CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 2 )
The second case was the period of the coalition governments of 1994-97 , when in 3 years 7 persons successively acted as Minister of Foreign Affairs , which accordingly affected the effectiveness of the Ministry ’ s work . However , in the years that followed , the MFA gradually started to regain its role in foreign policy decision-making in Turkey . With A . Davutoğlu as Foreign Minister , it became one of the driving forces of Turkey ’ s foreign policy also due to the inclusion of academic capabilities in its formulation as a result of activities of the MFA ’ s Center of Strategic Research and the Foundation of Political , Economic and Social Research ( SETAV ). 57 This active role of the MFA in decision-making started to decrease after M . Cavuşoğlu became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2014 , but the ministry remained the main body implementing state foreign policy .
The NSC and military in the foreign policy making process
The formation of the National Security Council was envisaged by the Constitution of 1961 as a supportive body to the Council of Ministers on issues concerning national security . 58 The Constitution also guaranteed the inclusion of the Turkish Armed Forces in the NSC . Later , as per the “ Law on National Security Council ” of 1962 , the composition of the NSC was clarified with the Head of Turkish General Staff and the Commanders of the Land , Naval and Air Forces included in it . 59 The Constitutional amendments of 1971 specified the NCS as a consultative body to the Council of Ministers . 60
The Constitution of 1982 further enhanced the role of the NSC in the process of defining , adopting and implementing the national security policy of Turkey . According to this constitution , the Council of Ministers was obliged to consider the adoption of decisions regarding the issues defined as important ones by the NSC on a priority basis . Moreover , the Constitution also specified the composition of the NSC as follows : the President ( Chair ), the Prime Minister , the Head of General Staff ,
57
Ali Balcı , Türkiye Dış Politikası : İlkeler , Aktörler ve Uygulamalar , 3 . Baskı ( Alfa : 2017 ), 318-320 . 58 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasası 1961 , article 111 . 59 Millî Güvenlik Kurulu Kanunu , Kanun No ։ 129 Kabul Tarihi ։ 11.12.1962 , Resmî
Gazete , 19.12.1962 , Sayı : 11286 , article 1 , https :// www . resmigazete . gov . tr / arsiv / 11286 . pdf . 60 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasasının bazı maddelerinin değiştirilmesi ve geçici maddeler
eklenmesi hakkında Anayasa Değişikliği Kanunu , Kanun No : 1488 , Kabul Tarihi : 20 / 09 / 1971 , Resmi Gazete : 22.09.1971 , Sayı : 13964 , article 1 , https :// www . resmigazete . gov . tr / arsiv / 13964 . pdf . See the part concerning changes in Article 111 . 44