President Sezer Makes Phone Call With U.S. President Bush

ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer talked to U.S. President George W. Bush who called him by phone on Monday.
Presidential Press Centre said that U.S. President Bush conveyed the condolences of the American administration and the people due to the earthquake disaster in Bingol, Turkey.
U.S. President Bush said that he was pleased with the recent developments in Cyprus, expressing his hope for finding a lasting solution to Cyprus problem.
Bush also told Sezer that the U.S. knew the sensitivity of Turkey regarding the protection of Iraq's territorial integrity and that the U.S. would insistently continue implementing its policy within this line.
President Sezer thanked U.S. President Bush who expressed condolences for the earthquake.
Noting that Turkey attributed great importance to cooperation with its friend and ally the U.S., President Sezer said that the Turkish-American partnership had to be further strengthened. Sezer stated that the two countries could also cooperate regarding the Iraqi issue.
President Sezer said that the recent developments about Cyprus were pleasing, adding that he sincerely hoped finding a solution on the island. President Sezer stressed that both sides had to approach the problem with the same understanding for finding a solution.
(ÖS) 05.05.2003