Turkey's Middle East Policy

By Ergul Haliscelik, Policy And Politics International Perspective Paper,  H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Spring 2006

Today, the Middle East considered the center of world affairs; a strategically, economically, politically, culturally, and religiously sensitive area.[1] After the cold war, and especially follow the Gulf War, Turkey has become more sensitive to the Middle East issues and took a more activist role. Turkey’s relations and conflicts with the three main countries in this region, Iran, Syria and Iraq are determined the Turkey’s foreign policy. The Kurdish issue and the relation with the US in the region have also had important points for Turkey's Middle East policy. “Peace at Home and Peace Abroad” has been the main principle of Turkish Foreign policy since the establishment of the Republic in 1923.[2]
The Middle East has unfortunately experienced chaos and conflict for decades. 




Turkey has been negatively affected by the instability in the region and has a strong interest in the resolution of its problems. Turkey feels a moral responsibility to actively contribute to the efforts to transform the region into one of lasting peace, security, prosperity and intense cooperation because of profound historical and cultural relations with the region. Although current problems in the region are War in Iraq and The Nuclear Program of Iran, Turkey supports the idea that lasting peace, security and stability in the Middle East can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Turkey continues to strongly encourage Middle East Countries for achieving peace and stability in the region.... [3]

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http://www.hazine.org.tr/cv/ehaliscelik.php

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[1][1] http://www.mfa.gov.tr/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Regions/MiddleEast/

[2][2] Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s  (Founder of Turkey) foreign Policy in 1920s

[3][1] Middle East - Wikipedia,