ALMANAC TURKEY 2005 SECURITY SECTOR AND DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT DCAF-TESEV Series in Security Sector Studies Special Publication TESEV Publications ISBN: 975-8112-79-1 Editor: Ümit Cizre Translations: Mehmet Ali Bah›t, Z. Selen Artan English Language Editors: Josée Lavoie, Melissa George Prepared for Publication by: Volkan Aytar, Z. Selen Artan Page Layout: Myra, +90-212-243 2670 Printer: Sena Ofset, +90-212-613 3846 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic and mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without the explicit authorization of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV). Copyright © September 2006 TESEV 1st Edition: September 2006, 1500 copies TESEV Bankalar Caddesi No: 2 Kat: 3 Minerva Han, Karaköy, 34420 Istanbul – Turkey Phone: +90-212-2928903 PBX Fax: +90-212-2929046 [email protected] www.tesev.org.tr The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TESEV. We would like to thank Open Society Institute-Turkey and TESEV’s Higher Advisory Council for their valuable assistance that made this book possible. ALMANAC TURKEY 2005 SECURITY SECTOR AND DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT Editor ÜM‹T C‹ZRE DCAF - TESEV Series in Security Sector Studies Special Publication DEMOCRATIC HORIZONS IN THE SECURITY SECTOR PROJECT The longitudinal political and social “weight” of contribute to this (potentially divisive and the Turkish Armed Forces, and the imbalances politicized) process by facilitating helping ensued, are considered among the most “normalize” the debates on the issue, in a cool- important and complex issues in Turkish history. headed, objective and scientific manner. In this Recently, the need for further harmonization of context, the fruitful past collaboration between the Turkish Civil-Military Relations (CMR) with the Geneva-based Centre for the Democratic the democratic standards was underlined at the Control of Armed Forces (DCAF – the Republic of European Commission’s (EC) successive Annual Turkey is a founding member since November Progress Reports on Turkey. The issue will no 20th, 2003) and TESEV seems to be becoming doubt be among the most important issues in even more crucial in helping shape the ongoing Turkey’s EU accession process. One could claim process (indeed, the EC’s 2005 Turkey Progress this harmonization can best be achieved by a Report lauded TESEV & DCAF’s work). TESEV healthy cooperation between the government, strives to further the agenda of democratic and parliament and security sector institutions (the civilian oversight of the security sector by taking armed forces, the police department, the as its target audience, legislators, media gendarmerie, and others) with the assistance of professionals and civil society at large. National expert opinion, and by taking into consideration and international symposia, presentations at the the demands stemming from civil society. Special Committees of the Turkish Grand Moreover, apart from the issue of National Assembly, as well as documentary and harmonization of the Turkish CMR with the EU critical studies on the Security Sector are among standards and universal democratic norms, the TESEV and DCAF’s interlocking project vitally important problem of implementing a activities and outputs. substantive Security Sector and Bureaucracy Reform (SSBR) would certainly be on the top of Turkey’s agenda for years (even decades) to come. SSBR shall cover not only CMR-related issues but also involve the establishment of democratic control and oversight mechanisms on all domestic security institutions by taking a citizen-centered approach. Placed at a context going far beyond the narrow and somewhat misleading confines of a mere CMR issue, the problem needs to be addressed in its diversity and complexity. Since the very concepts of “reform” and “control of the armed forces” still remain controversial in Turkey, TESEV aims to 7 PREFACE Almanac 2005: Security Sector and Democratic are needed to raise awareness among elected Oversight published by the Turkish Economic members of the Parliament and to continue to and Social Studies (TESEV) and the Geneva build up the relevant expertise among civilians.” Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed TESEV-DCAF’s Almanac is an important Forces (DCAF) is not only the first-ever contribution to help raise awareness and build reference book on security sector reform in up expertise in that particular regard. In Turkey, but also among the very few in the aligning Turkey’s security affairs with Member world. It vividly describes the historical States’ best practice, civil societal contributions background, current advances, as well as such as these will increasingly become more remaining challenges in Turkey’s experience meaningful. with security sector institutions and civilian and democratic oversight. As this country proceeds on its path towards possible European Union Girts Valdis Kristovskis membership, Almanac documents its progress Former Minister of Defence; on highly important topics, namely civil- Member of the European Parliament, UEN, Latvia military relations, as well as the challenging Vice-Chairman, Subcommittee on Security and issues of instituting civilian and democratic Defence, European Parliament oversight and control mechanisms over a whole array of security institutions, including the police, gendarmerie, intelligence services and others. As noted by the European Commission’s 2005 Progress Report: “Turkey has made good progress in reforming civil-military relations (…) in addition to the reforms to the legal and institutional framework, it is important that the civilian authorities fully exercise their supervisory functions in practice. Further efforts 8 REVIEWS “Unfortunately the discussion of many key for others to follow. I congratulate DCAF and issues relating to the security sector is very TESEV for this great effort.” limited in Turkey. These include the discussion of the legitimate use of power in security issues, Martti Ahtisaari, the philosophy of both civilian and military Former President of Finland; organizations, the necessary provision of Chairman of the Independent Commission for resources for security as well as the increase in Turkey activity by the relevant organizations in the light of new threats and the conditions necessary to initiate reforms. Some important ideas such as “Democratic oversight of the security sector is how to unravel the curtain of secrecy over these one of the taboos in Turkish politics. activities, how to find a place for security by Historically, the military led the liberation simultaneously providing services within the effort and the founding of the republic. As a principles of the rule of law and making them staunch exponent of Turkey’s modernization subject to civilian control, do not even emerge in policies, most notably secularism, it is still the minds of many. The Almanac aims to help perceived by many as their true guarantor. In open a path for more equal sharing of contemporary times, the military and other knowledge and expertise; and to go beyond the security agencies have been engaged in an effort ‘race for power’ among the security sector’s to terminate separatist terrorism that has protagonists by promoting productive plagued the country with fluctuating intensity. collaboration. This book is not only the first in Under the circumstances, even introducing the the history of the republic, but also emerges as a topic is sometimes seen as an ill-intentioned brave, progressive, productive and thought- effort to demoralize Turkish security agencies provoking work that should be carefully and render them powerless. Despite such adverse examined to help transform Turkey.” circumstances, Cizre and her colleagues have managed to produce a detached and balanced Mehmet Dülger, study to which even those sympathizing with Member of Parliament and Chair, the taboo will find difficult to object.” Foreign Affairs Special Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly ‹lter Turan, Professor of Political Science, ‹stanbul Bilgi University “I welcome this timely and important contribution to bringing Turkey closer into the fold of European governance. A book like this, “... a comprehensive survey of recent events, both uniting civilian experts to analyse security sector those that are hopeful and those are a source of reform processes, sets an example of excellence concern, in Turkey's effort to establish a stable 9 and law-based system of civilian oversight of its attention of outside observers. Thus, it offers a armed forces.” solid base for any serious analytical work as regards the dynamics of civil-military relations Walter B. Slocombe, in Turkey. I would recommend it as very useful Formerly Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, reading for researchers as well as practitioners US Department of Defense (1994-2001) dealing with the security sector.” Ambassador Gregor Zore, “Civil-military relations in Turkey have Head of Operations, DCAF Geneva undergone great and constructive changes during the past few years, which, if continued, will also have a positive impact on the accession “The book gives a good picture of recent negotiations with the European Union. In this developments in the Security Sector in Turkey. context it will be very important, building on the The openness with which the topics are discussed goodwill which the Turkish military possess in makes it an important, and positive, society,