Turkey sees renewed threat from Russia

TEL AVIV -- Russia has become a major threat to Turkey's security as Moscow arms Ankara's enemies and supports Iran's missile program, a leading strategist says.

Gunduz Aktan, director of the Istanbul-based Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, told a Tel Aviv University conference on Turkey that Russia has resumed the hostile role played by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The two-day conference ended on Monday.

"Russia is once more becoming a major threat to Turkish security," Aktan said. "It has relationships with Armenia and Georgia. It is very active in Iran, providing missile technology to Tehran. It has provided the S-300 [anti-aircraft] missiles to Cyprus."

Aktan pointed to Iran's Shihab-3 missile program, with a range of 1,300 kilometers, which can strike large parts of Turkey as well as targets in Israel, an ally of Ankara. The strategist, however, did not forsee a military conflict with Tehran.

"We have stable borders with Iran," Aktan said. "That frontier is very important to us."

Aktan said Iran fears a Turkish response to any attack. He said half of Iran's population is of Turkish descent and Tehran fears a resurgence of ethnic feelings.

But Aktan said Tehran will continue to probe Turkey's weak spots, including providing aid to the Kurdish Workers Party, PKK. Last week, Abdulaziz Tunc, a member of the Hizbullah organization, has confessed to his Turkish captors that Iran is offering various sorts of training to members.

Hizbullah, which is not connected to the Lebanese Shi'ite organization, advocates the establishment of an Iranian-style Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey.

"Iran will always be up to mischief," he said. "There is nothing that we can do to satisfy them."

Regarding Kosovo, Aktan said he did not envision Turkey becoming a major influence in that former Yugoslav province. A former diplomat, Aktan said Ankara did not have the access or means to become a force in the Muslim province.

Ilter Turan, rector of Bilgi University in Istanbul, agreed. He said Turkey views Kosovo as a humanitarian issue. "I think Turkey will act as a good and reliable ally of NATO," Turan said.