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• Turkiye and Ukraine ‘Strategic Partnership’ within the New Concept of Turkish Foreign Policy

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  Mert DAMLAPINAR    Group moderator

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  Turkiye and Ukraine ‘Strategic Partnership’ within the New Concept of Turkish Foreign Policy

  Turkiye and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministers signed on Wednesday in Kiev the Action Plan for 2010-2011 ushering Turkiye-Ukraine relations into a new phase of deeper economic and political cooperation.
  
  
  Turkiye has adopted a favourable stance towards Ukraine since the aftermath of Soviet Union’s collapse, being one of the first countries recognizing the new independent state. Increasing economic ties, due to Ukraine’s strategic position, have been constantly matched by cordial diplomatic relations. It is in fact Ukraine’s geo-political position, and in particular the shared area constituted by the Black Sea region, to foster Turkiye’s willingness towards more friendly and fruitful relations. Under Turkiye’s initiative in fact economic relations - which are already quite successful considering that since 2004 bilateral volume trade increased by 74% and reached the sum of 6 billion$ in 2007 according to Foreign Affairs Ministry’s data - will be further strenghtened. According to Habibe Ozdal, USAK Eurasian expert, the very essence of the recently signed Action Plan is in fact to exploit all the economic, but also political, potentialities behind the current Turkiye-Ukraine relations. In economic terms Turkiye and Ukraine are important partners: Turkiye mainly imports from Ukraine intermediate goods, while Turkish construction companies have so far totalled a 1.7 billion$ turnover. And, as in the case of Russia, also for Ukranian tourists, Turkiye has become the second most important holiday destination.
  
  “Since 1991 relations between both countries didn’t face any problems. However, why don’t Turkiye and Ukraine do more to strengthen their relations?” wisely suggests Ozdal, referring both to increase economic ties and political cooperation especially in the Black Sea region, since both are already members of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (OBSEC). Habibe Ozdal in fact argues that the Black Sea region, at the same time a potential area for conflict but also a bridge for cooperation, it is the geo-political space upon which both countries share the same values and understanding about security issues, thus “paving the way for other areas of cooperation in the region”, she says. “This development is very important in terms of Turkish foreign policy. What we see in foreign policy now is that Turkiye is opening to different areas and Ukraine is just one. And this is very welcomed in Ukraine” she then affirms. “This Action Plan can produce more dynamic relations and this is a very important aspect of Davutoglu ‘multi-vectorial’ Turkish foreign policy”. In line with Turkiye’s Foreign Minister ‘Strategic Depth’ doctrine Turkiye should take a more active stance in solving problems affecting her neighbouring area, but “what if you don’t have any problem?” Ozdal wonders. “Then something to improve relations has to be done and this Action Plan can be the way.”
  
  Also in political terms Turkiye and Ukraine are close partner because, as Ozdal points out, both countries share common values and understanding of their regional context because of their ‘intermediate’ position between Russia and the European space. But then, what kind of impact will this Action Plan have on both Turkiye and Ukraine relations with Russia?
  
  “Through the Black Sea region, Turkiye and Russia are neighbors with strong historical relations. Before we were rival, now we are big economic partners. But on the other hand, as political partners Turkiye and Russia are trying to focus more on cooperation rather than conflict. What does Ukrain mean in this frame? First of all, Ukraine-Russia relations are under re-consideration since Yanukovich adopted a pro-Russian stance. We should try to understand what Ukranian foreign policy is going to be since now on. As regard to Turkiye, having good economic relations with Ukraine should not be a problem. All that Turkiye is doing is having a multi-lateral foreign policy, so have good relations with Ukraine can only help to increase the stability of the region. Secondly, when the issue id the Black Sea, Russia, Turkiye and Ukraine share the same understanding and this help these three countries to further stabilize the region. However Turkiye’s priority is increasing economic ties, which has nothing to do with Russia.”
  
  By Arianna Catalano (JTW)
  
  • 07 May 2010, 03:42 am
  Mert DAMLAPINAR wrote: > Turkiye and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministers signed on Wednesday in Kiev > the Action Plan for 2010-2011 ushering Turkiye-Ukraine relations into > a new phase of deeper economic and political cooperation. > > > Turkiye has adopted a favourable stance towards Ukraine since the > aftermath of Soviet Union’s collapse, being one of the first > countries recognizing the new independent state. Increasing economic > ties, due to Ukraine’s strategic position, have been constantly > matched by cordial diplomatic relations. It is in fact Ukraine’s > geo-political position, and in particular the shared area constituted > by the Black Sea region, to foster Turkiye’s willingness towards more > friendly and fruitful relations. Under Turkiye’s initiative in fact > economic relations - which are already quite successful considering > that since 2004 bilateral volume trade increased by 74% and reached > the sum of 6 billion$ in 2007 according to Foreign Affairs Ministry’s > data - will be further strenghtened. According to Habibe Ozdal, USAK > Eurasian expert, the very essence of the recently signed Action Plan > is in fact to exploit all the economic, but also political, > potentialities behind the current Turkiye-Ukraine relations. In > economic terms Turkiye and Ukraine are important partners: Turkiye > mainly imports from Ukraine intermediate goods, while Turkish > construction companies have so far totalled a 1.7 billion$ turnover. > And, as in the case of Russia, also for Ukranian tourists, Turkiye > has become the second most important holiday destination. > > “Since 1991 relations between both countries didn’t face any > problems. However, why don’t Turkiye and Ukraine do more to > strengthen their relations?” wisely suggests Ozdal, referring both to > increase economic ties and political cooperation especially in the > Black Sea region, since both are already members of the Organization > for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (OBSEC). Habibe Ozdal in fact > argues that the Black Sea region, at the same time a potential area > for conflict but also a bridge for cooperation, it is the > geo-political space upon which both countries share the same values > and understanding about security issues, thus “paving the way for > other areas of cooperation in the region”, she says. “This > development is very important in terms of Turkish foreign policy. > What we see in foreign policy now is that Turkiye is opening to > different areas and Ukraine is just one. And this is very welcomed in > Ukraine” she then affirms. “This Action Plan can produce more dynamic > relations and this is a very important aspect of Davutoglu > ‘multi-vectorial’ Turkish foreign policy”. In line with Turkiye’s > Foreign Minister ‘Strategic Depth’ doctrine Turkiye should take a > more active stance in solving problems affecting her neighbouring > area, but “what if you don’t have any problem?” Ozdal wonders. “Then > something to improve relations has to be done and this Action Plan > can be the way.” > > Also in political terms Turkiye and Ukraine are close partner > because, as Ozdal points out, both countries share common values and > understanding of their regional context because of their > ‘intermediate’ position between Russia and the European space. But > then, what kind of impact will this Action Plan have on both Turkiye > and Ukraine relations with Russia? > > “Through the Black Sea region, Turkiye and Russia are neighbors with > strong historical relations. Before we were rival, now we are big > economic partners. But on the other hand, as political partners > Turkiye and Russia are trying to focus more on cooperation rather > than conflict. What does Ukrain mean in this frame? First of all, > Ukraine-Russia relations are under re-consideration since Yanukovich > adopted a pro-Russian stance. We should try to understand what > Ukranian foreign policy is going to be since now on. As regard to > Turkiye, having good economic relations with Ukraine should not be a > problem. All that Turkiye is doing is having a multi-lateral foreign > policy, so have good relations with Ukraine can only help to increase > the stability of the region. Secondly, when the issue id the Black > Sea, Russia, Turkiye and Ukraine share the same understanding and > this help these three countries to further stabilize the region. > However Turkiye’s priority is increasing economic ties, which has > nothing to do with Russia.” > > By Arianna Catalano (JTW)