U.S. State Secretary Powell Sends Message To Inauguration Ceremony Of New U.S. Consulate General In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell said on Thursday that Turkey was headed to Europe and that they would encourage and strongly support Turkey's future in Europe while they maintained close bilateral ties.
Powell sent a message to the inauguration ceremony of the new building of U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul.
In the message read out by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, Powell said that Istanbul was compared to his native city, New York, by so many people.
Powell noted that both cities were indeed world cities.
Stating that both cities were treasure houses of art and architecture and civilization but they also had been and continue to be constantly enriched by the energy and creativity of so many people who came from elsewhere, Powell went on saying, ''the United States and Turkey are great nations. As Ataturk said, we have both been inspired by democratic ideals, and this experience indeed deepens our friendship. Both Turks and Americans are focused on the future, a future that will be a very bright one for the Turkish people despite the many challenges you face today. It will be bright for the same reason that my country's future is bright because innovative people freed to use their creativity and initiative can produce wonders.''
Powell said, ''today, you are standing in a concrete symbol, literally, of our commitment to the future, to Istanbul, to Turkey, to our presence here, and to our friendship with you.''
''I understand it took us a bit longer than the four months it took to build one of your most important and enduring monuments, Rumeli Hisari. Then again, I am not Mehmet the Conqueror. Bureaucracies move somewhat more slowly these days,'' Powell stated.
Touching on Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership in his message, Powell said, ''Turkey is headed to Europe, as it modernizes and undertakes political, economic, and administrative reforms. We will encourage and strongly support Turkey's future in Europe, while we maintain close bilateral ties. That is the future for Turkey, and Europe should welcome its future with Turkey as an integral part.''
Emphasizing that Turks and Americans had faced and still faced the threat of terrorism, Powell said, ''this new building is in large part a response to terrorism. Its beauty and robustness stand as a rebuke to the terrorists, who seek to drive us out or close us down.''
In his message, Powell thanked those who contributed to construction of the building.
(BRC-AÖ) 12.06.2003