Gonzaga Debate Institute 2010

***TURKEY***

Turkey Stability Solves Proliferation

Turkish stability key to deter proliferation
Baç 7 (Meltem Müftüler, Ph.D. in Political Science at Temple U, February 2007 [http://www.iai.it/pdf/Quaderni/Quaderni_E_08.pdf]

Since its Association Agreement with the EC in 1963, Turkey’s relations with the EU have been problematic. In the last decade, as the EU began to enlarge towards the Central and Eastern European countries, Turkey’s ambivalent position has become clearer. This paper argued that within the ambivalent position, an important benefit that Turkey’s accession to the EU revolves around the EU’s security concerns. This is, to a large extent, independent of the EU’s security aspirations, whether the EU will continue on the hard road of further integration remains unclear, especially in the light of the referendums in France and the Netherlands for the Constitutional Treaty. What is clear is that the EU will need to take more responsibility for its own security specifically in the post 9/11 international environment. This is why Turkey’s role matters, both in terms of a more abstract level and in terms of concrete military capabilities. If one considers that the EU’s security concerns are mostly on proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and trafficking of humans and drugs for the next century, than Turkey’s geographical location becomes critical in furthering security goals based on these concerns. As Ian Lesser notes, “Turkey is most directly affected by a key trend shaping Western security: the erosion of traditional distinctions between the European, Middle Eastern and Eurasian theatres….Turkey is at the center of this phenomenon and the country’s future role will be strongly influenced by it.”25 Thus, this paper argued that within the rational intergovernmentalist theoretical lenses, Turkey’s main potential utility for the EU would be on the EU’s 2nd pillar development. This, however, does not mean that the EU will have to accept Turkey as a member because of these concerns, just the opposite there is already a process well underway and this paper stresses the potential value of Turkey’s accession to the EU from a very narrow perspective, that of security.

Turkish Stability Solves Middle East Instability

Turkish stability ensures Middle East stability
Landback 5[Alex, Editor-in-Chief of the University of Florida International Review, www.polisci.ufl.edu/UF_Review/documents/turkey_landback.doc]

With the membership of Turkey, the European Union enhances its international credibility as a global actor. As described before, Turkey can serve as a regional stabilizer and model of liberty in the Middle East. Beyond the politics and ideology involved, there are many linguistic and cultural assets than can be utilized by the European Union (Dervis, et al. 2004, 46). In the EU, as well as in the United States, there is a drastic shortage of Arabic speakers. The inclusion of Turkey in the EU would help it reposition its image from a restrictive club to a multicultural actor with the intention of creating a better world. The influx of qualified Arabic linguists enhances European intelligence in the War on Terror and in any potential conflict involving another Arab state (Desai 2005, 379).

Turkey mediates Middle East stability - negotiator and peace keeping forces
BBC 9 [August 1, Lexis]

As for Ankaras regional profile, Davutoglu said that his country continued to support mediation efforts to bring various sides together. Turkey was involved in indirect mediation between enemies Syria and Israel, an effort that has stalled this year. In January, Turkeys Premier Tayyip Erdogan walked out of the World Economic Conference in Davos, to protest Israeli President Shimon Peres statements on Israels policy on Palestine. "What happens in Palestine affects all of the regional actors," Davutoglu told the journalists gathered at the Movenpick Hotel, stressing the importance of strategic position of Palestine. Asked about Israeli officials concerns over Ankara's impartiality, Davutoglu told The Daily Star that "mediation is not an end, but a means to peace." "Our prime ministers attitude was a humanitarian and moral stance, which we believe serves (the cause of) peace in the Middle East," Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey was open to any demand on its mediation efforts, if it served the interests of security and stability in the region. After the meeting, Davutoglu said the Turkish peacekeeping contingents task in south Lebanon would help the regions stability, which was a guarantee for "everybodys security."

Turkish Stability Solves Middle East Instability/Russian Hegemony

Turkish stability foothold for Iraq and Iran stability and deterring Russian aggression
Giragosian 8 [Richard, analyst specializing in international relations, June 11, Turkish Policy Quarterly, Vol. 6, Pg 39, http://www.esiweb.org/pdf/esi_turkey_tpq_vol6_no4_richardgiragosian.pdf]

As Turkey continues on its path toward redefining its strategic orientation, Turkish national security will undergo similar shifts. But the extent of external challenges are particularly daunting and pose what are some of the most pressing threats to Turkish stability and security. These threats are further exacerbated by the near simultaneous set of internal changes now underway within Turkey. Based on this new threat environment, Turkey is now forging a sophisticated strategy of greater engagement coupled with a bolder assertion of power in the region. And while it remains to be seen exactly how this strategic reorientation will conclude, with the instability in neighboring Iraq, the rising threat from the emergence of a Kurdish proto-state and the strengthening position of a nuclearambitious Iran, it seems clear that Turkey faces its most profound test. At the same time, Turkey’s strategic significance is only enhanced by the very same set of threats and, for the West, Turkey offers an essential avenue toward containing threats from both Iraq and Iran, checking a reassertion of Russian power and infl uence, and securing the vital Black-Caspian Seas region. More specifically, Turkey is now engaged in a more robust reassertion of its strategic importance, as a global actor with an emboldened agenda of activity within a number of international organizations, ranging from its traditional partners like NATO and the UN, to the more unconventional, such as GUAM and even the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).