A. NATO – NATO PA

NATO AS THE WORLD’S MOST EFFECTIVE DEFENCE ORGANISATION, HAS A VITAL PART TO PLAY IN MULTINATIONAL CRISIS PREVENTION AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT

NATO HAS ALWAYS A BROADER OBJECTIVE OF GUARANTEEING DEMOCRACY. IT’S ROLE IN DEFENDING COMMON VALUES AGAINST NEW FORMS OF SECURITY THREATS SHOULD BE ENHANCED; IF IT IS TO REMAIN A VIABLE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE.

ALLIANCE'S OBJECTIVES, GOALS AND THE GUIDANCE ON POLITICAL AND MILITARY MEANS TO BE USED IN ACHIEVING THEM, ARE DESCRIBED IN THE STRATEGIC CONCEPT, WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 1999, DURING THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT.

ARTICLE 24 OF THE STRATEGIC CONCEPT DEALS WITH THE TERRORISM BY SAYING THAT:

“ALLIANCE SECURITY INTERESTS BY OTHER RISKS OF WIDER NATURE, INCLUDING ACTS OF TERRORISM, SABOTAGE AND ORGANIZED CRIME, DISRUPTION OF THE FLOW OF THE VITAL RESOURCES.”

NATO SHOULD CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT, AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING STRONG ALLIES CAPABLE OF CONTRIBUTING TO COMMON GOALS AND INTEGRATING WITH THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

WE SUPPORT THE OPEN DOOR POLICY AND IN THIS RESPECT, DURING THE PRAG SUMMIT, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT, IN THIS ROUND OF ENLARGEMENT, ROMANIA AND BULGARIA SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY.

NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, COMPOSED OF PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM THE 19 MEMBER AND 17 ASSOCIATE MEMBER COUNTRIES, DEALS WITH CURRENT POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, DEFENCE AND SECURITY MATTERS SINCE 1955.

ASSEMBLY PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL LINK BETWEEN NATO AND THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE NATO NATIONS. ALSO CONSTITUTES A FORUM FOR PARLIAMENTARY DIALOGUE, STRENGHTHEN THE TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP.

IMMIDIATELY AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11 EVENTS,AS THE PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLINCE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM IN ALL COMMITTEES OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY AGENDA. AND DURING THE ANNUAL SESSION IN OTTAWA A DRAFT RESOLUTION ON TERRORISM HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

B. TERROR

TERRORISM WILL BE THE FIRST MAJOR SECURITY CHALLENGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. AS A COLLECTIVE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET; IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO COMBAT WITH TERRORISM.

THE IMPORTANT POINT IS, AS TERRORISM IS BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL PHENOMENON THE RESPONSE MUST BE GLOBAL AS WELL. IMPORTANTLY, TERRORISM HAS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ROOTS AND THESE MUST BE UNDERTAKEN BY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC MEASURES.

IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM, THE MILITARY CAN ONLY BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. MILITARY MEANS ALONE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE TERRORIST THREAT.

TERRORISM IS CHANGING AND ACQUIRING NEW DIMENSIONS. THE PROCESS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXTREMIST EVOLVING INTO A TERRORIST, HAS BEEN SHORTENED BY EASY ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND THE MATERIEL REQUIRED TO COMMIT THE ACT OF TERROR. MOREOVER THIS PROCESS IS NOW LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN CYBERSPACE, IN A TRAINING CAMP OR IN ANY PLACE ON THE EARTH.

IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM AND STRENGTHENED SECURITY FOR DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY FACILITIES REQUIRED IN COMBATTING WITH A SHIFT IN TERRORIST TARGETING:

* BOMB THREATS, SERIOUSLY DISRUPTING TRANSPORTATION AND TOURISM, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT LOCAL IMPACT;

* THE INTERNET IS BECOMING A RESOURCE MORE FREQUENTLY USED BY TERRORISTS AS A MEANS TO ACCESS INFORMATION, SPREAD PROPAGANDA, RAISE FUNDS, COMMUNICATE, AND PLAN OPERATIONS; AND

* THE POSSIBILITY OF A TERRORIST THREAT INVOLVING GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL COMPUTER-DRIVEN APPLICATIONS IS A GROWING CONCERN.

THE MOST DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES OF THE NEW TERRORISM LIES IN THE DIFFUSION OF THE GROUPS INVOLVED, THEREFORE THE ABILITY TO TRACK AND INTERDICT THEM AND THE CAPABILITY OF INFLICTING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. THIS POSES A NEW AND ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE.

C. DEFENCE REFORM

IN DEALING WITH THE NEW THREATS OF TERRORISM AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (WMD), NATO IS CONFRONTED WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES SINCE IT’S ESTABLISHMENT.

THE TERRORIST ATTACKS COMMITTED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON 11 SEPTEMBER SHOWS THAT THE CHALLENGE IS TO MEET DANGEROUS THREATS THAT ARE ARISING OUTSIDE THE NATO BORDERS, BUT SERIOUSLY ENDANGER THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF BOTH NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

UNLIKE TERRORISM IN THE PAST, THE NEW THREATS ARE CAPABLE OF INFLICTING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. FUTURE ATTACKS ARE NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT SEEM LIKELY.

IF YOU LOOK INTO THE AGENDA AHEAD, WE CAN SAY THAT NATO’S STRATEGIC RESPONSE NEEDS TO COVER THE FULL SPECTRUM OF POLICY INSTRUMENTS: POLITICAL, DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY.

DEFENCE REFORM SHOULD BE AN INTEGRATED PROCESS INNVOLVING GOVERNMENT, THE MILITARY AND PARLIAMENT. PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR REFORM IS CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS IN AUTHORISING DEFENCE EXPENDITURE, BUT ALSO IN EXPLAINING AND JUSTIFYING DEFENCE POLICY TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

TO DEAL WITH TODAY’S CRISES, WE NEED BETTER HOMELAND DEFENCE, BETTER INTELLIGENCE, AND MORE EFFECTIVE MONITORING OF MONEY LAUNDERING

D. MIDDLE EAST

THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MIDDLE EAST ARE DEEPLY AFFECTING THE WHOLE REGION, THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY AND SHAKING THE FOUNDATIONS OF PEACE AND STABILITY.

WE CONDEMN THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SUICIDE BOMBERS AGAINST ISRAEL. WE ARE AGAINST TARGETTING INNOCENT PEOPLES AND BELIEVE THAT PALESTINE IS OBLIGED TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PREVENT ACTS OF TERROR. BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO ACT IN DISRESPECTED WAY TOWARDS AN ELECTED HEAD OF STATE REPRESENTING A NATION.

IN NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER ACTIVITY, MEDITERRANEAN SPECIAL GROUP. IT’S A MAJOR FORUM FOR DISCUSSION, THE MATTERS OF SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION TO ENHANCE PARLIAMENTARY DIALOG AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THRE PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE REGION.

AS THE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDITERRANIAN SPECIAL GROUP OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, I HAVE ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON 18 MARCH 2002 WHICH EMPHASIZED THE FOLLOWING:

“ The members of the Special Mediterranean Group urge both sides to leave aside preconditions for the resumption of such dialogue, and call upon the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to co-operate in the implementation of theUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1397 that was adopted on 12 March 2002. They further urge the leaders of both sides to adopt the recommendations of the Mitchell report and Tenet plan as a basis for the resumption of constructive and lasting Peace Process negotiations.”

ON OUR PART, AS THE MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, WE HAVE ISSUED A DECLERATION ON MIDDLE EAST DURING OUR LAST MEETING IN GRANADA, ON 6-7 APRIL 2002.THIS DECLARATION EMPHASIZED THE FOLLOWING POINTS :

Withdrawal without delay from Palestinian cities in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1402 and 1403.

Stopping all acts of violence, including terrorist attacks, provocation and destruction, to cooperate on the implementation of the Tenet work plan and the Mitchell Report with the aim of resuming constructive peace negotiations.

Closer cooperation between the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

Exertion of equal pressure on both sides to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East based upon the principle of peace for territory so as to guarantee the security of Israel and the creation of a viable and democratic Palestinian State.

ONE CAN SAY THAT PALESTINIAN AUTHORTY FAILED TO STOP TERRORIST BOMBINGS, SUICIDE ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAELI POPULATION. BUT IT’S ALSO THE DUTY OF ARAB NATIONS AND PALESTINIANS TO CONDEMN ALL KIND OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM AND TERRORIST ATTACKS BY ARAB LEADERS, WORSEN THE SITUATION AND DAMAGE TO THE PEACE PROCESS.

BUT THIS CIRCUMSTANCE DOES NOT GIVE ISRAEL TO JUSTIFY HER ACTIONS AS “SELF DEFENCE”. RESPONDING TERRORISM ALSO REQUIRES FULFILLING THE OBLIGATIONS DERIVING FROM INTERNATIONAL LAW.

I SINCERELY CONGRATULATE ALL THE ORGANIZERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THE ANTALYA CONFERENCE SUCH A SUCCESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY PARTICULAR THANKS TO TO THE PRESIDENT MR. HALUK BAYÜLKEN, FOR HIS DEVOTED CONTRIBUTION TO BRING TOGETHER HIGH LEVEL CONTRIBUTORS FROM ALLIED AND PARTNER COUNTRIES FOR TWELVE YEARS.

THANK YOU.