United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and role of Turkish Army

Building a peace and security environment remains as the biggest problem of humanity waiting for a solution. United Nations is the most crucial organisation working towards this aim. United Nations?s first priority task is to develop international peace and security. When an international conflict cannot be resolved or reaches a point where it threatens international pecae and security, United Nations as the only responsible body, takes measures ranging from international disputes to use of military force.In between these two, United Nations?s also conducts peacekeeping operations, which started in 1948 with international conflicts. Peacekeeping operations, which started in 1948 with international observation missions, evolved in time to include a range of different types of operations. Although Peacekeeping operations operations proved unsuccessful in some cases such as in Bosnia Herzegovina, it stil is an important means to protect international peace and security. Turkey?s participation in world peace has increased in the post cold-war era, as a result in the changes in security requirements. Turkey, with her widened area of inluence, has undertaken increasing role in peacekeeping operations conducted by international and religional organisations, in line with her main principals in foreign policy. International organisations demand that Turkish Army participates in all peacekeeping operations and observation missions even with a symbolic presence.Turkish Army participated in number of operations conducted in very different geographical locations, ranging from Kosova to Afghanistan, from Lebanon to Bosnia Herzegovina. Increased participation in peacekeeping operations results in a more effective Turkish foreign policy and serves as a proof of her role as a stabilization mission in world peace.