the French delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly argued that Turkey "should not shoot itself in the foot" and give up its objections to NATO- EU cooperation.
"Already Turkey is the largest non EU contributor to the ESDP. I think it is very counter productive from the point of Turkish interests to block NATO-EASP cooperation," Lellouche said.
Responding to Lellouche, retired ambassador and deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Onur Öymen, recalled that Greek Cyprus was blocking Turkish adhesion to the European Defense Agency, a EU body set up to increase its military capabilities in the field of crisis management and promote armaments coordination. "Nobody should suggest to us not to shoot ourselves in the foot. Turkey has to be realistic," İldem said.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey said the resolution of the Cyprus problem would solve a great deal of problems NATO faces in working with the EU. "I do not, however, pass any judgment on the content of the negotiations," he said.
Deadlock due to Afghanistan
The deadlock comes during the increased necessity of NATO to boost military capabilities, in particular to make important ground in Afghanistan, a matter that has caused a lot of head scratching among NATO officers in the last few years.
Jeffrey said the Military operations in Afghanistan would increase in importance. "Of course we need a comprehensive approach on Afghanistan, but the Iraq experience shows us that military security comes first. Before you can do anything, political, economic, diplomatic, you have to secure the population. Second, you have to deter, defeat and deny areas to your foe. No matter what you call this, war, peace operation, for the soldiers on the ground this is a combat operation. We need to do more. We have already decided to send another combat brigade to Afghanistan to increase the force population ratio," he said.
"Turkey has a large contribution to Afghanistan despite its commitment of troops to the situation in the southeast, which of course, we support strongly as a fight against terrorism. Turkey’s participation inspires other nations, too," Jeffrey underlined.
With celebrations planned for Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in April to mark the milestone, NATO will also have its hands full dealing with discussions of enlargement, revising the 1999 strategy document, and an extended operation in Afghanistan.
NATO-member Turkey has objected to information sharing between NATO and the EU because EU member Greek Cyprus has no security agreement with NATO.
Speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on the sidelines of the of the 17th International Antalya Conference on Security and Cooperation, Turkey’s permanent representative to NATO, Ambassador Tacan İldem noted that NATO and EU cooperation appeared increasingly necessary as the security alliance heads into its 60th year.
"The point we strongly emphasize is that while NATO’s support of the EU is welcome, it must go together with providing room for the participation of non EU allies in EU decision making mechanisms in security policy," İldem said.
Turkey has no say in decision-making mechanisms of the European Security and Defense Policy, or ESDP, due to French and Greek objections.
The agreed framework between NATO and the EU stipulates that intelligence information can be provided only to EU countries that have a security agreement with NATO. Greek Cyprus is not such a member.
"From the EU’s perspective, it is very reluctant to continue arrangements that would have the effect of discrimination against an EU country," a source familiar with the matter told the Daily News. "Turkey is extremely reluctant to agree to arrangements that would involve full Cypriot participation in NATO-EU functions. As a consequence, NATO is finding it more and more difficult to share information with the EU," the source said.
"It makes it difficult to work out detailed tactical arrangements between NATO and the EU. It is a potential burden on operation settings. But commanders on the ground, whether from NATO or the EU do what they can to circumvent these difficulties," the source said, and underlined that there was a frustration against Turkey with regards to the problem.
"NATO understands Turkey"
But İldem was more optimistic on Turkey’s ability to convince its allies that its concerns were legitimate. "Our position generally is viewed with sympathy within NATO. When I took office two years ago, other NATO countries wanted to proceed with EU cooperation, but they were also negative towards Turkey’s position. In two years I think we gained considerable ground," he said.
"On the tactical level there is coordination. But on the strategic level, nothing can be done outside the framework we see. Since it can not be done, countries’ expectations increase. Given the obstacles Greek Cyprus brings to Turkey in EU institutions, we say that no flexibility is possible," İldem said. Pierre Lellouche, chairman of the French delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly argued that Turkey "should not shoot itself in the foot" and give up its objections to NATO- EU cooperation.
"Already Turkey is the largest non EU contributor to the ESDP. I think it is very counter productive from the point of Turkish interests to block NATO-EASP cooperation," Lellouche said.
Responding to Lellouche, retired ambassador and deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Onur Öymen, recalled that Greek Cyprus was blocking Turkish adhesion to the European Defense Agency, a EU body set up to increase its military capabilities in the field of crisis management and promote armaments coordination. "Nobody should suggest to us not to shoot ourselves in the foot. Turkey has to be realistic," İldem said.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey said the resolution of the Cyprus problem would solve a great deal of problems NATO faces in working with the EU. "I do not, however, pass any judgment on the content of the negotiations," he said.
Deadlock due to Afghanistan
The deadlock comes during the increased necessity of NATO to boost military capabilities, in particular to make important ground in Afghanistan, a matter that has caused a lot of head scratching among NATO officers in the last few years.
Jeffrey said the Military operations in Afghanistan would increase in importance. "Of course we need a comprehensive approach on Afghanistan, but the Iraq experience shows us that military security comes first. Before you can do anything, political, economic, diplomatic, you have to secure the population. Second, you have to deter, defeat and deny areas to your foe. No matter what you call this, war, peace operation, for the soldiers on the ground this is a combat operation. We need to do more. We have already decided to send another combat brigade to Afghanistan to increase the force population ratio," he said.
"Turkey has a large contribution to Afghanistan despite its commitment of troops to the situation in the southeast, which of course, we support strongly as a fight against terrorism. Turkey’s participation inspires other nations, too," Jeffrey underlined.