Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan also signed the accord. Despite an economy, a population, and a military that dwarfs nearby nations in terms of size, Turkey does not see itself as dominating its neighbors. We are not looking for any leadership role as such. Of course, Turkey is an important country, that's another thing. But you know, we seek cooperation, not leadership or domination.
Turkey is clearly a nation at a crossroads.
As this millennium comes to an end, it faces new and difficult challenges and decisions on just what kind of nation it wants to be in the next.