Ankara sees that tension, and has sought balance by seeking strategic and economic alliance with its Eastern neighbors, in the hope that this approach might yield a more secure political place.
"He said it is now 14 years since the demise of the eastern European countries and obviously, with a Christian-like approach, it's now time to move on, " said Davies.
The first step in that multi-decade process is for the Middle Kingdom to secure control of the eastern seas adjacent to its territory the most likely path of approach for major military attacks.
Is this proposed venture representative of the approach our allies will take in the event the present controls on technology transfer to the Eastern bloc are relaxed?
The Center urges Secretary Moore to demonstrate in his remarks that the Bush Administration is cognizant of the substantial risks for Eastern Europe involved in Moscow's energy leverage and that it will be following a prudent and comprehensive approach toward minimizing the exposure of both new and older democracies to Soviet exploitation of this leverage.