Foreign relations of Turkey
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Turkey's primary political, economic, and security ties are with the West. During the last several years, Turkey has continued to pursue its candidacy for membership in the European Union.
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European Union
Main article: Accession of Turkey to the European Union
Turkish ambitions to join the European club began in 1963. It soon became an associate of the European Economic Community. It was hoped that full membership would follow in the years to come, although the turbulent in the country from the 1970s until the late 1980s meant that it was 1987 when Turkey formally applied to join what had become the European Community. The application was rejected, although the EC did say that Turkish membership could occur at some point in the future.
An EU-Turkey Customs Union came into force between the two sides on January 1, 1996. It was an agreement that allowed goods to travel between the two without customs restrictions, although it crucially stopped short of lifting restrictions in such areas as agriculture.
The European Union confirmed Turkey's status as candidate for membership at its Helsinki conference in 1999. Accession talks did not follow immediately however, as the EU said Turkey had to make significant reforms, particularly in the field of human rights, before the talks could begin. Talks are now on track to begin in October 2005.
Turkey's government has identified the EU as its top priority, and has taken many - and sometimes controversial - reform packages through parliament. It is a process that will gradually harmonise Turkey with EU standards. When membership talks begin, this harmonisation will become more structured, as it will be conducted over the acquis communautaire.
NATO
Turkey entered NATO in 1952 and serves as the organization's vital eastern anchor, controlling the straits leading from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and sharing a border with Syria, Iraq, and Iran. A NATO headquarters is located in Izmir, and the United States has maintained air forces at a Turkish base called Incirlik that is located near the Mediterranean city of Adana.
Other international organizations
Besides its relationships with NATO and the EU, Turkey is a member of the OECD, the Council of Europe, and OSCE. Turkey also is a member of the UN and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Trade blocs
Turkey is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has signed free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Israel, and many other countries. In 1992, Turkey and 10 other regional nations formed the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council to expand regional trade and economic cooperation.
Disputes - international
Complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea
Cyprus question with the Republic of Cyprus and Greece, as in 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus occupying the Northern 40% of the island and driving out much of the ethnic Greek population.
Dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Turkish-Armenian Relations
Turkey continues to refuse to recognize the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were allegedly killed by Ottoman Turks. This strains relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Due to solidarity with Azerbaijan, a traditional enemy of Armenia with ethnic ties to Turkey, Turkey has closed her border with Armenia, crippling the tiny country's economy.
Traditional demands regarding former claimed Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided.
The Aegean Status Quo
Turkey and Greece being the two littoral states have legitimate rights and interests in the Aegean Sea. These involve their security, economy and other traditional rights recognized by international law.
Turkish-Greek differences over the Aegean are related to the Aegean status quo established by the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty. The Lausanne Treaty established a political balance between Greece and Turkey by harmonizing the vital interests of both countries including those in the Aegean.
Turkey fully respects the provisions of Lausanne and in return expects Greece to act in the same manner. It is true that in 1923, the continental shelf concept was not foreseen. Nevertheless, the inherent balance of the Lausanne Treaty in the Aegean is a guideline in all respects, including the continental shelf. The basic thinking of the Lausanne Treaty is, to grant to coastal States limited areas of maritime jurisdiction and leave the remaining parts of the Aegean to the common benefit of Turkey and Greece. It is clear that if one of the littoral States unilaterally extends its jurisdiction in the Aegean and deprives the other coastal State from exercising its existing rights, it is no longer possible to speak of the Lausanne balance in the Aegean.
In 1948 the Dodecanese islands, including Imia, were ceded by Italy to Greece. In 1996 Turkey made territorial claims on several of these islands, nearly provoking war between Greece and Turkey.
Consequently,the bilateral Turco-Greek relationship in the Aegean has to be based on the following principles:
The Aegean is a common sea between Turkey and Greece. The freedoms of the high seas and the air space above it, which at present both coastal States as well as third countries enjoy, should not be impaired. Any acquisition of new maritime areas should be based on mutual consent and should be fair and equitable.
The fundamental source of tension between Turkey and Greece is Greece's expansionist policies.
Turkish policy is based on respect for the status quo whereas Greek appears determined to alter it in its favor.
Repeated violations of Greek airspace by Turkish military aircraft, the continued Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus, the threat of extending Greek territorial waters beyond their present width of 6 miles ( Greece extended her territorial waters from 3 miles to 6 miles in 1936,Turkey followed suit in 1964),the remilitarization of the Eastern Aegean Islands placed under demilitarized status by virtue of the very agreements ceding them to Greece, a 10 mile "national air space" over territorial waters of 6, abuse of the FIR responsibility as if it confers sovereignty (request of flight plans from state aircraft and allegations of "violations of" Athens FIR) can be counted among these efforts which are the real underlying causes of the Turco-Greek conflict.
Illicit drugs
key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and - to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking. Organizations operate out of Istanbul laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate.
Source
- CIA World Factbook 200x?