Diplomat School Hosts Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ambassador Volkan Bozkır

As the Diplomat School, organized for the 5th time by the School of Government and Leadership (HLO), approached its end, its agenda was "Turkish Foreign Policy and Current Developments."

Diplomat School 5 held the first session of its 4th week with İstanbul Member of Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Volkan Bozkır. Beginning his speech on Recent Developments in Turkish Foreign Policy by identifying four major developments that have shaped world politics, Bozkır listed them as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 9/11 attacks, the global crisis and the Arab Spring. Discussing the emergence of the EU as a superpower in the world with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Bozkır addressed Türkiye's introduction to the concept of free enterprise during the Özal period in this process. Stating that after the 9/11 attacks the USA sought a solution to its trauma abroad by invading Iraq, Bozkır noted that this trauma has now disappeared and that it has become more difficult for the USA to send troops abroad. Stating that the American dream has now turned into the European dream, he reiterated that the European Union, which represents prosperity, is Türkiye's strategic goal. Continuing with the global crisis, Bozkır emphasized that the consequences of the crisis resemble the figures after the Second World War. Assessing the Arab Spring and the developments that followed, Bozkır said that the effects of these developments have manifested themselves in Palestine, Syria, Israel and Egypt. Finally, discussing the effects of these developments on Türkiye and also referring to Türkiye's EU membership, Bozkır stated that Türkiye is not dependent on the EU and has the possibility of membership in the Shanghai Five and the G-20.

The second session, in which democratization and Turkish Foreign Policy were discussed, continued with the participation of Kütahya Member of Parliament and Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Prof. Dr. İdris Bal. Beginning his speech by stating that the concepts of democratization and civilianization carry different meanings, İdris Bal discussed the foreign policy-making process. He stated that in the USA, which shapes foreign policy as a result of bargaining, not only Secretaries of State and politicians but also the media, opinion leaders and lobbies have a place at the bargaining table. İdris Bal said, "We can use the same template in Türkiye as well." Noting that, looking at the past, politics has not been uniform and that there have been certain factors, Bal mentioned Turgut Özal, who was influential in foreign policy, and referred to the ineffectiveness of public opinion and the media, emphasizing how ineffective they were especially during coups. Then referring to the events in Egypt, Bal continued: "In this environment, Türkiye could have condemned the coup, invited the army to withdraw and advised that problems might arise later. It could also have supported the Muslim Brotherhood at the same time. But it is not right to be close only to the Muslim Brotherhood and cut ties with the military administration. Ultimately, whether you like it or not, this is a reality, and dialogue must not be cut off." Stating that the USA is a global power and can maintain good relations even with enemy countries, Bal continued, "Countries that do not have their own scenario become extras in scenarios written by others." In conclusion, Bal said that criticizing the 10 percent threshold is very right in terms of democratization, and stated that the world looks favorably on the democratization package but that it has shortcomings.

The third session began with a speech on Türkiye's Relations with the USA and NATO by Ankara University Faculty of Political Science Department of International Relations faculty member and Director of the European Communities Research and Application Center (ATAUM) Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan. Stating that Türkiye wanted to come under NATO's security umbrella against the Soviet threat, but that despite applying on 14 May 1950 during the İsmet İnönü period this remained limited to military aid, Çağrı Erhan noted that final acceptance came in 1952. He said that, contrary to popular belief, Türkiye's admission to NATO was not related to the Korean War; rather, the Soviets' development of the atomic bomb ended the US monopoly, pushing the USA to store aircraft and weapons close to the Soviets, and the request for bases in Türkiye was approved in exchange for admission to NATO. He noted that despite changes in government, no anti-NATO policy was pursued. He discussed the measures taken against ethical and religious problems that emerged during the Cold War. Çağrı Erhan said that in order not to fall off the US agenda, Türkiye seized every contact with the USA in new political geographies, and that Türkiye was the first to take on a co-chairmanship role in the Greater Middle East project. Finally, he stated that Türkiye, as an EU candidate and a democratic country within the Western alliance, would be an example for the Middle East.

In the fourth session, "Türkiye-Eurasia Relations and Türkiye-Armenia Relations" were discussed with the participation of former Director of the Institute for Armenian Research and Honorary Chair of the Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) Retired Ambassador Ömer Engin Lütem and Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) Chair Retired Ambassador Alev Kılıç. Saying, "To understand the Türkiye-Armenia problem, it is necessary to look back," Lütem stated that it would not be possible to understand the problem without going back in time. Emphasizing that although there were many nations in the Ottoman period, the Armenians were the most harmonious, Lütem stated that these relations deteriorated when the period of decline began. Discussing how the Armenians, who cooperated with Russia, established Armenia with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lütem continued: "After this date, Türkiye put forward the thesis that the genocide allegations should be researched by historians rather than debated in the political arena, and advocates normalization in relations. However, this has not been achieved due to opposition from public opinion in Armenia." Finally, referring to the fact that 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the events and that Armenians are making preparations for it, Lütem said, "Although the problems seemed to have been resolved in 2009, the current situation is more serious and disagreements are increasing." The session's other guest, Alev Kılıç, began his speech with the question "Where is Eurasia?" He stated that Eurasia is the combination of Europe and Asia, but that the Middle East and the Arab World are not included, because these regions extend as far as Africa. Kılıç noted that there was a Eurasia opening in Türkiye in 1992 and that the Black Sea Economic Cooperation was established. He emphasized that economic cooperation was established between EU member countries and East Asian countries, and that although its secretariat is in İstanbul, its visibility has weakened over 20 years. Stating that Romania and Bulgaria did not make an effort after joining the EU, Kılıç emphasized that the organization's appeal has decreased and that it has lost its initial momentum. However, he added that the organization, which still has serious potential, creates an interesting political environment with the participation of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The final session began with the participation of former Member of Parliament and former Permanent Representative to NATO Retired Ambassador Dr. Onur Öymen to speak on "The Cyprus Issue and Its Effects on Türkiye." In his speech, which he began by thanking Rauf Denktaş, Öymen discussed the Cyprus Issue, which has long been on Türkiye's agenda. Stating that to examine the Cyprus issue one must first refer to the island's history, Öymen noted that Cyprus, an island ruled by many civilizations for thousands of years, was in Turkish hands for 300 years, and that during this time approximately 30 thousand people came to the island from Anatolia, especially from the Karaman region, including people of every profession and age. Referring to what happened in Cyprus during the First World War, Öymen stated that the British used the island as a colony and that the Greek Cypriots on the island formed their desire for union with Greece, Enosis, during this period. Öymen illustrated how far the Greek Cypriots' demands had gone in this period with former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's words: "I do not wish to consider it possible that His Majesty's Government would not accept this cause of the Greeks." Öymen stated that after this process, in 1957, Cyprus became a fundamental issue for Türkiye, and that in the 1960s the London and Zurich Agreements were signed under the guarantorship of the UK, Greece and Türkiye, envisaging a State of Cyprus that recognized the existence of two sovereign communities, based on Article 16 of the Treaty of Lausanne. Öymen also emphasized that Kurdish, Armenian and Greek organizations united in Greece and took action, and that the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus became the political base of the PKK. Stating that Türkiye toughened its stance as a result, Öymen said that Türkiye did not bow to external pressure, and as a result the TRNC emerged, which is democratic, even more so than Türkiye, but recognized only by Türkiye and subjected to very heavy cultural, economic and political embargoes. Finally, Onur Öymen added: Türkiye's political tradition will not bow to external pressure even when subjected to it; even if governments change, Türkiye will support the TRNC and will stand firm in this direction.