Turkey is doing its best to integrate the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union into the West. Moreover, Turkey has military agreements with most of these countries and is trying to increase its coordination with them in every field. All Turkey's activities are aimed at enhancing Eurasia's security, stability, and integration into the West. If other Western states look at Eurasia from the standpoint of Western integration, and not only from an economic perspective, many problems in the region will disappear. Turkey's policy is to have good relations with Russia in every field, including security and the economy.
Western policy is also to make Russia a Western country.
While they are trying to Westernize their country in central Europe, they are denying that opportunity to the former Soviet states in our region. If both sides act cleverly, they may find nonproblematic areas in which to cooperate, such as tourism and environmental protection. Militarily, Turkey and Greece have been testing confidence-building measures, and these have worked well. Over time, Ankara and Athens may make use of some of these positive developments to tackle other, more difficult issues. This Special Policy Forum report was prepared by Levent Onar.