1. Black Sea Maritime Security & Turkey’s Role In The Caucasus By Deniz Çakar Head of Department NATO and Euro-Atlantic Infrastructure and Logistics/MFA

2.  Preservation of security and stability in the Black Sea region through regional cooperation has always been a priority of the Turkish policy towards this region.  Regional ownership

4. Making use of the existing initiatives and mechanisms to the extent possible Making use of the existing initiatives and mechanisms to the extent possible -avoiding duplication of efforts, -focusing on the requirements and priorities of the region, -promoting complementarity and synergy among the efforts of the international actors and indigenous mechanisms -adherence to the principle of inclusiveness and transparency

5. The existing mechanisms in the region Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group(BLACKSEAFOR) Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group(BLACKSEAFOR) Operation Black Sea Harmony (OBSH) Operation Black Sea Harmony (OBSH) Black Sea Coast and Border Guards Cooperation Forum Black Sea Coast and Border Guards Cooperation Forum Black Sea Border Coordination and Information Centre Initiative Black Sea Border Coordination and Information Centre Initiative Confidence and Security Building Measures in the Naval Field in the Black Sea Confidence and Security Building Measures in the Naval Field in the Black Sea Black Sea Commission Black Sea Commission

6. OPERATION BLACK SEA HARMONY - Operation Black Sea Harmony, which is closely affiliated with NATO and complements NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour, is recognized as a major security provider in the Black Sea maritime domain. - Operation Black Sea Harmony, which is closely affiliated with NATO and complements NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour, is recognized as a major security provider in the Black Sea maritime domain. -This Operation has a multinational character with the participation of the Russian Federation and Ukraine (These two countries joined Black Sea Harmony on 27 December 2006 and 25 April 2007 respectively). -This Operation has a multinational character with the participation of the Russian Federation and Ukraine (These two countries joined Black Sea Harmony on 27 December 2006 and 25 April 2007 respectively).

7. BLACKSEAFOR (BLACK SEA NAVAL COOPERATION TASK GROUP BLACKSEAFOR has considerable potential in terms of ensuring maritime security in the Black Sea and deepening interoperability among the littoral states. BLACKSEAFOR has considerable potential in terms of ensuring maritime security in the Black Sea and deepening interoperability among the littoral states. Transformation of the BLACKSEAFOR and expand the scope of its activities to better contribute to global efforts in combating terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and to deter possible asymmetric threats in the Black Sea maritime area is of great importance. Transformation of the BLACKSEAFOR and expand the scope of its activities to better contribute to global efforts in combating terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and to deter possible asymmetric threats in the Black Sea maritime area is of great importance.

8. A NEW INITIATIVE: LAUNCHING OF A “BLACK SEA DEFENCE MINISTERIAL PROCESS”

9. Black Sea Defence Ministerial Process aims; -to establish a forum for good neighbourly relations, -strengthening regional defence capabilities -confidence building interaction among the countries of the region

10.  Proposed dates: 25-27 March 2009 for the first Defence Ministerial to be held in Istanbul.  Defence Ministerial could be considered as a political umbrella over the ongoing initiatives related to the security of the Blacksea

11. Turkey’s Role In The Caucasus CSCP Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform

12. Latest developments in the Caucasus were alarming Latest developments in the Caucasus were alarming -hot conflict between Georgia and RF, -Recognition of Abkhazia and S.Ossetia by the RF as independent entities. Unresolved conflicts in the Caucasus continue to be the main obstacle for peace and stability. Unresolved conflicts in the Caucasus continue to be the main obstacle for peace and stability. Existing mechanisms have not been able to achieve any substantial breakthrough for 17 years. Existing mechanisms have not been able to achieve any substantial breakthrough for 17 years.

13. Peaceful means is the only way Peaceful means is the only way Due respect to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of states. Due respect to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of states. Facilitating solutions is also a responsibility of the countries of the region. Facilitating solutions is also a responsibility of the countries of the region.

14. Necessity to find a new approach to deal with these problems in the Caucasus arose in August 2008. Necessity to find a new approach to deal with these problems in the Caucasus arose in August 2008. Turkey has launched the initiative “ Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform” (CSCP) Turkey has launched the initiative “ Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform” (CSCP)

15. What is the need for CSCP? “The lack of confidence between the countries of the region needs a convenient remedy, so that confidence, stability and security could be restored”

16. Highlights of the CSCP initiative: Envisages to develop peace, stability and security, encouraging political dialogue, enhancing economic cooperation, ending tensions and developing good-neighbourly relations. Envisages to develop peace, stability and security, encouraging political dialogue, enhancing economic cooperation, ending tensions and developing good-neighbourly relations. Not a broker for a cease-fire deal or a peace agreement. Not a broker for a cease-fire deal or a peace agreement. Not an alternative to any institution or mechanism etc. Not an alternative to any institution or mechanism etc. It is a platform to facilitate the communication between and/or among the countries of the region. It is a platform to facilitate the communication between and/or among the countries of the region.

17. Intends to bring five countries together Intends to bring five countries together Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, RF, Turkey. Institutionalization of the CSCP is not intended. Institutionalization of the CSCP is not intended. It is not an exclusive platform.Cooperative relations and structures of coordination with other organizations or individual countries is possible. It is not an exclusive platform.Cooperative relations and structures of coordination with other organizations or individual countries is possible. CSCP would share the principles of OSCE. CSCP would share the principles of OSCE. It is an initiative with a long-term strategy rather than a short-term activity. It is an initiative with a long-term strategy rather than a short-term activity.

18. Thank You.