"Who is coming is not the enemy (2)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and new littoral states emerged in the Black Sea region, Turkey has become the country with the longest Black Sea coastline, the widest Black Sea continental shelf and economic zone and the most advanced Black Sea navy. Turkey founded the Black Sea Economic Cooperation at a time when NATO membership had not yet arrived in the Balkans, the wars of disintegration were being waged in former Yugoslavia and the internal strife in the Caucasus and Moldova were creating great instability. With a 'wider region' perception that is similar to that of America, Turkey ensured that even the non-littoral Balkan and Caucasian countries would join the organization. That forum created opportunities for dialogue and cooperation among these countries in a climate of uncertainty where mutual suspicions, even enmities, had come to prevail. America and the European Union praised these efforts of Turkey."
More:Who is coming is not the enemy (2) - Turkish Daily News Mar 21, 2006
