84
the rise and the use of natural gas in homes and industries is revealed to have been
more beneficial than using natural gas to generate electricity (www.adb.org, 2016).
From the perspective of EU, in terms of energy supplies, Turkey would be a more
reliable transit country than Ukraine. However, Turkey requires higher levels of
investment in infrastructure so that it can fulfill this role in terms of natural gas storage facilities, tanks, and refineries (www.foreignpolicy.com 2017a, b, c).
Turkish Construction Companies
Turkish business interests in the region are most evident in Turkmenistan, from
where China imports most of its gas. Turkey enjoys preferential treatment in
Turkmenistan, which normally allows a few foreign companies to invest and operate within its borders. Turkey is an exception to this rule, and according to Turkish
officials, over 600 Turkish companies are registered in the country. Turkish construction companies play an important role in a number of mega projects in
Turkmenistan, with Turkey’s Polimeks holding contacts on Turkmenistan’s two
major projects, the new, $2 billion Ashgabat Airport, and a sports complex estimated to be worth $3.5 billion (www.thediplomat.com 2016a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i).
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkey was the first country which recognize the independence of all Central Asia states. Turkey attempted to shape and
expand its relations by increasing the number of official and diplomatic exchanges
with the region, announcing potential business deals, promoting free capital flow,
and promoting an investment culture in the region, pursuing a general deepening of
economic and trade relations (Wheeler 2013:3). In 2002, after Justice and
Development Party came to power, a number of scholarships were offered to students from Central Asia, and study in Turkey increased, while Turkish satellite TV
channels began to be broadcast into the region and more frequent flights were established by Turkish Airlines (Wheeler 2013:3). Ankara’s relations with fellow Turkic
nations has remained a constant focus, and the mutual benefits gained in the last
20 years have been of global significance (www.tika.gov.tr 2016).
Over the course of Abdullah Gül’s presidency between 2007 and 2014 Turkey’s
relations with Central Asian states entered a particularly positive phase. Farkhad
Alimukhamedov believes that the “AKP policy towards the CARs was given a new
impetus with the 2007 election to the Presidency of the Republic of Abdullah Gül,
who made Central Asia a priority of his own foreign policy agenda.” According to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Policy toward Central Asia since
this time has consisted of the following five components (Alimukhamedov 2016:3):
• Initiating bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy,
commerce, culture, society, politics, etc.
• Assisting in finding a peaceful solution to regional conflicts.
• Serving as an energy terminal.
• Aiding countries in their state-building processes.
3 International Context of the New Era and the Caspian Sea Region
the rise and the use of natural gas in homes and industries is revealed to have been
more beneficial than using natural gas to generate electricity (www.adb.org, 2016).
From the perspective of EU, in terms of energy supplies, Turkey would be a more
reliable transit country than Ukraine. However, Turkey requires higher levels of
investment in infrastructure so that it can fulfill this role in terms of natural gas storage facilities, tanks, and refineries (www.foreignpolicy.com 2017a, b, c).
Turkish Construction Companies
Turkish business interests in the region are most evident in Turkmenistan, from
where China imports most of its gas. Turkey enjoys preferential treatment in
Turkmenistan, which normally allows a few foreign companies to invest and operate within its borders. Turkey is an exception to this rule, and according to Turkish
officials, over 600 Turkish companies are registered in the country. Turkish construction companies play an important role in a number of mega projects in
Turkmenistan, with Turkey’s Polimeks holding contacts on Turkmenistan’s two
major projects, the new, $2 billion Ashgabat Airport, and a sports complex estimated to be worth $3.5 billion (www.thediplomat.com 2016a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i).
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkey was the first country which recognize the independence of all Central Asia states. Turkey attempted to shape and
expand its relations by increasing the number of official and diplomatic exchanges
with the region, announcing potential business deals, promoting free capital flow,
and promoting an investment culture in the region, pursuing a general deepening of
economic and trade relations (Wheeler 2013:3). In 2002, after Justice and
Development Party came to power, a number of scholarships were offered to students from Central Asia, and study in Turkey increased, while Turkish satellite TV
channels began to be broadcast into the region and more frequent flights were established by Turkish Airlines (Wheeler 2013:3). Ankara’s relations with fellow Turkic
nations has remained a constant focus, and the mutual benefits gained in the last
20 years have been of global significance (www.tika.gov.tr 2016).
Over the course of Abdullah Gül’s presidency between 2007 and 2014 Turkey’s
relations with Central Asian states entered a particularly positive phase. Farkhad
Alimukhamedov believes that the “AKP policy towards the CARs was given a new
impetus with the 2007 election to the Presidency of the Republic of Abdullah Gül,
who made Central Asia a priority of his own foreign policy agenda.” According to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Policy toward Central Asia since
this time has consisted of the following five components (Alimukhamedov 2016:3):
• Initiating bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy,
commerce, culture, society, politics, etc.
• Assisting in finding a peaceful solution to regional conflicts.
• Serving as an energy terminal.
• Aiding countries in their state-building processes.
3 International Context of the New Era and the Caspian Sea Region