Turgut Özal’ın Orta Asya (Türkistan) Politikası
Turgut Özal’s Central Asia (Turkestan) Policy

Summary/Abstract: In this article, Turkey's Central Asia/Turkestan policy during the Turgut Özal Period (1983-1993) is discussed. The mentioned period covers Özal's term as Prime Minister (1983-1991) and President (1991-1993). Contrary to the Cold War years, the Özal era represents a period in which Turkey pursued a relatively independent course in its Turkestan policy. In this study, Özal's Turkestan policy is covered in all its details. Against this backdrop, the strategies developed by Turkey for the region are analyzed, with a special focus on the speeches of this leader at the Summits of Heads of Turkishspeaking Countries. Özal’s Turkestan policy, which comprises the first part of the study evaluates the innovative dimensions of the leader's foreign policy as well as the general framework and principles of his foreign policy vision. In the second part titled "Socio-economic Relations in the Period of Turgut Özal"; examples of socio-economic relations developed between Turkey and the Turkestani Republics are cited on a case to case basis. In the third part of the article; the subjects discussed, and the results presented at the Turkish Republics Summits, which were organized through Özal’s personal initiative and continued after his death are mentioned. The fourth part deals with Özal’s policy towards the region based on his statements and speeches about Turkestani issues during his period as prime minister and president.

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