Turkey, being located in between the Western and theEastern worlds, has been for many centuries a bridgeconnecting the two worlds. 'l'urkey's geographical locationalone has provided attraction for international rivalry. Thisfactor by itself gave Turkey possibilities to play off onerival against the other in the last century of the Ottomanperiod. As amatter of fact, no single power could standagainst the rivalry of so many great powers by militarymeans alone. Diplomacy was an inalienable means ofsafeguarding the sovereignty of any such nation whichwas the centre of attraction of such extensive internationalrivalry.it is therefore understandable why many foreign scholars have often described the Turks as "born diplomat~".Indeed, the Turks being in the easternmost of the Westand in the westernmost of the East have acquired both theWestern talents and the Eastern virtues. In the XIX. century,for. instance, Turkish diplomats like the Foreign MinisterKeçecizade Fuat Paşa rightfully won the admiration ofmany foreign colleagues.

Turkey, being located in between the Western and theEastern worlds, has been for many centuries a bridgeconnecting the two worlds. 'l'urkey's geographical locationalone has provided attraction for international rivalry. Thisfactor by itself gave Turkey possibilities to play off onerival against the other in the last century of the Ottomanperiod. As amatter of fact, no single power could standagainst the rivalry of so many great powers by militarymeans alone. Diplomacy was an inalienable means ofsafeguarding the sovereignty of any such nation whichwas the centre of attraction of such extensive internationalrivalry.it is therefore understandable why many foreign scholars have often described the Turks as "born diplomat~".Indeed, the Turks being in the easternmost of the Westand in the westernmost of the East have acquired both theWestern talents and the Eastern virtues. In the XIX. century,for. instance, Turkish diplomats like the Foreign MinisterKeçecizade Fuat Paşa rightfully won the admiration ofmany foreign colleagues.