Turkey’s foreign policy in 2017

ANKARA

Turkey's foreign policy saw turbulent times in 2017.

Tense relations with some Balkan states, peace initiatives in Syria, an illegitimate independence referendum by northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and the fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) took center stage.

Bans by Germany and Holland that prevented Turkish ministers there from holding public rallies to garner support ahead of an April 16 referendum in which Turkey adopted a presidential form of government-stoked tensions between Ankara and the two nations.

Turkey’s relations with the U.S. also remained strained due to Washington's support of the PYD/PKK terrorist organization in Syria, its failure to extradite Fetullah Gulen and a visa crisis.

Gulen and his Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) orchestrated the July 15, 2016 coup attempt which martyred 250 and injured nearly 2,200.

Another flashpoint event this year was an illegitimate referendum by the KRG in September which was rejected by Turkey and most regional and international actors. De-escalation zones established with the efforts of Turkey, Russia and Syria were also among the year’s significant developments.

The following are prominent developments in Turkey’s foreign policy in 2017:

Jan. 21

Turkey's Foreign Ministry demanded clarification from EU authorities regarding a report including false, unfounded, biased and ignorant allegations about the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt. The report was prepared by officials from the EU member states.

Jan. 26

Turkey rejected a ruling by the Greek Supreme Court against the extradition of eight former Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece hours after last year's defeated coup attempt in a stolen helicopter.

Jan. 27

Turkey's Foreign Ministry hailed as 'an important judicial gain' the cancellation of a law in France that had made it an offense to publicly deny certain crimes not determined as genocide, including Armenian allegations on 1915 incidents.

Jan. 28

British Prime Minister Theresa May was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during her official visit to Ankara.

Jan. 30

The Turkish Embassy in Tripoli reopened with reduced staff three years after its closure in 2014 due to security concerns.

Feb. 1

Turkey and Israel held a meeting in Ankara to normalize ties for the first time since 2010.

Feb. 2

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ankara during an official visit. Regarding the extradition of FETO members to Turkey, Merkel said: "We need evidence to take steps and precautions. The courts are evaluating this evidence. There are some court decisions in Germany that extradition cannot be done under some circumstances. Our ministers of justice will hold talks on these issues from now on.”

Feb. 3

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu noted that a Greek military drill on Kos Island in the Aegean Sea was a clear violation of international law.

Feb. 17

Turkey declared that it would not recognize an illegitimate “referendum on constitutional changes” which was slated for Feb. 20 in Upper Karabakh, a region which is under Armenian occupation.

Feb. 18

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Huseyin Muftuoglu announced Turkey's condemnation of an advisory motion of Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives adopted on Feb. 16 regarding “Freezing Assistance provided to Turkey under IPA II and Turkey's EU Accession Negotiations”.

March 2

Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador Martin Erdmann over the cancellation of a meeting between Bekir Bozdag, then Turkey's Justice Minister, and Turkish citizens in Germany.

"This has become a systematic practice of the German deep state,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

March 4

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said the 2016 Human Rights report on Turkey, which was released by the U.S. Department of State, included "unacceptable claims and inaccurate descriptions" and added: "It is noteworthy that the report does not mention at all the role of FETO in the July 15 coup attempt and the presence of FETO leaders in the U.S."

It also criticized the report's description of the fight against the PKK terrorist organization as "a conflict between the government and PKK members", saying this description was "totally unacceptable".

March 6

The venue for a meeting by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with the local Turkish community in the northern German city of Hamburg was changed as the Plaza Event Center building did not meet safety standards.

March 7

Turkey’s EU Minister Omer Celik held a phone conversation with his German counterpart Michael Roth and said the cancellation of Turkish ministers' rallies was "totally unacceptable" and a "systematic blocking of the Turkish government".

"We would like this situation to be fixed. We are a country that is strong enough to ensure the security of any German politician who wants to address German citizens in Turkey,” he added.

March 10

The Foreign Ministry announced that Italian citizen Houda Emma Kharat, 7, who was kidnapped by her father and taken to Syria’s Aleppo province, was brought to Turkey and she had left for her country.

March 11

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Netherlands in Ankara after the cancellation of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's flight permit for his airplane by the Dutch government. He had been planning to attend a meeting with Turkish citizens in Rotterdam.

"Everyone should know that we will give the necessary response, in the clearest way, to those who took this step,” Cavusoglu said regarding the incident.

In response, the Foreign Ministry suggested that "the Dutch ambassador, who is on leave abroad, [should] not return for a while".

March 12

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with European authorities following the Dutch government’s decision to block him from meeting with Turkish citizens and preventing them from entering the consulate.

"We will definitely take more steps. The Netherlands will apologize to Turkey. As long as they do not, we will continue to take steps," Cavusoglu said.

Many countries and international institutions and organizations reacted strongly to the Dutch government's attitude towards Turkish ministers.

March 13

Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued two notes over the Dutch government's behavior towards Turkish ministers and ill-treatment of Turkish citizens who were exercising their right to peacefully assemble.

March 14

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said statements by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn regarding developments between the Netherlands and Turkey are “short-sighted and have no value for our country”.

March 16

Turkey took the issue to the UN with a note stating that the Netherlands’ actions towards Turkey’s Family and Social Affairs Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya and the diplomatic committee accompanying her were in violation of the Vienna Convention, which lays out rules to ensure that diplomats can carry out their duties without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country.

March 18

The Foreign Ministry commented on a rally by PKK sympathizers that was allowed to be held in Frankfurt, saying: “A terrorist organization is allowed to march, chanting against the referendum to be held in Turkey, while many obstacles were put forward in order to prevent Turkish parliamentarians from meeting Turkish citizens. This constitutes the most serious example of double standards.”

March 19

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reacted to Kirkuk province’s application to raise the Kurdish Regional Government’s flag alongside Iraq’s flag at government institutions, saying: “These moves risk eroding Kirkuk's multicultural identity, which is embodied by the social, cultural and economic wealth of Iraq”.

March 21

Turkey, in a letter sent to the UN Security Council, described the International Criminal Court’s instruction to release UN Judge Sefa Akay, who was arrested within the scope of a FETO investigation, as interrupting Turkey’s independent judiciary and exceeding its mission and said the demand was “null and void”.

The German Charge d’Affaires in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry following remarks by the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) that Germany had yet to be convinced of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization’s involvement in last July’s failed coup.

March 22

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gave a file to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions covering new documents related to FETO.

March 23

The Foreign Ministry expressed its discomfort to the Russian charge d’affaires in Ankara after photos showing members of the PYD/PKK terrorist group and Russian soldiers together appeared on social media.

March 25

Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss charge d’affaires in Ankara over a rally held in Bern by sympathizers of the PKK terrorist organization targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

March 28

The Foreign Ministry said that raising flags of the KRG on government buildings in Kirkuk worries Turkey.

March 29

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a statement regarding a call made by the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul on July 21, 2017, to FETO fugitive Adil Oksuz. The embassy declared that the Consulate General in Istanbul cancelled the visa of Oksuz, who is known as “imam of the air forces”.


March 30

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that the U.S. is a reliable ally of Turkey during his visit to Ankara. "We look forward to approaching these challenges together, and the Trump administration will continue to build ties with this long-standing ally and our friend."

April 4

Turkey condemned the Kirkuk Provincial Council’s unilateral decision to participate in a referendum on Kurdish regional independence which it took in a session boycotted by Turkmen and Arab members.

April 16

The Foreign Ministry stated that the activities of observer committees and first findings reports of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) regarding the April 16 constitutional referendum in Turkey were not acceptable.


April 24

"The misinformation and false definitions contained in U.S. President [Donald] Trump’s written statement on April 24, 2017, regarding the 1915 events are derived from the information pollution created over the years by some Armenian circles in the U.S. by means of propaganda methods,” the Foreign Ministry said regarding Trump’s remarks to mark the annual commemoration of the 1915 events, echoing his predecessors by using the Armenian term while referring to the tragedy.

April 25

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on re-opening monitoring procedures on Turkey.

April 27

The Foreign Ministry condemned and rejected a resolution adopted on April 25, 2017, by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic on the events of 1915 regarding Armenians.

May 4

The Greek judiciary rejected once again a request for the extradition of eight putschists who participated in the July 15 coup attempt. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the decision was politically motivated.

May 11

The Foreign Ministry deplored the acceptance of asylum applications by Germany of former military officers who are affiliated with FETO, the perpetrator of the July 15 failed coup attempt.

May 15

Turkey turned down a request by German lawmakers to visit their troops in Incirlik, stating that it is not suitable for the time being.

May 22

The Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. ambassador to Turkey John Bass to protest “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by American security personnel towards the foreign minister’s protective detail during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington.

May 25

Turkey rejected a resolution passed by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding incidents that took place in front of the Turkish ambassador’s residence during a visit by President Erdogan to Washington.

June 9

The Foreign Ministry warned that the KRG’s decision to hold an “independence referendum” on Sept. 25, 2017 “will be a grave mistake”.

June 15

Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador in Ankara, John Bass, to the Foreign Office after American authorities issued arrest warrants for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards and stated that the decision was unacceptable.

July 6

The Foreign Ministry said a report adopted by the European Parliament calling on EU member states to suspend Turkey's accession talks was "null and void".

July 14

It was declared that Turkish missions abroad have hosted more than 12,000 formal talks on the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), including more than 400 with presidents or prime ministers, as part of an information campaign by Turkey to communicate its stance against FETO to the international community.

July 15

Commemorative ceremonies were held during the week by 226 representatives in 136 countries to mark July 15 Democracy and National Solidarity Day. Ambassadors and consul generals held a total of 216 meetings with local press representatives. Local media organs published 47 articles written by Turkish ambassadors, and 34 commemorative advertisements paying tribute to July 15 martyrs and veterans were published in newspapers with high circulations in different countries. Sixty-nine exhibitions consisting of photographs compiled by Anadolu Agency under the auspices of embassies and consulates were opened.

August 6

"Turkey has officially become the sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced.

August 16

Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey expects the KRG to step back from its referendum decision.

September 14

The Foreign Ministry released a statement saying “we would like to stress that the KRG should keep in mind that continued insistence on carrying out this referendum despite all the friendly advice to the contrary shall have a cost”.

September 15

Referring to a Belgian court ruling which said 36 people and institutions, including alleged European leaders of the PKK terrorist organization, could not be judged in the framework of fighting terrorism, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the decision “reveals once again the fact that Belgium is a weak link in countering terrorism in Europe and in the world".


September 25

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the KRG’s illegitimate referendum “null and void” in terms of its consequences.

EU Minister Omer Celik said: “The referendum decision is already a disaster. To include Kirkuk in the poll is another suggestion from [KRG leader Masoud] Barzani to turn Iraq into another bloodbath."

October 3

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed confidence in a return to normal relations with northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) should it correct its "mistake" of holding an illegitimate independence referendum, adding it was not too late and the administration of President Masoud Barzani could take a step back.

October 8

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara suspended processing of non-immigrant visa applications at its all missions in Turkey.

October 9

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires in Ankara, Philip Kosnett, to have the embassy reverse the move on suspending visa applications in Turkey.

October 11

Ahmet Muhtar Gun, deputy undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry, met with outgoing U.S. Ambassador John Bass to overcome the visa dispute between the two countries.

October 16

The Foreign Ministry warned the KRG once again, saying: “Those who were instrumental in helping the PKK -- which may attempt to disrupt peace and harmony in Kirkuk -- find refuge in this region will also be held accountable by us.”

October 18

U.S. delegation met with Turkish officials in the capital Ankara for the first time in a bid to resolve a visa row affecting bilateral relations.

October 24

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said since last year's defeated coup attempt in Turkey, 995 Turkish citizens have applied for asylum in Greece.

October 25

EU Minister Omer Celik said the approaches to cut or suspend negotiations with Turkey did not find support at the EU summit.

October 27

The Foreign Ministry issued a written statement on the decision by the parliament of the regional government of Catalonia in Spain to declare independence: “We hope that the regional government of Catalonia will not insist on this unilateral decision, which has no constitutional legitimacy and could lead to tension and escalation. We believe that this issue will be resolved based on democracy and the rule of law.”

November 15

The Foreign Ministry said Turkey officially demanded information from U.S. authorities about jailed Turkish businessman Riza Sarraf but received no reply.

November 16

Stating that another note was sent to the U.S. after not receiving a response to the first one, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “The Turkish Embassy in Washington received a reply from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the State Department saying Sarraf had been moved to some other place and was safe and in good health”.

November 30

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "U.S. President [Donald] Trump told our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] over the phone that 'from now on, no arms will be given to the YPG [PKK/PYD]' ".

December 6

Turkey condemned the U.S. administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as “Israel’s capital city”. “We call upon the U.S. administration to reconsider this faulty decision which may result in highly negative outcomes and to avoid uncalculated steps that will harm the multicultural identity and historical status of Jerusalem,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

December 9

Turkey regretted the deaths of four Palestinians when Israeli security forces intervened against Palestinians who were protesting the U.S. move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. It also condemned Israel’s excessive use of force.

December 11

The issue of Jerusalem should be resolved by 'direct contacts' between Israel and Palestine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his visit to the Turkish capital Ankara.

December 13

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a declaration recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine after an extraordinary summit held in Istanbul.

“We will never allow the U.S. [to have] a role in the future peace process,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told a special meeting of the OIC in Istanbul.

The Foreign Ministry said U.S. National Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster’s remarks targeting Turkey at a meeting organized by a think tank in Washington, D.C. are baseless and unacceptable.

December 14

Stating there are “no problems” regarding Turkey’s S-400 missile defense system deal with Russia, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "During the recent visit of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, only an agreement on financing was made. The additional details need to be discussed and finalized in writing. Our experts are working on it, and it may be signed this week.”

December 17

Ankara criticized a call by Austria’s new government for a halt to Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, saying it shows a discriminatory attitude that ignores Turkey’s rights. “The unfortunate and shortsighted statements regarding Turkey in the program of the new government of Austria confirm that concerns are justified about the political movement, which takes discrimination and alienation as its basis,” said a Foreign Ministry statement, referring to the coalition between conservatives and the far-right.

December 18

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the assassination of the mayor of Misrata in Libya, Mohammed Eshtawi. “We strongly condemn this heinous assassination targeting the stability of Misrata and of Libya,” it said in a statement.

Turkey regretted the U.S. veto of a UN Security Council resolution that rejects the establishment of diplomatic facilities in the contested city of Jerusalem with one opposing vote against 14 supporting votes. “It is unacceptable that the UN Security Council is left non-functional in a contradictory manner to the will of the international community for such an issue that will have implications on regional peace and stability,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

December 21

"We expect strong support from the world in today's #Palestine vote at the UN General Assembly,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter, referring to a vote condemning the widely criticized U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. His remarks came a day after President Donald Trump’s threat to cut aid to countries that vote for the UN resolution.

Turkey summoned a United Arab Emirates diplomat, Hawla Ali Al-Shamsi, over a recent post retweeted by the country's foreign minister on social media targeting Fahreddin Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Medina from 1916-1919.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to cut aid to UN member countries who vote for a resolution that rejects the establishment of diplomatic facilities in the contested city of Jerusalem, saying it is “unethical to think the votes and dignity of member states are for sale” at a UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session.

A Foreign Ministry statement welcomed the UN General Assembly's adoption of a resolution on Jerusalem with an overwhelming majority. It read: “Despite the U.S.'s unethical oppression and threats, the international community has shown that it remains committed to UN resolutions and international law on Jerusalem, and this result clearly revealed the unlawfulness of the U.S. administration's unfortunate decision.”

December 22

The Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption, at the eighth Astana meeting attended by representatives from Russia, Turkey and Iran -- the guarantor states that brokered a cease-fire in Syria in December 2016 -- of a regulation on the creation of a working group with a view to ensuring the mutual release of detainees/abductees by the conflicting parties as part of confidence-building measures.

Reporting by Tugrul Cam:Writing by Sena Guler