TREATY OF LAUSANE AND TURKEY BEYOND 2023

1. INTRODUCTION:

As the expiration of 100 years’ international peace agreement named

“Treaty of Lausanne” by 2023 is approaching speedly, debates among
various global geo-political and geo-strategic thinkers are gaining
momentum. The Treaty of Lausanne ended the conflict and defined the
borders of the modern Turkish Republic. In the treaty, Turkey gave up
all claims to the remainder of the Ottoman Empire and in return the
Allies recognized Turkish sovereignty within its new borders. it will seek
to play an influential role in regional conflict resolution.
 2. AIM

Turkey aims to achieve all EU membership conditions and become an

influential EU member state by 2023. Second, it will continue to strive
for regional integration, in the form of security and economic
cooperation. Third, it will seek to play an influential role in regional
conflict resolution. Fourth, it will vigorously participate in all global
arenas. Fifth, it will play a determining role in international
organizations and become one of the top 10 largest economies in the
world. To achieve them, Turkey must make progress in all directions
and in every field, take an interest in every issue related to global
stability, and contribute accordingly.

3. SCOPE

The 2023 is a list of goals released by the administration of Prime

Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2010 and 2011, to coincide with the
centenary of the Republic of Turkey in 2023. Become one of the top ten
world economies by 2023,Build 20,000 Megawatt installed capacity of
wind energy and 600 Megawatt installed capacity of geothermal
energy. Turkey's foreign policy objectives and vision as articulated by
former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Health care: 100 percent
participation in health insurance systems Raise the number of
physicians per 100,000 people to 210 physicians (175 currently).

Transporte: Build 11 thousand kilometers of new railway and expand

the high-speed train network Build 15 thousand kilometers of divided
highway Grow ports to number among world's 10 largest Domestically
produced airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite. Tourism be
the fifth largest tourist destination. Host 50 million visitors Obtain
US$50 billion of tourism revenue.

4. EXPLANTATION

The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty negotiated during the

Lausanne Conference of 1922–23 and signed in the Palais de Rumine
Lausanne, Switzerland, on 24 July 1923. It officially settled the conflict
that had originally existed between the Ottoman Empire and the Allied
French Republic, British Empire, Kingdom of Italy, Empire of Japan,
Kingdom of Greece, and the Kingdom of Romania since the onset of
World War I. The original text of the treaty is in French. It was the result
of a second attempt at peace after the failed Treaty of Sèvres. The
earlier treaty had been signed in 1920, but later rejected by the Turkish
national movement who fought against its terms. The Treaty of
Lausanne ended the conflict and defined the borders of the modern
Turkish Republic. In the treaty, Turkey gave up all claims to the
remainder of the Ottoman Empire and in return the Allies recognized
Turkish sovereignty within its new borders. It provided for the Greek-
Turkish population exchange and allowed unrestricted civilian passage
through the Turkish Straits but not military; this would happen with the
Montreux Convention. Now ,Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has emerged as a
vibrant, dynamic and a vigorous leader to international prominence in
all political spheres and domains. His unswerving commitments and
solid determinations solely lie in making the Turkey great again, striving
to pursue much more assertive and nationalistic foreign policy which is
the indicative of Turkey’s resurgence to past glorious Ottoman Empire.
Speaking at the 5th Anatolian Media Awards ceremony, President
Erdoğan said, “We work day and night to achieve Turkey’s goals for
2023 in accordance with the responsibility we have undertaken and the
promise we have made. He also declared that, era beyond 2023 will be
a new epoch of countless resounding victories and conquests, enabling
us to transform the future of entire region as per our will.

Termination of above mentioned treaty by 2023 has given birth to so

many questions in our minds. As whether Turkey will be able to reclaim
its lost empire? Will it be in position to thrive economically? Will it
emerge as dominant power across Europe and middle east? Will it still
be the member of NATO? To answer all aforementioned queries, we
have to comprehend the prevailing geo-political dynamics by delving
deep into the historic perspective of Lausanne agreement signed on 24,
July, 1923 until 24, July, 2023.The Ottoman Empire was one of the
mightiest and longest-lasting dynasties in world history. This Islamic-run
superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and
North Africa for more than 600 years, from 13th century to until 20th
century. During the rule, the empire started to decline for several
reasons which include its over dependence on agriculture than making
advancements in industrial sectors, majority of population was
uneducated, lack of research, heterogeneous nature of all units with
blend of multiple ethnicities under empire, so unable to incorporate
into a single whole, destructive rivalry with Soviet Union and finally
choosing the wrong side of Germany, Bulgaria and Austro-hungry as
central powers in First World War, became the significant cause of its
demise with severe defeat at the hands of allied powers including Great
Britain, France, Italy, Russia and Japan.
Right after the fall of empire, “Treaty of Severe was signed between
allied powers and Ottoman Empire on 10, August 1920, which actually
marked the beginning of partition and dismemberment from the
empire. The Treaty ceded large parts of Ottoman territory to France,
the United Kingdom, Greece, and Italy, and created large occupation
zones within the Ottoman state. However, this peace accord was totally
unacceptable for the then Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, and this ignited the
turks war of independence led by Kamal to defeat the combined armies
of the signatories of the Treaty of Severe. In that bloody war Turks
achieved a tremendous victory especially on Greece between 1922 to
1923, paving the way for Treaty of Lausanne. “Treaty of Lausanne” an
international peace agreement signed on July 24 in 1923 in the “Beau
Rivage Plus” hotel, Lausanne, Switzerland. Signatories of the Treaty are
the victorious powers of the First World War, especially Britain, France
and Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. On the basis of this treaty, the
Ottoman Empire was divided, new boundaries were demarcated which
led to the establishment of the Turkish modern national state under the
presidency of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk with Ankara as its capital. Turkey
had to renounce its sovereignty over Cyprus, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq
and the Levant, Macedonia, except cities were located in Syria, such as
Urfa, Adana and Gaziantep and Kells and Mrash. This also led to the
demarcation of Greece and Bulgaria’s borders with the Turkish state,
which maintained the annexation of Istanbul. As per treaty clauses,
Turkey was restricted from drilling oil and natural resources. Water of
Bosphorus was declared as international route and opened for
shipping.

Treaty of severe was abolished. New laws and principles were

established for Turkish water straits, traffic rules, and navigations. It is
perceived that, world community is paying an enormous Amount of
attention to the expiry of Lausanne Treaty, now a days. According to
International Laws, the stipulated treaties, automatically come to their
conclusion after 100 years. But here, also exists two school of thoughts,
one which favors the expiration after 100 years and the other one
opposes and adamant on a believe that once an International treaty or
an agreement is signed, it cannot be expired as long as the signatory
countries are existing. They are of the view that if so happens, Treaty of
Versailles would have ended till now, which has exceeded its 100 years,
which was signed in 28, june 1919.

However, If the “Treaty of Lausanne” is invalidated by 2023, it will

definitely leverage the position of Turkey to a considerable extent. It
will have the right of drilling oil on its own soil. Turkey will also collect
toll from every ship in return for using her water channel Bosphorus
Strait. There will be greater number of chances for the Turkey to be
relinquished frim NATO countries. It will independently formulate its
laws and policies. All these perks will certainly add to its sphere of
influence across the region. Turkey will surely thrive economically upto
an extent.

Notwithstanding, reverting to the era of Ottoman Empire and regaining

control on lost territories seems a distant and an impracticable move.
For instance, if it had been an easier endeavour to acquire back and
dominate the lost areas, today’s Russia would have returned to Soviet
Union with poland and Central Asian Republics as its part. Likewise,
India, Pakistan and some other smaller nations would have become a
part of United Kingdom until now. Germany would have become a
Kingdom. Secondly, today’s political paradigms are in a sharp contrast
to that of past happenings. Now, all those states, once part of Ottoman
Empire, have been flourished democratically, they are economically
strengthened, and are in strong position to defend their territorial
integrity and not to let their sovereignty be compromised.

Nevertheless, as 2023 is drawing nearer, Erdogan is being found more

active and energetic, involved in regional politics in order to have his
say on world prominence. Events, alluding to the recent conversion of
Hagia Sofia museum into Mosque on 24, July, 2020, purchase of S-400
missile defense system from Russia instead of US, a military operation,
named Olive Branch on 20, January, 2018, against majority-Kurdish
Afrin District of northwest Syria. Similarly, Operation Euphrates Shield,
conducted by Turkish forces in Syrian Civil War leading to the Turks
occupation of northern Syria, are all the indications linked to Turkey as
an active player on all fronts.

Realising Erdogan augmenting Turkey’s influence across the region and

looking forward to lead Muslim world, west and its allies are in severe
state of pain and trauma. In addition, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have
never been in cordial relations due to their divergence over numerous
issues including their varying positions on Palestine Issue, issue of an
open opposition by Turkey to the ouster of Egyptian President
Mohammad Morsi which was manoeuvred by Saudi Arabia and the
United States. Moreover, Turkey’s and Saudi Arabia’s divergent
perspectives and interests regarding the Syrian Civil war have brought
both countries to an antagonism. The perplexities of the conflict have
drawn Turkey closer to Russia and its allies China and Iran. However,
The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia, stand united on the opposite
side. Anyhow, China, Russia and Iran nexus seems to be a better fit for
Turkey than NATO or any other alliance. To encapsulate, envisaging the
emerging geopolitical realities, Pakistan should also revisit her foreign
policy and formulate a grave strategy to catch the opportunities which
Turkey is going to offer in the days to come. It should devise a holistic
plan comprising of two phases pre-2023 era and post 2023 era. In
addition, Pakistan should also study Turkish market in order to export
required products. As per changing scenarios, Turkey can be conceived
as best alternative to Pakistan than Saudi Arabia. both, Pakistan and
Turkey, can seek mutual cooperation in various fields including
development of military arsenals, trade and commerce, engineering
and industrial zones, infrastructure development, tourism industry,
areas of medicine and lots more.
 5. RECOMMENDATION

Another more neutral aspect of the treaty was the agreement that all
religious minorities should be able to have their own religious and
educational institutions, while being allowed to elect their own
religious leaders. This has not been honoured by Greece, however, as it
has constantly blocked its Turkish Muslim minority of 150,000 from
electing their own leaders and imams since the 1990s, with the state
picking them for the community instead. At a time when Turkey is once
again asserting its rights and role in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well
as battling for its relations with the EU, the effects of the Treaty of
Lausanne can be felt to this day. With its expiry date on 24 July, 2023, it
will set the precedent for Turkey's new regional role, and its Vision
2023 will mark a century since the end of the Ottoman Empire.
 6. CONCLUSION

The eve of the centennial anniversary of the Turkish republic is

conspicuous indicative of the fact that something revolutionary is about
to happen after 2023. He declared that Turkey will shape the future of
the entire region when it reaches its goals for 2023. Turkey is on the
threshold of new victories and successes.