Ziyal: Turkish - U.S. Strategic Relations Are On The Right Track And Robust

WASHINGTON - Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal said on Tuesday that ''strategic relations'' between Turkey and the United States were ''on the right track and robust.''
Speaking in a meeting held in a think-tank named American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, Ziyal said that there were not any differences between Turkey and the United States. He noted, ''there is strategic partnership between us. There are common goals.''
Ziyal recalled that U.S. State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman emphasized strategic partnership in their press statement the day before and confidence was the most important thing between the two countries.
''Strategic partnership is on the right track and robust,'' Ziyal said.
Ziyal stated that he once more confirmed that relations with the United States were ''more meaningful and stronger'' in his contacts in that country.
Noting that there were important problems between the two countries in the past like Johnson letter and embargo on Turkey, Ziyal recalled that all those problems could be overcome.
Ziyal pointed out that Turkey and the United States should further improve their strategic friendship and emphasized importance of a closer cooperation between the U.S. Congress and Turkish Parliament and programs like trade, media and student exchange.
Turkey was ready to contribute to the United States in restructuring of the Middle East, Ziyal said.
Ziyal drew the attention to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's call to the Middle Eastern countries for democracy in the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit and to his warning that ''firstly, their homes should be cleaned.'' He stressed that Turkey would do its best with that understanding.
Turkey, which was close to both Israeli and Palestinian peoples, could contribute to solution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Ziyal said.
Underlining importance of Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, Ziyal hoped that the EU would decide that Turkey had met Copenhagen criteria and start membership negotiations at the end of 2004.
Ziyal emphasized that Turkey's closeness to the EU would not contradict with its closeness to the United States.
Asked if there was a foreign policy adopted by all Turkish institutions, Ziyal said, ''it is an interesting question. Individuals express their views in every democratic process. I represent views of a united foreign policy. I don't think there is a contradiction among Turkish institutions. We saw the supremacy of the decision of the parliament in the voting held on March 1. Everybody accepted that result within the framework of legal rules. This shows that Turkey's democracy has improved.''
Answering a question about the economic situation in Turkey, Ziyal said that economy was recovering gradually thanks to International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance and measures of the government.
Ziyal stated that the United States had extended great support to Turkey to overcome its economic problems and that it could be worse if the United States did not extend that support.
Replying questions about contacts of the Foreign Ministry with the Armenian diaspora, Ziyal drew the attention that there was dialogue between the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministries.
Ziyal stated that he did not think there was anything wrong in contacting with Armenian society in the United States.
Pointing out that talking helped solution of problems, Ziyal said that there was dialogue on the basis of rapprochement between Turkey and Greece.
Ziyal noted that Turkey wanted good neighborly relations with Armenia but two countries should exert efforts for that.
Stating that a dialogue was continued with Armenia at the moment, Ziyal pointed out that trilateral dialogue could be established in the future, including Azerbaijan.
Ziyal said that Iran and Syria were important because they were neighbors of Turkey and they had to be encouraged to play a positive role in the region.
There had been tension between Turkey and the two countries in the past but that tension was overcome, Ziyal noted.
Ziyal said that establishment of economic relations with neighbor Iran and Syria was important for Turkey.
He did not agree with the view that majority of Turkish people were against the United states, Ziyal noted.
Ziyal pointed out that the majority of Turkish people were against ''the concept of war.''
Attack on the U.S. Consulate in southern Adana province was not definitely a product of opposition to the United States, Ziyal said. He noted that the assailant had mental disorder.
Responding to a comment that democracy and Islam could not co-exist, Ziyal said that Turkey was ''a live evidence'' against such evaluations.
Prior to this meeting, Ziyal met with officials of American Turkish Council in breakfast.
Ziyal will meet with U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and U.S. State Department Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Alan Larson later in the day.
(BRC) 17.06.2003