Neighbors partners, not foes in new security policy

The document, referred to by many as Turkey’s secret constitution, will now describe neighbors as partners, not enemies to be kept at bay, sources told Today’s Zaman. The highly confidential National Security Policy Document has long termed Greece, Iran, Iraq, Russia and Armenia Turkey’s foes that could pose security threats to Turkey, ranging from a full-fledged war -- that could stem from Aegean disputes with Greece -- to the export of a Shariah revolution from Iran. But the AK Party government has sought closer links with all its neighbors in a bid to expand Turkey’s influence in regional and global politics, thus clashing with the orthodox security doctrine.

The changes being made to the National Security Policy Document, which traditionally was drafted by the military in the past, are a sign that the government’s priorities are finally reflected in state policy. Sources said the proposed changes to the document, which is drafted by civilians, will highlight cooperation potential with neighbors, undermining the previous emphasis on areas of conflict.

Accordingly, Russia, whose energy and Caucasus policies were seen as a threat to Turkey in the past, is now to be described as a potential partner which can cooperate with Turkey on trade and which shares with Ankara a common vision for stability in the Caucasus.

Iraq, which was seen as a threat due to presence of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the latest version of the document -- drafted in 2005 -- is also seen in a different light. The PKK retains its position as a major security threat in the revised document, but it now highlights possibilities of cooperation on energy and security with the Iraqi government.

Iran, seen as a major threat in earlier versions of the confidential document because of its Islamic rule and nuclear capacity, is no longer the number one threat for Turkey, although the document emphasizes that the Middle East should be cleansed of nuclear weapons. In a major break with the West’s stance, Turkey voted against sanctions on Iran because of its contentious nuclear program at the UN Security Council in June. Turkey calls for a negotiated settlement to the international dispute and, earlier in June, it brokered a nuclear swap deal with Tehran, although the deal failed to stop UN sanctions.

As for Greece, with which Turkey has come to the brink of war three times in the past over territorial disputes in the Aegean, the revised document underlines economic and political cooperation while scaling down perceptions of threat. In 1995, Turkey declared any Greek attempt to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 miles a “casus belli,” or a reason to go into war, a statement that will not be repeated in the revised security document.

Proposed changes to the document were discussed at a regular meeting of the National Security Council (MGK), an influential body bringing together top military commanders and civilian leaders, which convened last week in İstanbul under the chairmanship of President Abdullah Gül. If the proposed changes are adapted, the document will shrink from 110 pages to 53, sources said.

The revisions, drafted by a team of experts headed by Prime Ministry Undersecretary Efkan Ala, are expected to be given a final shape at the MGK’s next meeting, slated for October, and then to be sent to the Cabinet for approval. The National Security Policy Document has been revised every five years since a military coup in 1960 but this revision -- representing perhaps the most radical overhaul of the document -- will be the first to be undertaken by civilians.

Reactionaryism, minorities no longer threats

The revised document also changes the way domestic threats are defined. Accordingly, in a major break with past practice, neither Muslim groups nor non-Muslim minorities are considered a security threat. The famous “reactionary threat” is not expected to be cited in the new document. Instead, it will mention “radical groups exploiting religion,” a term which, under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), refers to groups that, by employing violent methods, use religion for destructive and separatist activities.

This change in definition of internal threat means religious communities in Turkey, which were viewed as a threat to the secular nature of the state throughout republican history, will no longer be seen as such. The military has traditionally used its legal duty “to protect and guard the republic” to justify following the activities of peaceful religious communities.

Non-Muslim minorities, seen for decades as elements of threat because of their support for invading armies during World War I, are also set to benefit from the proposed changes, easing some of the pressure on non-Muslim groups that the EU says should be lifted entirely.

The revision in the National Security Policy Document, coupled with planned changes to a law that was long seen as providing legal justification for military coups, is expected to further align the role of military in politics, bringing Turkey closer to meeting European standards on this matter.

Parliament is planning to change Article 35 of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Internal Service Law, which gives the military the authority to take measures “to protect and guard the Republic of Turkey.” The law is believed to offer legal justification for the several coups the military has carried out in the past decades.

If the planned changes to the security document take effect, no acts will be considered a threat to national security unless they are openly defined as criminal under the Constitution or laws. The military is known to have spied on several individuals and groups in the name of protecting the republic under the Article 35.

PKK biggest internal threat

The revised National Security Policy Document views the PKK as the biggest internal threat, according to sources. Other groups that carry out separatist activities parallel to the PKK’s goals are also considered to be a security threat.

The changes will take effect after all relevant parties state their opinions on the proposed changes. Sources say the General Staff is expected to convey its position to the Prime Ministry within a month. Given that there was no objection from military participants at the latest MGK meeting last week, the proposed revisions are expected to be adapted at the next MGK gathering, perhaps with only minor changes.