Browsing by Author "Birlik, Gultekin K."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

An Example of the Implementation of the Principle of Peace in Turkish Foreign Policy During the Ataturk Period: the Case of the Spanish Civil War
(Hale Sivgin, 2022) Birlik, Gultekin K.
Although many European countries took sides during the Spanish Civil War, Thrkey adopted the policy of "non-intervention". In this context, Turkey forbid selling weapons to the parties in the Civil War and the Turkish civilains to join the war. Although Turkey was negatively affected by the Civil War particularly in terms of domestic andforeign politics, she demanded that the Civil War should be settled down through peaceful ways in accordance with her policy orpeace at home peace in the world". Although the Civil War progressed against the Republicans, Turkey officially recognised the elected government of The Republicans during the Civil War. Only after the Civil War ended and it was recognised internationally, Turkey recognised the Nationalist government and sent diplomatic representative, which was a mutual act. As part of this policy, Turkey was closely concerned with the humanitarian side of the Civil War. In case of the most serious issue of the Civil War, that is the refugees, she decided to solve the problem of the Spanish Nationalist refugees in Madrid that took refuge in Turkey in line with her political tradition and took steps in the direction of bringing them to Turkey in 1937. In 1938, when the Republican Government interfered with the Spanish Nationalist Refugees that took refuge in Turkey, she showed numerous reactions. Although Turkey o f ficially recognised the elected Republican Government, during the Civil War, when needed, she offered humanitarian help to both the Nationalist and the Republican sides. Although the Thrkish media supported both sides, in line with Turkish foreign policy, it defended the idea that the Spanish domestic affairs should not be interfered with, the process of solution should be left to the Spanish people themselves and the problem should be solved peacefully.
An Example of the Threat From Italy To Turkey: Piracy in the Mediterranean
(Selcuk Univ, Inst Turkish Studies, 2024) Birlik, Gultekin K.
In August 1937, with the sinking of Spanish ships in front of Bozcaada and the sighting of foreign submarines in the Sea of Marmara, the Italian threat from piracy affected Turkey for the first time. While Turkey took measures against foreign submarines, including sinking them in the Sea of Marmara, it endeavored to prevent the possibilities that could create an atmosphere of conflict with Italy in the Aegean Sea. In the Anglo-French plan, which was first discussed at the Nyon Conference against piracy, it was envisaged that the north of the Aegean Sea would be controlled by the Turkish and the Soviet Union, and the south of it would be controlled by the navies of Greece and Yugoslavia. Due to the tension between the Soviet Union and Italy, Atat & uuml;rk saw this situation as ananti-Italy initiative and brought up the issue of giving assurance to Turkey against Italy. Prime Minister & Idot;smet & Idot;n & ouml;n & uuml; also thought that this situation harbored the possibility of conflict with Italy and argued that guarantees should be requested from England and France. As a result of the objections of Greece and Yugoslavia as well as Turkey; England and France had to undertake duty in the Aegean Sea against piracy. The fact that Turkey, Greece and Yugoslavia did not want Italy to take part in the Aegean Sea during the negotiations for Italy's participation in the Mediterranean Agreements, and that they would not allow it to enter the territorial waters and ports, shows that the Balkan Pact states implemented a common policy against Italy. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' advocacy that in the face of the problems experienced in the process of Italy's accession to the Mediterranean Agreements, it was necessary to establish a policy together with Greece and Yugoslavia, explains this situation
The Mediterranean Agreements and Their Implementation in Turkey
(Hacettepe Univ, 2021) Birlik, Gultekin K.; Department of Social Sciences for University wide Courses; Department of Social Sciences for University wide Courses
In the Spanish Civil War, before the breakout of World War II, Turkey became a part of the Mediterranean Agreements against the marine piracy in the Mediterranean that appeared due to the conflict between the revisionist and the anti-revisionist blocks. In August of 1937, Turkey was affected by marine piracy when two ships, which were taking provisions from the Soviet Union to the Republicans in Spain, were sunk in front of the Dardanelles. Turkey took part in the Mediterranean Nyon and Geneva Agreements against marine piracy in September 1937 and allocated two ports to British ships within the frame of these Treaties. While it was necessary for Turkey to take measures against the piracy targeted at submarines, ships and planes in all its territorial waters within the frame of these Mediterranean Agreements, it took measures only in the territorial waters of the Dardanelles, Gokceada and Bozcaada. While the capacity of the naval power was decisive in Turkey's taking such measures, its unwillingness to create an atmosphere of conflict with Italy was also effective. While the marine piracy could not be prevented in the Western Mediterranean, there was no marine piracy in the Dardanelles and the Aegean Sea. The reason for this is not the measures taken within the framework of the Agreements but the fact that the Soviet Union sent its assistance through France instead of the Mediterranean way. At the end of 1938, along with Britain, Turkey sought to withdraw from the Treaties, however, Britain did not approve of this due to the on going marine piracy in the Western Mediterrenean. Immediately after the invasions of Czechoslovakia and Albania, Turkey withdrew from the Mediterranean Agreements, on April 8, 1939, before all the other countries. Just before the World War II, with "cautious and quick" policies, Turkey sought to escape any confrontation that might originate from the Mediterranean Agreements.
The Occupation of Bursa by the Greek Army During the National Struggle Period
(Hacettepe Univ, 2023) Birlik, Gultekin K.; Department of Social Sciences for University wide Courses
One of the aims of the official invasion of Istanbul on 16 March 1920 was to keep the national liberation forces away. Despite this, the national liberation forces attacked the British in Beykoz, Istanbul on 4 July 1920. Considering this Beykoz attack as a major threat, and in order to keep Istanbul and the Straits under control, the British decided on 4 July 1920 that Bursa should be invaded by the Greek forces and to make the invasion easier, Mudanya and Gemlik should be invaded by the British. The aim of the invasion of Bursa was to keep Istanbul and the Straits under control. However, with the propaganda made by the Istanbul government, it was shown to be geared towards the "solution of the public disorder" generated by the national liberation forces. Against the Greek operation that started on 22 June 1920, it was decided that defense should be set up first in the west of Bursa. However, the efficient propaganda against the National War of Independence made by the Istanbul government caused widespread desertions among the soldiers of 56. Division which was supposed to defend Bursa. To the paralysis of the units' operations was added the possibility of blockage of the ways to withdraw due to the invasion of Gemlik and Mudanya by the British, and the defense set up in the west of Bursa ended in failure. To be able to stop the movement of the Greek troops towards Eskisehir, it was necessary toevacuate Bursa and after the evacuation, a local committee was elected to take over the administration of Bursa. As a result of the propaganda, the committee saw the "the problem of public disorder" as the reason for the invasion of Bursa and guaranteeing the reestablishment of the public order, it wanted to take steps in the direction of preventing the invasion. Mustafa Kemal Pasha stopped this committee's attempts to communicate with the British through the French, as he considered these attempts as accepting the hegemony of the British. Bursa, which was under the influence of the Istanbul government as it was too close to Istanbul, could not be defended due to the dissolution of the units as a result of desertions, and was invaded by the Greek forces on 8 July 1920.