XI. Turkey and the Middle East
Turkey shares a deep-rooted historical, cultural, and traditional ties with the Middle East and promotes friendly relations with all the countries and people of the region. Developments in the Middle East are followed closely and felt strongly in Turkey. Turkey has always desired to see a fair, lasting, and comprehensive peace take root in this conflict-ridden region. Turkey considers the Middle East Peace Process as a golden opportunity for settling the Arab-Israeli conflict and reaching a just peace in the region. Therefore, Turkey has given her full support to the peace process from the very beginning. The success of the process is very necessary for peace in the Middle East as well as for creating the necessary environment for economic and social development. All the people of the region will benefit from a fair, and lasting peace.
Turkey welcomed the agreements signed in the context of the process so far. However, Turkey believes that it is important to honor the agreements and to carry them out so that an atmosphere of mutual confidence is created. As long as the parties live up to their commitments, there is no reason why the vision of a future Middle East where peoples of the region live together in peace and security should not become reality. Turkey has always tried to contribute to the peace process. Benefiting from its traditional ties with the Arab parties to the process and its good relations with Israel, Turkey encourages both sides for the success of the peace process. Turkey wants to play an active role in the region, both politically and economically. But while doing so, takes care not to get involved in regional disagreements or to take sides. Turkey believes that the adoption of gradual confidence-building measures among the regional countries will help reduce the risk of war.
XII. The Southeastern Anatolian Project and the Environment
Southeastern Anatolian Project, or GAP is the biggest development project ever undertaken by Turkey, and one of the biggest of its kind in the world. The integrated, multisectoral project includes thirteen major projects, which are primarily for irrigation and hydropower generation. The project envisions the construction of twenty-two dams and nineteen hydroelectric power plants on the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers. The area to be irrigated accounts for 19% of the economically irrigated area in Turkey, and the annual electricity generation accounts for 22% of the country s economically viable hydropower potential. It is one of the most ambitious regional development projects ever attempted in the world. It covers, in addition to the irrigation and hydropower schemes, all the related social and economic sectors including transportation, industry, mining, telecommunications, health, tourism, and education.
The objectives for the development of the GAP region are, to increase the productivity and employment capacity in the Region, to organize economic and physical infrastructure in rural areas, to contribute to the national objectives of sustained economic growth, to reduce disparity between the region and other regions by increasing welfare levels in the Region.
Turkey places great importance on the development of cooperation with countries in the region on the subject of the protection of the environment. Turkey participates in the Environment Program along with the countries with coastline on the Black Sea and also takes an active role in Projects for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution.
XIII. Personal Interview with a Turkish Citizen
In order to gain another view on these topics, Eylem Cagri Afacan, a student at the Law Faculty of Ankara University was interviewed. Afacan, believes that Turkey is a country with a promising future. Having lived in Turkey for all his life, he sees that the country has made great improvement in increasing its attractiveness as a place to live and work, by aiming to build a strong economy and joining the European Union. He sees his country offering an excellent base for economic activities throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the Turkic-Speaking Republic of Central Asia. He says that because of its geographical location, the land connection to three continents, and the sea surrounding it on three sides, Turkey has been a good center for commerce.
XIV. Conclusion
In conclusion, this question is often asked, is Turkey Western? According to the standards of Europe and the United States, Turkey is undeveloped. I believe that this is a complicated matter because for me there are two Turkeys. There is the urban Turkey of the theatres, smart cafes, the shopping malls, and there is the rural Turkey, with its primitive housing, and its appalling illiteracy. I believe that these are not problems that can t be fixed. I think with some help Turkey can overcome these hard times and accomplish the goals. Indeed, as President Clinton noted during his recent visit to Turkey, Turkey has the potential to soon become a major player in the global economy.