It has come to our attention that in some articles published recently in the press references were made to problems concerning NATO-EU cooperation in Kosovo and Afghanistan. In these articles, there were also suggestions to the effect that these problems emanate from the blockages laid down in this regard by Turkey .

Turkey, both as a NATO ally for 55 years and a negotiating country for accession to the EU, has actively supported the development of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) from the outset, substantially contributed to various ESDP missions and is determined to provide in this respect her solid support and contributions in the future as well.

Moreover, Turkey is among the leading Allies in terms of its contributions to NATO operations assumed in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

In this respect, Turkey has no intention to block NATO-EU cooperation within the context of those EU civilian ESDP missions planned in Kosovo or the one recently initiated in Afghanistan.

In fact, Turkey believes that the said EU civilian missions could play an important complementary role in terms of contributing to the success of the NATO missions conducted in those regions. It is with this understanding that Turkey, let alone impede cooperation between the two organizations, advocates for the rapid conclusion of the necessary arrangements which would enable a more effective relationship between NATO and the EU.

Turkey’s expectation from her Allies and the EU Member States to that end is nothing more than asking for the adherence to decisions taken and arrangements laid down at the highest level for such cooperation. The effectiveness of these decisions and arrangements have been successfully proven in the cooperation between NATO and the EU in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

It should be noted that, the Agreed Framework, which was decided upon by the two organizations in 2002 and which constitutes a part of the “EU acquis”, stipulates that only those EU Member States which are also either NATO members or parties to the “Partnership for Peace”, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO, can participate in this kind of a cooperation.

In short, Turkey does not wish to hinder NATO-EU cooperation in Kosovo and Afghanistan, but invites her Allies and the EU Member States to abide by agreed decisions and commitments whilst deciding upon the countries which should take place in that cooperation.

It goes without saying that Turkey will act in a cooperative spirit, assisting our Allies as well as the EU and its member nations in efforts aimed at the establishment of lasting peace and stability both in Afghanistan and Kosovo within this context.