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<p align="center" class="style17">Table of Contents<br>
25th International Workshop - Rome '08</p>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/weissinger-preface.html">Preface- Dr. Roger<br>Weissinger-Baylon<br>Workshop Chairman<br></a>
<a href="/2008book/weissinger-overview.html">Workshop Chairman's Overview - Dr. Roger Weissinger-Baylon</a>
<a href="/2008book/joulwan.html">Opening Dinner Debate - <br>General George Joulwan<br>Former SACEUR</a>
<p>
<p align="center" class="style17">Part One<p>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/la-russa.html">Italian Defense Minister<br />
Ignazio La Russa
</a>
<a href="/2008book/browne.html">British Defense Minister<br />
The Rt Hon Des Browne
</a>
<a href="/2008book/gonul.html">Turkish Defense Minister<br />
Vecdi G�n�l
</a>
<a href="/2008book/di-paola.html">NATO Military Committee Chairman<br />
Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola
</a>
<a href="/2008book/zappata.html">Admiral Luciano Zappata<br />
Dep Supreme Allied
Commander Transformation
</a>
<a href="/2008book/camporini.html">Italian Chief of Defense<br />
General Vincenzo Camporini
</a>
<a href="/2008book/zappa.html">Alenia Aeronautica Chairman<br />
Dr. Giorgio Zappa
</a>
<br>Part Two<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/baramidze.html">Georgian Vice Prime Minister<br />
Giorgi Baramidze
</a>
<a href="/2008book/chizhov.html">Russian Amb to EU<br />
Vladimir Chizhov
</a>
<br>Part Three<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/eldon.html">British Amb to NATO<br />
Stewart Eldon
</a>
<a href="/2008book/akram.html">Pakistan's Amb to U.N.<br />
Munir Akram
</a>
<a href="/2008book/de-la-sabliere.html">French Amb to Italy<br />
Jean-Marc de la Sabli�re
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tkeshelashvili.html">Georgian Foreign Minister<br />
Eka Tkeshelashvili
</a>
<a href="/2008book/stefanini.html">Italian Amb to NATO<br />
Stefano Stefanini
</a>
<a href="/2008book/buzhinsky.html">Lt Gen Evgeniy Buzhinsky<br />
Russian Min of Defense
</a>
<a href="/2008book/winid.html">Polish Amb to NATO<br />
Boguslaw Winid
</a>
<br>Part Four<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/tegnelia.html">DTRA Director<br />
Dr. James Tegnelia
</a>
<a href="/2008book/rood.html">U.S. Under Sec of State<br />
John Rood
</a>
<a href="/2008book/joseph.html">Former Under Sec of State<br />
Amb Robert Joseph</a>
<a href="/2008book/berdennikov.html">Russian Amb-at-large<br />
Grigory V. Berdennikov
</a>
<a href="/2008book/benkert.html">U.S. Asst Sec of Defense<br />
Joseph Benkert
</a>
<a href="/2008book/flory.html">NATO Asst Sec Gen<br />
Peter Flory
</a>
<a href="/2008book/sedivy.html">NATO Asst Sec Gen<br />
Jiri Sedivy
</a>
<a href="/2008book/pfirter.html">OPCW Dir Gen<br />
Amb Rogelio Pfirter
</a>
<br>Part Five<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/lather.html">SHAPE Chief of Staff<br />
General Karl-Heinz Lather
</a>
<a href="/2008book/fitzgerald.html">Admiral Mark. P. Fitzgerald
<br />
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
</a>
<a href="/2008book/ildem.html">Turkish Amb to NATO<br />
Tacan Ildem
</a>
<a href="/2008book/schuwirth.html">Fmr SHAPE Chief of Staff<br />
General Rainer Schuwirth
</a>
<a href="/2008book/acosta.html">Global Impact CEO<br />
Ms. Renee Acosta
</a>
<a href="/2008book/soligan.html">Lt Gen James Soligan<br />
Allied Command-Transformation
</a>
<a href="/2008book/bagnall.html">Former UK Vice Chief of Defense Staff<br />
ACM Sir Anthony Bagnall
</a>
<br>Part Six
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/volkman.html">U.S. Dir of Internat. Coop.<br />
Alfred Volkman
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tozzi.html">Major General Claudio Tozzi<br />
Italian Defense Ministry
</a>
<a href="/2008book/homberg.html">EADS Senior Vice Pres<br />
Thomas Homberg
</a>
<a href="/2008book/shephard.html">Northrop Grumman VP<br />
Mr. Timothy Shephard
</a>
<a href="/2008book/buckley.html">Thales Senior VP<br />
Dr. Edgar Buckley
</a>
<a href="/2008book/harris.html">Lockheed Martin Global Pres.<br />
Dr. Scott A. Harris
</a>
<a href="/2008book/schneider.html">AFCEA CEO<br />
Kent Schneider
</a>
<a href="/2008book/patterson.html">Mr. David Patterson<br />
Univ of Tennessee
</a>
<p align="center" class="style17">Part Seven
<p align="center" class="style17" style="margin-bottom: 0;">
<a href="/2008book/grimes.html">U.S. Asst Sec of Def<br />
Hon. John G. Grimes
</a>
<a href="/2008book/lentz.html">U.S. Dep Asst Sec of Def<br />
Robert Lentz
</a>
<a href="/2008book/aaviksoo.html">Estonian Defense Minister<br />
Jaak Aaviksoo
</a>
<a href="/2008book/bloechl.html">Microsoft, Managing Dir.<br />
Tim Bloechl
</a>
<a href="/2008book/wolf.html">Lt Gen Ulrich Wolf<br />
NATO CIS Service Agency Dir
</a>
<a href="/2008book/monteforte.html">Italian Milrep to NATO<br />
Vice Adm Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte
</a>
<a href="/2008book/lintonen.html">Finnish Amb to UN<br />
Kirsti Lintonen
</a>
<a href="/2008book/silvestri.html">Dr. Stefano Silvestri<br />
Istituto Affari Internazionali
</a>
<a href="/2008book/yousfi.html">Algerian Amb to UN<br />
Youcef Yousfi
</a>
<a href="/2008book/karem.html">Egyptian Amb to EU<br />
Mahmoud Karem
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tarasyuk.html">Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister<br />
Borys Tarasyuk
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="content">
<div class="story">
<h2 class="workshop_year">Rome '08 Workshop</h2>
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="Main Content" -->
<h1>
Threats to the Black Sea Region and to Global Security:
Turkey's Efforts
to Achieve Peace and Stability </h1>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0;">
His Excellency Vecdi Gönül</h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><B>Turkish Defense Minister </B></h2>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;"><img src="images/gonul.jpg" alt="His Excellency Vecdi Gönül" width="130" height="160"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0;">
First of all, I would like to thank the Italian Minister of Defense, Mr.
Ignazio La Russa; the director of the Center for Strategic Decision Research,
Dr. Roger Weissinger-Baylon; and all the other sponsoring institutions
and contributors for holding the 25<SUP>th</SUP> International Workshop on Global
Security and for extending an invitation to me to address this distinguished
audience. </p>
<h2>ELEMENTS OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION </h2>
<p>
At the moment, the world is going through the pains of change and transformation.
Conventional threats and risks are being replaced with an environment of
uncertainty, and asymmetric threats that we are unaccustomed to, such as
terror, fundamentalism, the exploitation of weapons of mass destruction,
illegal immigration, climate change, and water and energy scarcity, have
taken the place of the evident military threats of the Cold War era. An
important characteristic of these new risks and threats is that no nation
has enough power and capacity to cope with them alone. Consequently, coordination
and cooperation have become more important than ever before for international
security. </p>
<p>
In addition to changing global tendencies, the emergence of Asian countries
such as China and India, which have rapidly growing economies; the rise
of the Russian Federation as a prospective superpower; the suspension of
the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) by the RF; the Missile
Defense System in Europe; and the “frozen conflicts” and ongoing disputes,
particularly those in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, are
having a clear political-military impact on the developing security environment. </p>
<h2>CHANGES IN NATO, THE EU, AND ESDP </h2>
<p>
From the Baltics to the Black Sea, NATO is the most noticeable security
actor. With the end of the Cold War, NATO successfully achieved its goal
of collective defense of its member-countries within the scope of its 1949
founding charter. Now, NATO is making great progress regarding its assets
and capabilities as well as its operational competence. It adopted a new
strategic concept and made significant changes in its military command
and force structure. In addition, NATO accepted several former Warsaw Pact
countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Baltic
countries, as NATO members. Twenty-four other countries remain in NATO’s
field of interest and are involved in the organization as Partnership for
Peace members. After including Croatia and Albania, an invitation to the
Republic of Macedonia will be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable
solution to the name issue is reached. At the Bucharest Summit, NATO members
also clearly stated their agreement about the prospective NATO membership
of Ukraine and Georgia. </p>
<p>
As an evolving organization, NATO keeps taking on additional roles in order
to meet continuously changing risks and prevailing instabilities. Turkey
endeavors to support all of the tasks and roles assumed by NATO to the
maximum possible extent. NATO has always been perceived not only as a security
organization but also as an important political tool because of its deterrence
aspects. However, we should not forget that the essence of this organization
is collective defense, namely Article 5. </p>
<p>
NATO is on the way to becoming a global organization. Enhanced cooperation
with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Argentina, under the
auspices of “Contact Countries”; with Gulf countries, as a result of the
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative; and with Mediterranean Dialogue countries
has expanded NATO’s domain considerably. In addition, the mechanisms established
under such NATO arrangements as the Individual Cooperation Program, the
NATO-Ukraine Commission, and the NATO-Russia Council continue to serve
as useful tools for extending regional security cooperation. </p>
<p>
European governments have responded to this new security environment by
adding a security and defense dimension to the European Union as well as
by bringing in new members and boosting internal security cooperation.
The European Union is the second most important security actor from the
Baltics to the Black Sea, and has been improving and enlarging since the
1950s. It became a union with the Maastricht Treaty and continued its progress
with a series of foundation treaties, the last of which was the Lisbon
Treaty. This treaty, I must say, proposes an enhanced EU defense capability
that seems to duplicate many of the functions of NATO, particularly NATO’s
collective defense clause, Article 5. </p>
<p>
Since its creation almost 10 years ago, the ESDP has also made significant
progress and become an effective tool in crisis management, mostly for
civilian missions. It constitutes a growing dimension of the Euro-Atlantic
security architecture and has room for development with the view of making
it more active, capable, and coherent. </p>
<h2>TURKISH EFFORTS TOWARDS SECURITY AND STABILITY </h2>
<p>
As a member of NATO for almost 56 years, and with the longest borders with
the Warsaw Pact countries during the Cold War era, Turkey has clearly demonstrated
her commitment towards the ESDP by actively supporting and contributing
to its improvement from the outset. Turkey has indeed been a leading non-EU
European ally in terms of participation in the ESDP operations. In terms
of the geographical scope of ESDP operations, the Balkans have been a central
theater. Indeed, preserving and promoting security and stability in this
region are of vital importance. </p>
<p>
At this point, I would like to express my country’s clear support for the
Comprehensive Approach. It will facilitate the creation of a more sound
framework and contribute to the better and more effective planning and
execution of current and future operations that involve interaction with
a wide variety of actors and factors in the theater of operations. Regarding
the EU, there is already a mutually agreed upon framework between the two
organizations. For other non-NATO actors, there is a need to formalize
relations as well, but while seeking better interaction with them NATO
should preserve its role as the main security organization in the Euro-Atlantic
area. The long-term success of the Comprehensive Approach is only possible
if all major actors have the same basic understanding of this concept.
We are pleased to observe that other international organizations such as
the U.N. are beginning to discuss the issue in the same vein as NATO. </p>
<h2>SECURITY AND THE BLACK SEA REGION</h2>
<p>
I would now like to draw your attention to the Black Sea region, which
has gained greater significance during the last decade because it has become
one of the most important energy corridors of the world. The Black Sea
has a set of unique features. It is a gateway to three important strategic
areas—the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea—and because of its
strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East,
the Black Sea was one of the first avenues for trade and diplomacy. </p>
<p>
The Black Sea maritime domain, the Turkish straits, and the Turkish mainland,
by means of pipelines, are now major mediums for transporting Caspian,
central Asian, and Russian energy resources to world markets. As a consequence,
the amount of tanker traffic along the Black Sea and Turkish Straits has
increased remarkably. Approximately 145 million tons a year of oil that
originated in the Black Sea basin are transported through the Turkish straits—in
other words, 3 million barrels of oil are being transported every day to
global markets by 25 to 30 tankers. Forty percent of this amount, which
is expected to reach 70% by 2020, is brought to Europe. This makes the
issue of energy transportation security even more important for both regional
and global players. </p>
<p>
Another characteristic of the Black Sea domain in the post-Cold War era
is the changing status of the countries in the region in terms of their
memberships in different international organizations. Today, Turkey, Romania,
and Bulgaria are NATO members. The Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Georgia
also have a variety of relationships with NATO through specific frameworks.
Bulgaria and Romania are new members of the EU, the last of the international
organizations to reach the Black Sea region. Turkey is currently a candidate
for the EU. </p>
<p>
Because the Black Sea is an important region for stability and security
in the Euro-Atlantic area, many regional cooperation schemes exist, including
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) in the political-economic
field, the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Force (BLACKSEAFOR), the Black
Sea Coast Guard and Border Control Cooperation Forum (BSCF), Confidence
Building Measures, and the Black Sea Harmony operation in the military
field. Regional cooperation coupled with more wide-ranging interaction
with the Euro-Atlantic area is the key to a more stable and secure region,
which would have positive effects on the whole of Eurasia. </p>
<p>
Currently, we believe that the Black Sea maritime domain provides a generally
stable environment, contrary to some other parts of the world. However,
countries within regions usually strongly wish to cooperate, and can be
models for the world in maintaining stability and peace. </p>
<h2>GLOBAL THREATS AND AREAS OF CONCERN </h2>
<p>
The attacks of September 11 underlined the fact that in today’s ever-shrinking
world, no country is immune from terrorism or other types of threats that
have global and truly terrifying dimensions. The terrorist attacks that
extinguished the lives of dozens of innocent civilian women, children,
and students in Istanbul (November 2003), Ankara (May 2007), and Diyarbakir
(January 2008) are not any different from the attacks in New York, Madrid
(2004), or London (2005). Eliminating these threats requires a multidimensional
approach that cannot hope to succeed without a genuine collective effort. </p>
<p>
Currently, the threat posed by the PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorists based in the
north of Iraq represents the single biggest security challenge facing Turkey.
The PKK seeks survival through extortion, human trafficking, drug and weapons
smuggling, and homicide. The fight against this organization, which poisons
and abuses European as well as Turkish youth, is a responsibility not only
of Turkey but also of our friends, partners, and allies. </p>
<p>
Long-lasting disputes and conflicts in neighboring regions of Turkey have
great impact on global security as well. In this context, addressing the
general situation in Iraq is of the utmost urgency. The security environment
has improved although it is still very fragile. We are doing everything
we can to promote political dialogue among different political factions
and ethnic and confessional groups. </p>
<p>
We are also doing whatever we can to support Iraq’s difficult transition
to becoming a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous nation at peace with
itself and its neighbors. The enlarged process that Turkey pioneered, which
brings together both the neighbors of Iraq and the P-5 and G-8 nations,
will continue to be an important mechanism in developing regional support
for the challenges facing Iraq. </p>
<p>
In the context of the Middle East, efforts to break the perpetual cycle
of violence, revive the peace process, ensure security for Israel, create
a state for the Palestinians, and promise a lasting peace for both countries
are all high priorities, given that the question of Palestine lies at the
core of all ills in the region. Turkey is the only regional country that
has good relations with both sides, which could help pave the way for eventual
peace and stability. Developments over the past few years and indeed the
past few months have shown how delicate the situation is and how high the
cost of inaction can be. </p>
<p>
Lebanon continues to be in a very fragile state. By contributing to UNIFIL
II, Turkey has shown its interest in and desire to help strengthen the
Lebanese government as it strives to solidify its nationwide control. Syria
is also one of our important neighbors and Turkey is also actively engaged
in trying to ensure that Syria is included in the equation that leads to
peace in the region. The impasse in the ongoing search for a diplomatic
solution to the question of Iran’s nuclear program and the ramifications
of U.N. sanctions is another factor aggravating regional tensions. </p>
<p>
Afghanistan has always been close to Turkish hearts. However, the nation-building
process there is running into major difficulties. Politically, militarily,
and economically, Turkey supports international efforts to help the Afghan
people meet the challenges they face. Having assumed command of ISAF twice
and now running a PRT in Wardak Province, Turkey continues to significantly
contribute to fostering stability in this troubled country. Afghanistan
will be a test case for our ability as a community to bring stability,
security, and prosperity to distressed states around the world. </p>
<p>
For the first time in its history, NATO has been active in a theater of
operations that is more than 5,000 km from its headquarters in Brussels.
It has acted in an exemplary manner in the Afghan context through the ISAF
mission in Afghanistan. The deployment in Afghanistan of SEEBRIG, the Multinational
Peace Force South-East European Brigade, was another step that showed the
Euro-Atlantic community’s resolve to extend our support and assistance
to conflict areas with whatever means available. </p>
<h2>TURKISH EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE </h2>
<p>
In line with its increasing contributions to international peace, security,
and stability, Turkey has put forward its candidacy for one of the non-permanent
seats at the U.N. Security Council for the term 2009–2010. Because Turkey
has not been represented in this body since 1961, its election, in recognition
of its growing responsibilities, will only be fair and will also give a
boost to its efforts to help realize the goals and vision of the United
Nations. </p>
<p>
One of the most important missions the new circumstances have given to
Turkey is promoting peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and cooperation between
different cultures. In the post-September 11 world, a debate over a possible
clash of civilizations has increasingly occupied the global agenda. In
this context, Turkey is cosponsoring with Spain the Alliance of Civilizations
initiative under the auspices of the United Nations. This project aims
to promote dialogue and cooperation among countries from diverse cultural
backgrounds and to counter extremism of all types through collective efforts. </p>
<h2>CONCLUDING REMARKS </h2>
<p>
As we express at all occasions in which security issues are discussed,
Turkey has been following its motto of “Peace at home, peace in the world.”
We also believe that, with today’s global conditions, the principle “Peace
and security are either everywhere or nowhere” should be mutually understood.
It is clear that improving our efforts and implementing them effectively
depend greatly on the good will and cooperation of the international community.
In this regard, it is my hope that this workshop will support our efforts
to improve mutual cooperation against global security problems. </p>
<p>
I would like to conclude with a statement made by our leader Atatürk, the
founder of modern Turkey, who emphasized the importance of international
cooperation by saying: “We should consider humanity as a single body and
a nation as one of its organs. Pain on the tip of a finger is felt by all
other organs.” Therefore, we should see all nations as part of a single
body and then take the necessary precautions. </p>
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