How would you describe Turkey's role on the international stage today and how do you see that role evolving?
We no longer live in a world where sheer military force is the major determinant of a country's international status. As the world is becoming a truly global marketplace, economic factors as well as historical, cultural and political aspects will shape a country's role in this century.
The decisive element is a country's ability to make optimal use of its comparative advantages. Turkey, with its many advantages, is poised to become a significant player in the decades ahead.
During the long years of the Cold War, Turkey was known primarily for her military-strategic contribution to Nato, in defence of freedom. Now, in addition to that, we are increasingly known for our regional ties, economic dynamism, savvy entrepreneurship and secular democracy. Accordingly, our foreign policy aims to engage constructively in our region to build a culture of cooperation and reconciliation.
Present day Turkey aspires to become a leading economic and political actor in the Euro-Atlantic region and a prominent member of the European Union. In particular, Turkey-EU relations offer great potential, based not only on a strong and deep-rooted economic and political partnership, as exemplified by the Customs Union of 1995, but also from the perspective of what the future promises. The accession negotiations that are due to start this year represent the final chapter in our quest for membership, the successful conclusion of which will be beneficial to all.
Likewise, Turkey's increasingly diversified cooperation with the US is another asset for the future of the transatlantic relationship and global stability. This is why we are jointly determined to enhance and deepen our relationship to the level of a true strategic partnership. That said, economic cooperation is an area which holds a particularly strong potential to flourish that will lead to bilateral as well as regional benefits.
Furthermore, we envision for ourselves a pivotal role in the emerging Eurasian reality, which comprises both the European and Asian dimensions. Indeed, many observers agree that the central stage of this century will be Eurasia, and that given the trends in production, communication and information technologies, Europe and Asia will form an integrated whole, interlinked and interdependent.
Turkey, on the other hand, finds itself at the centre of this new geography, not only in physical terms, but also politically, economically and culturally. By virtue of its historical, cultural and economic attributes and its unique and privileged identity – being European and Asian at the same time – Turkey is well-poised to become a strategic centre of this new and compelling geopolitical reality.
Finally, our ability to generate stability and maintain security in our wider region will be further strengthened as we rapidly construct a global network of mutually beneficial relationships in all four directions, ranging from Latin America to Asia, from Russia to Africa.
You have remarked that Turkey's joining the EU will lead to a 'reconciliation of civilizations'. What will happen if EU membership is denied?
Turkey's face has been turned towards Europe for so long. Turkey has made an historical choice to integrate itself with contemporary civilization, the modern world and its values. Since then, Turkey has been contributing to a 'harmony of civilizations' in line with this stance. Therefore, Turkey will further contribute to this harmony when it becomes a full member [of the EU].
However, if Turkey does not become an EU member, it will not fail to bring its own contribution to the 'harmony of civilizations'.
If Turkey's membership is opposed on the grounds that it is a country with a predominantly Muslim population, it would inflict damage to the efforts being made to overcome major impasses that our world actually faces. Such an attitude would not be compatible with one of the EU's main objectives, which is to play a greater role in international fora and to become a formidable force in the world.
I would like to refer to the press analyses published in a number of Islamic countries after the EU Council's decision to start accession negotiations with Turkey. These analyses mostly welcomed the EU's decision and concluded that Turkey's EU membership would be perceived as an important asset to eradicating misunderstandings between the West and the Islamic world. Taking all this into account, it is clear that leaving Turkey out of the EU would certainly cause adverse feelings.
Turkey's EU membership will be the litmus test of the EU motto 'unity in diversity'.
Earlier this year you completed a tour of the tsunami stricken regions of Asia. How are Turkey's strategic and economic interests likely to develop in the region in the near term?
I paid a visit to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka on 5-10 February, 2005. The purpose of my visit was to personally convey to these countries our message of solidarity as well as to see the extent of damage in order to assess the nature and means of assistance that Turkey could provide.
Following the disaster, both Turkish governmental and non-governmental organizations got into action immediately, and Turkey became one of the first countries to extend a comprehensive package of humanitarian assistance to the disaster-struck areas.
Our aim is to realize lasting projects such as construction of schools, hospitals, orphanages and houses. Health care projects have also been implemented.
During my visit, I met with the presidents of Indonesia, Maldives and Sri Lanka, the vice- president of Indonesia as well as the prime ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka. I had the opportunity to extend, on behalf of the Turkish People, our message of condolences and sympathy.
Our meetings provided us also with the opportunity to discuss ways to further enhance our bilateral relations.
Turkey has traditionally good relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. There are no contentious issues between Turkey and these countries. This provides a solid basis for enhancing bilateral political, economic and cultural relations, as well as cooperation in international fora.
I noted with appreciation that the necessary political will to increase the cooperation exists in all the countries.
During our meetings with my distinguished counterparts, we discussed possible areas of cooperation in the economic and commercial fields as well.
More generally, why are you pushing for increased economic cooperation between Turkey and Asia, and what are your top priorities in this regard? Where do you want to concentrate the most effort?
Turkey's vision in the 21st century is to achieve integration with Europe and become a leading country in her region. With this objective in mind, Turkey has been searching for new markets and networks within a broader spectrum extending from Latin America to the Far East. Thus, within the context of globalization, Turkey is following a multi-dimensional economic and trade agenda, which does not confine itself to a particular geographical area but encompasses all five continents, including Asia.
Turkey's so-called multifaceted economic and trade policy have yielded positive results in its efforts to increase its economic interaction with the Asian countries. As a result, the volume of trade between Turkey and the countries in the region has increased from $12.1 billion in 2003 to $18 billion in 2004.
That being said, Turkey's economic and trade relations with the region still fall short of reflecting its true potential. Also, Turkey's trade deficit with most of these countries is increasing at a rapid pace. The increase of Turkey's $7.1 billion trade deficit in 2003 to $12.8 billion in 2004 reflects this worrisome trend.
Therefore, it is the priority of my government to remedy this situation while at the same time enhancing and deepening its collaboration with the countries of the region. I am confident that this task can be easily accomplished with the cooperation and goodwill of all sides concerned.
You warned recently that the international community must make a more concerted effort to meet the most pressing challenges of our times - including tackling poverty. What is holding back progress on this front,and in your view, what specifically should be done about it?
Yes, indeed, the international community should cooperate more closely in seeking solutions to urgent problems which are a serious concern for all. Poverty is at the top of the list among these problems, because it is a complex phenomenon, with political, economic and social dimensions.
Eradicating poverty is one of the greatest global challenges facing the world today and is also an indispensable condition for sustainable development. Even though each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication policies, concerted and concrete measures are needed at all levels, mainly to enable the developing countries to achieve the goals set by the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. The Millennium Development Goals agreed to by consensus at the highest level during that Summit, are the most broadly supported, comprehensive and specific poverty reduction targets on which countries should base their own sustainable development policies.
However, in many regions of the world we have witnessed a failure to achieve these goals. In fact, I agree with the view that there is no 'one size fits all' explanation for this failure. What is required is closer cooperation among public, private, national and international partners.