TURKISH THINK-TANK LOOKS AT STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF CAUCASUS

Ankara, 9 July: "Caucasus is a strategic region, the importance and priority of which are gradually increasing," Faruk Logoglu, retired ambassador, who is actually the chairman of the Eurasia Strategic Studies Centre (ASAM), said on Monday [9 July].

An international workshop on "Expectations in the Caucasus and possibilities -Turkey's role as a regional force and an element of guarantee" was held in Ankara by Konrad-Adanauer-Stiftung
(KAS) Association and ASAM.

"Some regional problems that require solution, relations of regional countries with Russia, the USA and Europe, its function as an intersection point for communication and transportation between Asia and Europe, its location as a shipment corridor for oil and natural gas resources make the Caucasus a focal point," Logoglu stressed in the opening session of the workshop at Ankara's Bilkent Hotel.

According to Logoglu, Turkey's Caucasus policy aims to create a stable, secure and prosperous region. "In this context, our Caucasus policy isbased on the understanding that regional
countries can reach better conditions by not only fulfilling democracy, rule of law and human rights but also establishing close relations with the Western world," he stated.

Turkey favours peaceful settlement of disputes Logoglu said that Turkey favours peaceful settlement of regional disputes, and pursues an active policy.

Turkey's policy is to support and strengthen territorial integrity and independence of south Caucasus republics, Logoglu noted.

"Turkey, which aims to ensure Russia's constructive contribution, also wants to take role in production and transportation of energy resources of the Caspian basin. Within this framework, Turkey was the first state acknowledging the independence of south Caucasus republics
in 1991 without any discrimination and has supported reconstruction of these republics since then. Turkey not only conveyed its own experiences for reconstruction of civilian bureaucracy but also played an important role in establishment of armed and security forces of
particularly Georgia and Azerbaijan, and their organization in line with NATO standards," he said. Logoglu added, "Turkey wants settlement of frozen clashes in Caucasus within the framework of international laws and territorial integrity of these countries. It has backed Georgia's territorial integrity in every occasion and platform. Similarly, Ankara has argued that Armenia has to end its occupation and annexation of Azerbaijani territories under UN Security Council and OSCE resolutions in order to solveAzerbaijani-Armenian dispute."

Economic relations with Caucasus.

On the other hand, Logoglu pointed out that economic relations between Turkey and Caucasus are gradually improving.

Logoglu said that Turkey is making serious contribution to Armenian economy by providing employment for more than 50,000 Armenian citizens and by indirect trade although the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Also, Caucasus has key role for Turkey as a transportation corridor for oil and natural gas pipelines, ASAM chairman underlined.

Turkish-Armenian relations.

Logoglu said that Turkey was one of the first countries that recognized Armenia's independence and extended humanitarian aid to this country which was facing economic problems. However, Armenia's Turkey policy has hampered any diplomatic relationship between the two countries, he stressed.

"Among the factors which hamper normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are the expressions in Armenia's independence declaration and Constitution which question Turkey's territorial integrity, Armenia's stance of not officially recognizing the 1921 Kars agreement which draws the border of this country with Turkey and former Soviet Union, its prior foreign policy target of making international arena adopt its genocide allegations and its decision not to withdraw from Azerbaijani territories despite UN Security Council resolutions," Logoglu said.

Logoglu noted that Turkey favours solution of all problems with Armenia through dialogue.

EU can show more interest in Caucasus.

Stating that the EU can show more interest in the Caucasus, Logoglu said that Europe, which needs foreign energy resources, has to deal with peace and stability of Caucasus for energy safety reasons.

On the other hand, KAS Secretary-General Wilhelm Staudacher underlined increasing strategic importance of Caucasus and said that Europe should deal with this region more.

Staudacher added that Turkey can have a role in stability of Caucasus as it is a NATO member and an important partner of Europe.

The workshop will end after a reception on Monday evening.