POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ALBANIA IN THE POST COLD WAR PERIOD A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY MEHMED SÜLKÜ IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FEBRUARY 2010 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences _____________________ Prof. Dr. Sencer AYATA Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. _____________________ Prof. Dr. Meliha ALTUNIŞIK Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. _____________________ Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk YALVAÇ Supervisor Examining Committee Members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk YALVAÇ (METU,IR) _____________________ Prof. Dr. Mustafa TÜRKEŞ (METU,IR) _____________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Kürşad ERTUĞRUL (METU,ADM) _____________________ ii I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name: Mehmed SÜLKÜ Signature: iii ABSTRACT POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ALBANIA IN THE POST COLD WAR PERIOD Sülkü, Mehmed M. Sc., International Relations Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk YALVAÇ February 2010, 115 pages This thesis analyzes the political relations between Turkey and Albania in the post Cold War period. Political and diplomatic relations between Turkey and Albania based on mutual respect for territorial integrity and independence. This study analyzes the continuities and changes in the Turkish foreign policy towards Albania in the post Cold War era. Also changes and continuities in the Albanian foreign policy in the post Cold War period are scrutinized. This work examines the main Turkish foreign policy approaches towards Albania. Patterns of Turkish Balkan policy are examined to find out how Turkey constructed its foreign policy towards Albania after the end of Cold War. Turkey continued its traditional foreign policy according to realist and national interest-based foreign policy formulation. After 1990, Albania was in a period of a transition from its sui generis communist dictatorship regime under Enver Hoxha to an emerging democracy. Albania considered Turkey as a reliable ally in the Balkans. Turkey attached strong importance to stability and security in the Balkan region. Albania has significant role to play in Balkan region. Thus Turkey welcomed the Albanian decision on membership application to NATO and EU. Turkey tried to strength its bilateral relations with Albania and supported Albania’s participation in regional and international organizations. This study focuses on the relations of Turkey and Albania within the framework of international and regional organizations. Keywords: Turkey and Albania, Turkish Balkan Policy, 1997 Pyramid Crises, Kosovo Issue, Greater Albania. iv ÖZ SOĞUK SAVAŞ SONRASI DÖNEMDE TÜRKİYE ARNAVUTLUK SİYASİ İLİŞKİLERİ Sülkü, Mehmed Yüksek Lisans, Uluslararası İlişkiler Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. Faruk YALVAÇ Şubat 2010, 115 sayfa Bu tez Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde Türkiye ile Arnavutluk'un siyasi ilişkilerini incelemektedir. Türkiye ve Arnavutluk'un siyasi ve diplomatik ilişkileri her iki ülkenin toprak bütünlükleri ile bağımsızlıklarına duydukları karşılıklı saygı temeline dayanmaktadır. Bu çalışma Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde, Arnavutluk’a yönelik Türk dış politikasındaki devamlılık ve değişimi analiz etmektedir. Ayrıca aynı dönemde Arnavutluk’un dış politikasındaki devamlılık ve değişim incelenecektir. Türkiye’nin Balkan siyasetindeki teamülleri irdelenerek Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde Türkiye’nin Arnavutluk’a karşı izlediği dış politikanın nasıl oluşturulduğu araştırılmaktadır. Türkiye bu dönemde gerçekçi ve ulusal çıkara dayalı geleneksel dış politikasını sürdürmüştür. 1990 sonrasında Arnavutluk Enver Hoca yönetimindeki kendi şahsına münhasır komünist-diktatörlük rejiminden yeni oluşmakta olan bir demokrasiye geçişi yaşıyordu. Arnavutluk Türkiye'yi Balkanlar'daki güvenilir bir müttefiki olarak değerlendirmekteydi. Türkiye Balkan bölgesindeki istikrar ve güvenliğe özel önem atfetmektedir. Arnavutluk Balkanlar bölgesinde önemli bir role sahiptir. Türkiye Arnavutluk'un NATO ve AB'ye üyelik başvurularını memnuniyetle karşılamaktadır. Türkiye Arnavutluk ile ikili ilişkilerini geliştirmeye özen göstermekte ve Arnavutluk'un bölgesel ve uluslararası örgütlerde yer almasını desteklemektedir. Bu çalışma Türkiye ile Arnavutluk'un uluslararası ve bölgesel örgütler çerçevesindeki ilişkilerini de incelemektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Türkiye ve Arnavutluk, Türkiye'nin Balkan Politikası, 1997 Piramit Krizi, Kosova Sorunu, Büyük Arnavutluk. v To my family. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAGIARISM……………………………………………………….………………iii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………..…………………..iv ÖZ…………………………………….……………………………………………....v DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………….vi TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………...vii ACRONYMS...………...………………………………………………………….....ix CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 2. POST COLD WAR PERIOD ................................................................................. 7 2.1. Albania: Background and Brief History in the Cold War Period .................... 7 2.2. Albania after the Collapse of Communism ................................................... 16 2.3. Foreign Policy of Democratic Party and General Background of Cooperation…………………………………………………21 2.3.1. Greater Albania Project and Albanian Question in the Balkans Cold War Period (1945-1990) ...................................................................... 26 2.3.2 Kosovo Issue …. .................................................................................. 29 2.3.3. 1997 Pyramid Crisis ............................................................................ 38 2.4. Political relations between Turkey and Albania after the end of Cold War .. 42 2.4.1. Turkish Foreign Policy towards Balkans after the end of Cold War ... 42 2.4.2. Political Relations between Turkey and Albania ................................ 63 i. Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) ......................................... 69 ii. Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) ................................. 71 iii. NATO .................................................................................................. 74 iv. EU ........................................................................................................ 79 2.5. Economic Relations of Turkey and Albania………………..…………….…84 2.5.1. Economic Outlook of Albania after 1990 ............................................ 84 vii 2.5.2. Economic Relations between Turkey and Albania .............................. 91 2.6. TİKA’s Activities and Projects in Albania………………………………….98 3. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 105 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………110 viii ACRONYMS BSEC :Black Sea Economic Cooperation CARDS :The Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization CSCE :Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe DP :Democratic Party EBRD :European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ESDP :European Security and Defense Policy EULEX :The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo FP :Foreign Policy FRY :Federal Republic of Yugoslavia GDP :Gross Domestic Product OIC :Organization for Islamic Conference IMF :International Monetary Fund IPA :Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance KFOR :Kosovo Force KLA-UÇK :Kosovo Liberation Army NSDI :National Strategy for Development and Integration OSCE :The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PfP :Partnership for Peace PHARE :Poland and Hungary Aid for Restructuring of Economies ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This thesis aims to analyze the political relations between Turkey and Albania in the post Cold War period. After the collapse of communist regimes in the Balkan region, multi-ethnic/religious Balkan countries transformed their political, economic and social structures very rapidly. Struggles for formation of independent states brought some new wars, clashes and chaotic realms within this region. Transition to democracy was also another challenging issue for Balkan states. Interstate relations of Balkan countries and international interventions into the region enforced Turkey to follow an active foreign policy approach towards the region. Within this context of political developments, relations of Turkey and Albania entered into a new era. The main aim of this thesis is to analyze the continuities and changes in the Turkish foreign policy towards Albania in the post Cold War era. Also changes and continuities in the Albanian foreign policy in the post Cold War period will be scrutinized throughout the thesis. Main tenets of Turkish foreign policy towards Albania were almost identical to Turkey’s overall Balkan policy. Main objective of Turkish Balkan policy was to endure stability and peace in the region. Bearing this main objective in mind Turkey developed its bilateral relations with Albania immediately after the end of Albanian isolationist policies following the death of Enver Hoxha. Turkey until the mid 1990s rapidly increased its political, military and economic ties with Albania. This work examines the main Turkish foreign policy approaches towards Albania. Patterns of Turkish Balkan policy will be examined to find out how Turkey constructed its foreign policy towards Albania after the end of Cold War. Besides the new definitions about Turkish foreign policy and Turkey’s role in the Balkan region that are started to be expressed with the active foreign policy initiative of Özal, pro 1