ANKARA - Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Sermet Atacanli said on Friday that Turkish-U.S. relations were depended on sound bases, adding that problems were experienced from time to time, but those were overcome.
Speaking at a news briefing in Cankaya Palace, Atacanli emphasized upon a question regarding statements of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz that President was in no condition to make interpretation or give response to statements of a certain level officials in the United States or any other country.
Making general evaluation regarding views of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer about Turkish-American relations, Atacanli said that Sezer expressed his views to U.S. President George W. Bush on a phone call on Monday.
Noting that Turkey and the United States were very close friends and allies, Atacanli recalled that those alliance relations had a long past.
Atacanli said that very intensive relations were experienced in the last 50-60 years period and added, ''some problems or misunderstandings have been experienced in our relations with the United States from time to time during this period. But they were overcome. It is not possible to say that a hundred percent agreement was provided between Turkey and the United States due to Iraq issue. There were different points of view in some issues. We did not desire this intervention. We talked these issues very clearly with our American friends. There were some different points of view during the operation. Our approach to them is that sometimes difficulties can emerge between two countries which have friendly and alliance relations. Those exist in the nature of this relation. Not exaggerating those, will bring productive results in the aspect of settling these relations on a healthy level.''
''Turkey and the United States are two different independent countries. There is not a rule that two countries certainly have to think similarly in regional and international issues. There can of course be different points of view from time to time. But this does not mean that there are problems in relations,'' noted Atacanli. ''Neither we look at it from this point nor the point of view announced personally by U.S. President Bush and Secretary of State Powell is like this. Now, it is time to leave such debates behind and look at the future of relations between Turkey and the United States. And it would be the most appropriate thing to shape the future on basis of mutual benefits and cooperation especially in Iraq issue. Now, we have to overcome such issues. Relations between the two countries are based on concrete principles.''
(GC-MS-AÖ) 09.05.2003