TURKEY IS ACQUIRING CENTRAL PLACE IN TODAY'S RESHAPING WORLD GEOPOLITICS
Caspian Energy: Mr. Prime Minister, how do You see Turkey in the geopolitical system of the XXI century?
Prime Minister of Turkey Redjep Tayib Erdogan:
- You know, it is not enough to describe the world geopolitics in the XXI century basing on pure classic power factors. In the globalizing world, notions like land, army and authority do not express single meaning, positions of the world countries are determined by taking into account such dynamics as political and social values, coordination, cultural understanding and mutual economic interaction among unions.
And Turkey is again having a central place in the geopolitics shaping once more. Turkey with its closeness to the Middle East and Caspian/Middle Asia energy sources that will be significant also in the XXI century and the profit it can maintain with transportation of these energy sources to world markets, with its support of regional cooperation and democratic processes in the cooperating regions, rich existence originating from its culture and history has come into the position of a regional actor in the geopolitical balance with wish and ability to apply the necessary place it has got among the European organizations, existing necessary relations with Middle East, Caucasus and Middle Asia for intercultural cooperation. Turkey is a country displaying safety and reliability in the Eurasian reality getting again to the forefront, supporting regional welfare and social-political improvement. This role of Turkey will strengthen even more with entering to the European Union. Finally, Turkey is a point of connection, even understanding among the different areas of the XXI century globalization environment.
How much real is the entry of Turkey to the EU (European Union) in the nearest future and what kind of profit will Turkey get from participation in the project realized within the framework of the EU?
The Ottoman Empire had been a part of the European history and, Turkish Republic has also participated in the political, economic and defense organizations of Europe. Agreement on Partnership with the EU was signed in 1963. In 1987 Turkey applied for full membership in the EU within the framework of the Article 237 of the Rome Agreement stipulating "The opportunity of only the European countries to apply for membership in the Organization". This and also announcement of Turkey as a candidate to EU membership at the Helsinki Summit in 1999 was a new turning point in the Turkish-EU relations. Thus, both Turkey and the European Union determined to direct partnership to full membership. At the Copenhagen Summit in 2002 they decided to immediately start discussions with our country on entering the EU if Turkey begins realizing political criteria of Copenhagen basing on reports and recommendations to be prepared in 2004 by the EU committee of the European Council.
Today Turkey-EU relations have reached the level of stability and reliability to start discussions on Turkey's entering to the EU. Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria stipulated by the law to be met to start discussions on entering. Our government is also doing best efforts to carry out reforms completely.
Reliance between the European Union and Turkey, also their strategic, political, economic, commercial and social goals are appropriate enough to complete and even strengthen each other. Turkey thanks to the strategic geographic position it achieved is getting a place in the lock point of developing energy, supply and delivery nets connecting Caucasus, Middle Asia and Middle East with Europe. In this aspect, it is an important country from the standpoint of delivering oil and natural gas to Europe and providing Europe's energy safety.
Redjep bey, relations with which countries is priority for Turkey, which principle is foreign economic policy of Turkey built on?
From the historical point of view Turkey, being a point of connection of different peoples and cultures and a trade access region has multilateral relations. Turkey has strong political and economic/trade relations and firm partnership with West it is getting a part of. Turkey is a participant, member or a partner of all the significant associations in Europe; Turkey is the member of NATO, strong expression of transatlantic relations; is going to become a member of the EU. EU also forms the center of gravity of our economic relations. Our relations with USA are also getting a significant place in Turkey's strategic priorities for their necessary political, economic characteristics. Turkey also has good relations with its close neighbors and wishes to expand these relations and realize existing potentials. This is a factor with both political and economic foundations. In this aspect relations with the Russian Federation make an important part of our foreign politics. We pay great attention and importance to bringing the bilateral relations with Russia to the point of common benefit and mutual trust. Turkey has led the process of building and strengthening the Black Sea Economic Cooperation with the purpose of strengthening relations among the countries of this region. Caucasus is still significant for its necessary political and economic importance. Our close relations with Azerbaijan due to our neighborhood also give a chance to increase stability and welfare in this region. Also Middle Asia with which we have historical relations is also a region of cooperation and at the same time friendship, brotherhood for Turkey. Similarly, Middle East is a key region from the point of view of peace and welfare and we have had close historical and modern relations with it. Here the stability and peace with Turkey's support will play a great role in remarkable changes also beyond the region.
Turkey aims at all the countries to benefit from the opportunities globalization gives in economic and trade relations, wishes international trade to become free in this connection and supports neighboring and other countries in their period of integration and membership to the World Trade Association.
In addition to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation within the framework of expanding economic cooperation Turkey also considers the Economic Cooperation Organization, D-8 and ISEDAK - Permanent Committee on Economic and Commercial Cooperation in the Organization of Islamic Conference useful and primary forums.
How do You estimate establishment of single Eurasian power space and participation of Turkey there?
The notion of "Eurasia" represents political and economic reality that is being discovered once more. The distance between Europe and Asia is finishing with the end of the Cold War and development of globalization. So, there emerged a chance for the unity of Eurasia to be established again. Turkey sees this union as a historical chance to increase the region's welfare and stability. Natural riches of the region, its economic potential and dynamics, rich human sources and historical experience will play an important role in realization of this vision. We consider it necessary to make steps in cooperation on the basis of the principle of common profit, dialogue and share of universal values instead of regional favor in the narrow meaning. Main power of the region will be displayed not only in the national economic or military forces, but also in realization of partnership that may promote world peace and welfare. Turkey is a central point that may render some assistance to this process and supports all the promoting startings. What kind of priorities does Turkey have participating in the regional projects held in the territory of former Soviet republics, especially Turkish-speaking countries? After the Soviet Union collapsed, there appeared extensive cooperation in the Eurasian geography. Turkey acts with the belief that necessary bilateral, necessary multilateral cooperation will serve the common benefit of all the countries and aims at leading and supporting the regional cooperation projects as a country situated in this geography.
That Middle Asia and Caucasus got independence paved a new way for Turkey's foreign policy. Our relations with these regions with which we have historical ties were very insignificant in the period of the Soviet Union. But after a new period started, our relations with these countries always proceeded fast in the political, economic, military, cultural and educational aspects. Today Turkey's existence in the region has reached such a level that it is able to support development of these countries.
Our relations with Turkish-speaking countries with which we have historical ties and common values are acquiring even more importance. The close relations we established with Turkish-speaking countries serve the favor of both the parties and the region.
What kind of importance has the Caspian region for Turkey? Which problems of the Caspian do You consider more important?
The Caspian Sea is getting particularly more and more importance in the background of delivery of oil and natural gas sources of the region to foreign markets. The achievements to be maintained in this direction will assist the regional stability, integration to the world and development.
Besides, Caspian Sea is located in the region where East and West, South and North passage corridors intersect and form a certain network. Realization of these corridors will expand both the regional and global economic and commercial cooperation.
In this connection, Caspian countries must achieve and support important arrangements to solve the problem of legal status of the Caspian Sea.
How do You estimate intensity of power transportation bridge construction between Turkey and Europe and what kind of perspectives are there in re-export of the Azerbaijan gas to Europe?
One of the most important footholds of Turkey's energy politics is building a bridge among the Caspian/Middle East countries and Western markets importing energy. In this framework, realization of East-West power corridor basing on Transcaspian and Transcaucasian oil and gas pipelines holds a significant place. This corridor promotes Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) raw petroleum pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline and gas pipelines through the Caspian. Physical realization of the BTC pipeline having reached the level of one of the important energy projects of the world has started - first tanker is expected to load from Ceyhan in 2005. The decision on realization of the BTE pipeline providing the Azeri natural gas delivery to Turkey was adopted on February 2003. The line is planned to finish late spring in 2006. This line is planned to be the first foothold of the Caspian-Turkey-Europe corridor. Also initial works are being done in the direction of Greece and Bulgaria corridors making the second foothold in the opening strategy of natural gas delivery to Europe. In this framework Intergovernmental Agreement with Greece was signed on February 2003 and Natural Gas Purchase and Sale Agreement December 2003.
To what degree in Your opinion is the policy of supply and demand balanced in the Turkish market and in what directions will the Caspian gas reexport?
The most important factor in the energy policy of Turkey is balancing the difference between supply and demand. With this purpose our country has realized all the liabilities concerning mainly meeting the requirement on natural gas. Azerbaijan. Shahdeniz gas is of primary importance for Turkey in this framework.
Will Turkey execute the terms of the agreement on the delivery of Azerbaijan gas to Turkey?
As I have already said, the decision on realization of the BTE pipeline presuming delivery of Azeri natural gas to Turkey was made on February 2003. The line is expected to finish at late spring in 2006. By the way, this project is one of the primary projects of Turkey and Turkish party holds the liabilities on realization of this project. Besides, Azeri natural gas has a strategic importance in gas export of Turkey to the West European market.
Turkey expects that Turkmenistan gas will start to be delivered to the country in full accordance with the schedule - in 2005, as Turkish side has already fulfilled all the liabilities it had taken by the international agreement in 1998 on the delivery of Turkmenistan gas. In other words, till 2035 Turkey will be main purchaser of the Turkmenistan natural gas having rich reserves in Turkmenistan. How will Turkey receive these volumes of gas in case execution of the transcaspian gas pipeline is "frozen" connected with that Caspian status problem is not solved yet?
That initial works connected with this project having agreement basis delay, are mainly for reasons not depending on Turkey. The delay is related with the steps Turkmenistan will take. We believe the natural gas of Turkmenistan will be transported through the Caspian pipeline to our country and herefrom to European countries and continue working in this direction as a Turkish party.
There is a contract on transit of the Caspian petroleum through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, but this contract doesn't solve the problem of overloading the Bosphorus Bay and doesn't mean the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) will reduce the volume of petroleum to be pumped in future to the Novorossisk port. How do You estimate the role of BTC and CPC pipelines in this aspect?
BTC raw petroleum pipeline has 50 mln tons per year capacity and will provide that petroleum to be produced in the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea is really delivered to the Ceyhan port in the White Sea. For this reason there are talks about the line to reduce the overload in the Bays to 50 mln tons per year. The mentioned line will reduce dangerous additional delivery and thus will provide human, goods and environmental protection both in the Black Sea and Turkish Bays. If Kazakhstan also joins our next target BTC pipeline and the project is brought to the state of Actau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, its influence over Turkish bays will surely increase even more.
On the other hand, there is a possibility that the CPC pipeline planned to increase capacity up to 67 mln tons by 2010 with the purpose to finish at the Novorossisk port in the Black Sea, will cover the same load as the existing critic level of traffic over the Turkish bays. But the main point is which corridor will deliver the petroleum coming from Novorossisk to Western markets. We believe other alternative corridors beyond the Turkish bays will be also estimated in some time.
Thank You for the interview, Mr. Prime Minister