Notes

In a similar manner, the Greek-Turkish disputes in Cyprus and the Aegean are rooted in regional legacies and realities. However, NATO found it difficult to take sides in an infra-alliance antagonism. It prevented a Greek-Turkish war, but did not solve the problems. Therefore, the sui generis nexus of alliance and antagonism between the two states continued in the post-Cold War era. The post-1999 bilateral rapprochement has now led to smooth Greek-Turkish co-operation. Moreover, in the new era additional factors became visible, such as the development of economic relations and the impact of civic society (Özel 2004). The Greek-Turkish rapprochement was largely facilitated by their common membership of the alliance, which continues to exert a stabilizing influence in this part of the world. In the post-Cold War era, NATO continued to offer invaluable channels for communication and for the establishment of confidence building measures.