The “International Conference on Eastern Mediterranean” where Turkey’s vision of equity and cooperation in the Mediterranean and its effects on the international system were discussed, was held by the Directorate of Communications. The keynote speech of the video conference was delivered by the Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun.
Pointing out that the Eastern Mediterranean had been called many things in recent years, Altun said, “Some former colonial empires see it as the birthplace of their new empires. Others consider it ‘the next global flash point’. For Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean represents part of our Blue Homeland.” Indicating that Turkey gave quite a clear message to the whole world in recent months, Altun stated that, “The Turkish people may disagree on certain issues, as people do in democracies, but we are united in our defence of Turkey’s rights and interests. We know that the law is on our side. We know that the loudest voice in the room isn’t necessarily right. That’s why Turkey, under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been advocating diplomacy.”
“Not a bilateral dispute, but a regional issue”
Emphasizing that, despite attempts to reduce the Eastern Mediterranean question into a bilateral dispute, it was hardly about Turkey and Greece, Fahrettin Altun noted the following:
“Yes, the disagreement is primarily bilateral. Any solution, like any confrontation, must and will involve both countries. At the same time, it is up to Turkey and Greece to further escalate or defuse the situation. Still, this is more than just another bilateral dispute. That people everywhere follow it so closely supports this claim. The second level is regional. There are regional players on both sides. Their decisions calculate policy decisions in Turkey and Greece. Indeed, across the region, there are two competing ideals: On the one hand, Turkey and others believe that democracy and diplomacy are needed. On the other hand, you have disruptive actors that have a clear taste for military dictatorships and violence. Which side wins will determine the future of the region – and the international order.”
“Determination of President Erdoğan ...”
Director of Communications Altun said that thanks to the determination of Turkish President Erdoğan, and with the help of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and European Council President Charles Michel, dialogue and diplomacy had been given a chance. Stating that they welcomed the opportunity to engage in exploratory talks with Greece; because they could not go wrong with diplomacy Altun said, “This is a step in the right direction. It is what we have been advocating during this difficult time.”
“The area should be turned into a basin of peace and stability”
Expressing that going forward, they had to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and maintain the momentum towards a fair and lasting solution together Altun said, “A regional conference, inclusive of the Turkish Cypriots, must be our next move to build on this momentum. This is the only way to create win-win solutions and use the region’s resources to promote peace.”
Altun emphasized that they hoped to de-escalate tensions and turn the area into a basin of peace and stability.
“The purpose is to serve the ‘common good’ in the Eastern Mediterranean”
Expressing that they had gathered to tackle a series of questions to make sense of the issue during the International Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, Fahrettin Altun said, “Those questions include, but are not limited to, the following: How does the Eastern Mediterranean dispute fit into international law? What will be the impact of the Eastern Mediterranean question on the future of bilateral and multilateral relations? What is Turkey’s vision for the Eastern Mediterranean? Today’s event will facilitate a timely discussion on all those issues – and more.”
Altun stated that in the first session of the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kıran, Deputy Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and Prof. Çağrı Erhan would discuss Turkey’s Vision of Equity and Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Stating that, in the second session, Prof. Gülnur Aybet, a Senior Advisor to the President, Mike Doran, Senior Researcher from the Hudson Institute, the President of Jamestown Foundation, Glen Howard, and Prof. Mark Meirowitz from Suny Maritime College would make evaluations on “The impact of an equitable cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean on the international system” Fahrettin Altun concluded his speech with the following remarks: “On behalf of everyone at Turkey’s Directorate of Communications, I hope that today’s event will serve the common good in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Speaking during the first session, Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kıran underlined that the dialogue between Turkey and the European Union (EU) is crucial for the region and said, “The EU should weigh its geopolitical pros and cons. We hope that the way to positive dialogue will be paved in the meeting which is to be held in Brussels (EU Leaders’ Summit)”. Kıran conveyed that the Eastern Mediterranean region was a “strategic passageway” to the Middle East and Africa and that 30% of the global maritime trade took place herein as well.
Pointing to the instabilities and conflicts like the Syrian crisis and the Cyprus issue in this strategically and geopolitically important region, Kıran proceeded, “Despite all these issues, Turkey wants to see the Eastern Mediterranean as a region of cooperation. This would benefit all the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea”.
Summing up Turkey’s objectives under four main topics, Kıran specified them as the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in accordance with the international law, safeguarding the continental shelf rights, ensuring equal rights for Turkish and Cypriot people on off-shore resources, and coming up with a cooperation mechanism in which all parties would be involved.
Kıran underscored that Turkey was always in favour of an understanding and a dialogue based on equity and that in return, Greece was making an effort to expand its maximalist maritime jurisdiction areas.
“Seville Map portrays an inequitable approach”
In his assessment regarding the Seville Map, Deputy Minister Kıran stated, “Even an unbiased observer would understand how inequitable this approach is just by taking a glance at it (Seville Map). This approach makes the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas on the basis of equity impossible”.
Indicating that Turkey expects the USA and the EU to disregard this map, Kıran pointed out that conversely there was no common approach amongst the EU members on the Eastern Mediterranean.
Noting that France’s stance on the Eastern Mediterranean was clear, Kıran said, “We presume that after the phone conversation between President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and French President [Emmanuel] Macron, the situation will normalize”.
Voicing that the EU should abandon its stance where it chooses to pick a side in the Eastern Mediterranean issue, Kıran remarked, “An atmosphere of dialogue does not seem to be possible alongside a language of sanctions”.
“The EU should weigh its geopolitical pros and cons”
Highlighting in his speech that cooperation between the EU and Turkey was crucial for the region; Kıran noted that Turkey and the Union could contribute to security, stability, and prosperity in the region with this cooperation.
Kıran said, “The EU should weigh its geopolitical pros and cons. A meeting will be held in Brussels in the upcoming week. We hope for a positive dialogue to be facilitated”.
Deputy Minister Kıran continued as follows:
“Turkey’s position is fairly clear. Turkey is ready for agreements with all the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions and it is imperative that the rights of the people of Cyprus are taken into account until the settlement of the Cyprus issue. Off-shore resources should be an element of cooperation. President Erdoğan calls for a regional conference to be held here, which will include all parties with an interest in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the Turkish Cypriots. Promoting dialogue in the Eastern Mediterranean, we are looking for a permanent and comprehensive solution in Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are also the co-owners of Cyprus. Therefore, the Greek Cypriots cannot act as the sole owner of this island. In this region, they must share that power and wealth with the Turkish people. Every crisis opens a door to an opportunity. We are also aware of this. The Eastern Mediterranean has incredible energy potential. We can all benefit from these resources just by going through the cooperation route. "
In his speech, President of Altınbaş University Prof. Çağrı Erhan drew attention to the fact that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's invitation to all Mediterranean countries on cooperation in his opening speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly was a historical event.
Stating that the efforts made in the past to bring the Eastern Mediterranean countries together on cooperation did not include all parties, Erhan said, "President Erdoğan's call is both inclusive and comprehensive".
Calling for an international conference that includes all countries in the Mediterranean, Erhan remarked, "If we can bring all countries together within the framework of an international conference - we may call it the 'Mediterranean Economic Cooperation Conference'- if we can succeed in doing this, we can eventually hold an organisation within the region".
Prof. Erhan likened Erdoğan's invitation to the declaration of the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in 1950 and noted:
"When you look at it, I see a similarity between Erdoğan's invitation and the Schuman Declaration. If countries, communities, or nations in the Mediterranean can read into this really sensitive invitation, there may really be an economic cooperation community in the Mediterranean. As, for example, in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Community."
Reporting that the series of talks between Greece and Turkey is right at the starting point, Erhan recalled that between 2002 and 2016, up to 60 similar talks were held between the two countries.
Mentioning also of the differences of opinion between Turkey and Greece, Erhan appraised, "According to the international treaties to which Greece is also a party, its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea is limited to 6 nautical miles. Hence, any attempt by Greece to expand this 6-mile limit a little further means the violation of international law".
Erhan also stated that the continental shelf issue may mean a violation not only in terms of violation of sovereign rights but also in terms of hydrocarbon reserves or all the wealth that can be found in the seabed in this region.
Pointing out that the issue of demilitarisation of the islands in the Aegean region is a "very important" issue, Erhan relayed that Greece is currently arming the islands and accumulating military equipment.
Prof. Erhan stated, "As shown in the international media exactly a month ago, Greece is even assigning highly sophistically trained and equipped commandos to these islands very close to the Turkish coast. This is a clear violation of international law".
Reminding that no solution was reached in 60 rounds of talks between the two countries until 2016, Erhan said, "The lack of a solution does not necessitate that these negotiations should not be restarted. On the contrary, we have to start these negotiations from the point where they were left".
Emphasizing the importance of bilateral negotiations and cooperation between two countries Erhan noted the following:
“We had the opportunity to collaborate on some issues before. But unfortunately, some political figures, some groups in Greece use these opportunities for their domestic political goals. Unfortunately, just a few days ago we witnessed that those political circles personally attacked President Erdoğan through their media. Immediately afterwards, we realized that if the Greek government did not take a very sincere and grounded attitude, there might be provocations from these groups and these circles in Greece and we cannot tolerate this anymore. “
Noting that if the Greek side was sincere about restarting the talks and would agree to negotiate "without any preconditions", first of all, they had to present some evidence that the Greek people supported this initiative Erhan said, “Because in Turkey we do not see such an attitude like an insult or attack against Greece. Because the Turkish people and the Turkish government behave confidently. We expect the same attitude from the Greek side.”
"Third-party interventions are not beneficial to solve problems in the region"
Touching upon the issue of third parties to intervene in the tension between Turkey and Greece Erhan said, “Third-party interventions are not beneficial to solve problems in the region. But, unfortunately, we see some third parties such as France and the United Arab Emirates take action."
Subsequently speaking Gülnur Aybet, a Senior Advisor to the President, said, “The dispute between Turkey and Greece, which has not been resolved for a long time but has been managed by negotiation, has turned into an Eastern Mediterranean problem due to the unilateral support of some actors for the GCASC and Greece's maximalist demands.”
Stating that equity and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean had to be emphasized Aybet said the stability somehow established in the Mediterranean was also in danger.
Stating that the problem had turned into a broad Mediterranean problem, Aybet said, “It has become not just a matter of extraction and exploration of energy resources, but a series of problems that concern other states as well. Thus, current problems have grown and spread throughout the region."
Pointing out that there was a situation trying to exclude Turkey from all the initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean, Aybet stated that, "As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, it was definitely required to distribute the resources in this region in an equitable manner. It is required the establishment of a cooperation mechanism that will enable it. Countries in the region or some intervening countries, too, should not pursue unilateral policies."
"What we need is regional stability"
Referring to the initiatives launched for cooperation in the Mediterranean, Aybet said that those initiatives had to be comprehensive and in a way that all countries were represented.
Recalling the cooperation efforts in the Mediterranean such as the Barcelona Process, Aybet said, "There were different needs in the post-cold war era in order to ensure stability and to create a Euro-Atlantic region. The current needs are different. We do not need a completely different design planned somewhere in the West. Now, what we need is a comprehensive approach that can provide regional stability and meet the needs." Referring to the EastMed Gas Forum, Aybet also stated that this formation made some distinctions.
"An approach to divide NATO is not an approach any of us wishes"
Expressing that the exclusionist approach towards Turkey was also seen on the US side, Aybet said, " We see that particularly the approaches to the GCASC are encouraged. Cooperation among the GCASC, Israel, and Greece, against Turkey, would not serve anyone's interests. An approach to divide NATO is not an approach any of us wishes. The EastMed Gas Forum is also against the core understanding of transatlantic relations."
Stating that the unilateral supportive approaches of the USA to Greece and the GCASC did not contribute the solution of the problem, Aybet said, "What we need is a consistent approach and that this approach should protect the interests and rights of all states, and ensure that resources are shared equitably and equally."
Aybet added that the initiation of talks with Greece and the fact that it was supported by the EU and the USA was a positive step.
In his speech, Senior Fellow Mike Doran from Hudson Institute said that there was a remarkable circle perceiving Turkey's activities in the Eastern Mediterranean as neo-Ottomanism, but there was no sense to interpret Turkey’s activities in that way.
Doran said he understood the concerns of those who had that thought, yet that he was worried that there were too many people with that thought.
Pointing out that the US withdrew from the region and it has not presented a striking presence as before, Doran noted that Turkey was excluded and isolated from the Eastern Mediterranean today, while he recalled Turkey’s 2014-2015 year-period during which it was desired to be included into the processes by the relevant actors in order to produce a solution to the region's problems.
Doran indicated that those who observe this issue and are ignoring Turkey’s rights should assume a stance in favour of an equitable share concerning the Eastern Mediterranean waters and resources and added:
“Another issue that should be thought upon and understood is why the EU stands in a position outside the request of the Turkish people? As an important member of NATO, Turkey plays a significant role in the security of the EU, and the West. We will see that Turkey’s importance will increase in the coming years concerning the solution of the problems in the region. When the US security is considered, Turkey’s importance should be better understood. There is no explanation to connect this with neo-Ottomanism by overlooking the fact. In order to enable the US and the West to comprehend better the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, France needs to look at its agenda and understand whether or not these agendas are the issues to stand by.”
SUNY Maritime College Faculty Member Prof. Mark Meirowitz and President of Jamestown Foundation Glen Howard delivered speeches in the second session of the conference.
Meirowitz said that it was not possible to deal with the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean by ignoring the historical past. Stressing that when the US embargoes in 1964 and 1968 were remembered concerning the Cyprus issue, Meirowitz noted that the current situation could become a crisis in terms of Turkey, and expressed the need to improve the situation.
Meirowitz emphasized: “It is not logical for a group of countries to take a position against Turkey and ignore Turkey’s demands.”
“Two great NATO allies should not enter into conflict”
Pointing out that the principles of "equity" and "cooperation" come to the fore when the agreements on the solution of maritime jurisdiction areas are considered, however, this could not be achieved in the Eastern Mediterranean, Meirowitz said: “It is a mistake for (Turkey and Greece) two great NATO allies to enter into conflict.”
Meirowitz added: “One of the aspects that astonish me when we look at the US is the US Congress’ activities. Congress decided to impose sanctions while the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey was being celebrated. Why have they chosen this day? The activities of the Congress should be to improve not to worsen the situation.”
Stating that US President Donald Trump would not desire a conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean in the light of upcoming elections in the US, Meirowitz added: “However, the US is focused on the relations with China and Israel, rather than Turkey.”
"Turkey's demands should not be ignored"
Pointing to the US isolationism prior to the elections, Meirowitz said: "We know that Turkey has the largest continental shelf in the region. Its demands should not be ignored. Turkey should also express its arguments properly always."
Regarding Greece's militarization efforts on the islands, Meirowitz said: "The root cause of all problems lies, in fact, in the unresolved Cyprus issue. Although there appears to be no solution in the short term, the parties concerned should begin talks. Embargoes never solve any problem. We should enable the parties concerned to come together and find solutions to their problems."
"Turkey is a rising power"
President of the US-based think tank Jamestown Foundation, Howard, referred to the Blue Homeland strategy and noted that Turkey emerged as a rising power in the region and the US needed to set its vision accordingly.
Underlining that the US-Turkey relations could improve in the event that Trump is re-elected, Howard said: "If (Joe) Biden is elected, the US may implement a conflict-mongering vision in the region. Direct intervention to Syria could be possible and more opportunities might be sought to be active in the Eastern Mediterranean. If he interferes directly with policies regarding Syria, the region may just be dragged into a disaster."
Noting that the military became the main determiner of the US foreign policies in the post-9/11 era, Howard said:
"The role of the US military creates unimaginable effects. The majority of conflicts related to Turkey and Syria arise from the fact that the US high command echelon wages a proxy war in Syria and Northern Iraq through Kurds. Now we are facing its final residues. The command echelon, particularly at Pentagon, anticipates a very strong relationship with Turkey and regards Turkey as a very strong ally. This, in turn, results in conflicts with an anti-Turkey group. In this period, which I can dub as a resetting, there are certain circles of people and departments at the Pentagon and the Secretary of State who want to use Greece somehow as a means to target Russia. I find this approach very meaningless against a country such as Turkey that has the second strongest army and submarine fleet among NATO members. I hope this approach will change in the period ahead."
Howard said that the US would finally start to better understand this strategic geography and determine policies that best fit its interests.
Noting that he expected an awakening period for the Congress members who side with Greece at present, Howard said that the Congress members would soon realize that the Turkish-US military alliance would be a far greater strength than a US-Greek alliance.