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| Pipeline and seaport security (III) Saturday, July 15, 2006 Ali Külebi The U.S. very recently set up a military command center close to Baku on the Caspian Sea and two radio stations to be administered from that command center in close proximity to the Russian and Iranian border. The United States' purpose is to be able to keep suspicious vessels and planes as well as land operations under control and to monitor all wireless communication, including cellular phones. Applying this security measure set up at the starting point of the BTC pipeline against terrorist activity symmetrically in the Gulf of İskenderun region and even on northern Cypriot soil at Cape Zafer in Karpaz could be of great use in terms of security, and it would also signal the permanence of Turkey's presence in Cyprus. Our Southern Sea Field Command has an effective dominance in the eastern Mediterranean, where clearly more and more pipelines will lead to. However, in addition to such a military force, specialized units that can more effectively ensure seaport and shore security have been organized in developed countries. The Coast Guard Command, founded in Turkey in 1982 on a very sound decision, is the key power that can carry out this function. The role and power of our naval forces are acknowledged in NATO's Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean and other international operations carried out under BLACKSEAFOR and provide a high degree of security. Although the level of security in these two seas in general has reached a state of perfection, setting up a more effective system of control in the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean in accordance with changing conditions and taking precautions against elements posing risks and threats are important for our country in military, political and economic terms. The presence of a deterrent, preventive, effective and flexible security system against risks and threats to our economic assets and interests as well as against terrorist activity is a guarantee as important for states and institutions in economic cooperation with us as it is for us. While the dimension of current and potential threats is not of a scale our armed forces cannot tackle, our sea and land forces being better organized to combat terrorist activity, renewing equipment and training to this purpose are important in terms of continuation of oil and natural gas flow from Eurasia and building confidence for starting new projects in countries of the region. Effective security factors: Political issues in the eastern Mediterranean, the lack of authority and security in the countries of the region and the presence of terrorist organizations as well as the proximity of these to Ceyhan are issues meriting attention. Potential threats coming from the sea include transportation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), human, drug and arms trafficking, and terrorist activity. The possibility of vessels being used as instruments of terrorism should be paid attention to. It would be beneficial to enhance checkpoint security and have vessels entering our territorial waters file a declaration. Work on establishing a Sea Security Coordination Center should be intensified in this context. Radar, observation, listening and monitoring systems should be set up for control, which is more effective and deterring. Even though the inventory of the Coast Guard Command seems to be adequate for protecting and guarding our 8,300-kilometer-long coast line, the Ceyhan and Samsun ports will soon work at a higher capacity and, parallel to this, the volume of traffic in these ports will significantly intensify, increasing the burden at these two ports. Although five new AB412 helicopters, renovation of three CN-235 helicopters for coastal security purposes, 12 KAAN-33 coast guard boats and six coast guard type 80 boats, which are being planned to be added into the armed forces' inventory, would significantly help the command to carry out its duty as expected, it would be wise to rapidly and continuously renew equipment and platforms in accordance with the ever-hanging conditions. The intensive efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard for coastal security following the terrorist acts of Sept. 11 are important for proving the sensitivity of the issue as ports extending over a large area, and the fields where these ports open to the sea, allow terrorist organizations that try to make maximum use of today's advanced technology and weaponry to move comfortably. We need to grasp this fact and increase the number of flying platforms of the Coast Guard Command. Another issue worthy of attention is the possibility of criminal organizations draining toxic waste into areas close to our shores. As some circles speculate, the question of whether the amount of money Turkey will spend on all these security measures would be covered by the estimated $300 million from the BTC is a matter of mathematical calculation. However, ensuring the sustainable energy security of our country, which imports 72 percent of its energy and creates surplus value in the economy through rational policies, employing the advantages of Turkey's geopolitical significance and increasing the country's power and potential to supply energy for the rest of the world, is also important. Our gains will be worth the expense in any case and will allow Turkey to ascend higher in the world as it deserves as well as enhance our relations with the countries of the Caspian region and the Central Asian Turkic republics. Table: Inventory of the Turkish Coast Guard Command: Floating platforms: 12 - 80 Class boats 5 - Kaan-29 Class boats 18 - Kaan-15 Class boats 4 - SAR-35 Class boats 10 - SAR-33 Class boats 10 - Turkish-type boats 8 - 70-ton boats 10 - Metal coastal patrol craft Flight platforms: 9 - AB-412 EP helicopters 3 - CASA-CN 235 aircraft *Ali Külebi is acting president of the National Security Strategies Research Center (TUSAM). He can be contacted at akulebi@tusam.net |
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| Applying this security measure set up at the starting point of the BTC pipeline against terrorist activity symmetrically in the Gulf of İskenderun region and even on northern Cypriot soil at Cape Zafer in Karpaz could be of great use in terms of security, and it would also signal the permanence of Turkey's presence in Cyprus. |
| QUOTE (boulio @ Jul 21 2006, 03:35 PM) |
| well does the author believe that the pipeline and port are threatend by a EU COUNTRY(CYPRUS),IT IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.In THE LAST FEW DAYS WE HAVE SEEN Cyprus in action and thats to help people and countries not hurt them. |