ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for the United States late on Sunday.
State Minister Ali Babacan, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul are accompanying Prime Minister Erdogan during his visit to the United States.
Prime Minister Erdogan is expected to arrive in New York late on January 25. He will proceed to Washington D.C. on January 27 after spending two nights in New York.
Prime Minister Erdogan is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House on January 28. Later, President Bush will host a luncheon at the White House in honor of Prime Minister Erdogan.
During his three-day visit to Washington D.C., Prime Minister Erdogan will hold a series of meetings with officials of the U.S. government, U.S. Congress, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
He will come together with directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast meeting.
After attending the annual congress of Assembly of Turkish-American Associations on January 30, Prime Minister Erdogan will proceed to Boston to attend a conference at the Harvard University.
He is expected to return to Turkey on February 1.
Addressing journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport on Sunday prior to his departure for the United States, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I will pay an official visit to the United States upon invitation of U.S. President George W. Bush. Multi-dimensional relations between Turkey and the United States will be assessed in detail during this visit. Therefore, relevant ministers, deputies, bureaucrats, representatives of private sector and journalists are accompanying me.''
Noting that he would have a program in New York on January 26, in Washington D.C. between January 27 and 29, and in Boston between January 30 and 31, Erdogan told reporters that he was scheduled to meet with U.S. President Bush and the other government officials including Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and secretaries of defense, treasury and trade.
''I will also hold meetings with high-level officials of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Besides these official talks, I will deliver speeches at Foreign Relations Council in New York, Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and at the Harward University in Boston. I will have the opportunity of coming together with Turkish and American businessmen and with representatives of Turkish community in the United States. I will attend annual meeting of the Assembly of American-Turkish Associations,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan noted, ''despite all ups and downs in bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States last year because of the Iraq crisis, stability has been preserved in our relations as a result of common-sense and positive approaches of leaders and parliaments of our countries. Friendship and partnership between Turkey and the United States have been further deepening and progressing on the basis of mutual understanding and common interests.''
Stressing that bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States had gained more importance and priority due to recent developments both in the world and in the region, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''we believe that efforts to further improve relations with the United States in every fields should be intensified. This visit will constitute an important opportunity to hold high-level talks over many issues prior to the NATO Summit to be held in Istanbul in June. These issues will include Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process.''
''In addition to our bilateral and international relations, fight against terrorism has become a significant co-operation between Turkey and the United States following the September 11th events,'' he said.
Noting that economic and commercial relations between the two countries were far away from their existing potential, Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that Turkey attributed great importance to further development of economic and commercial relations with the United States. During the meetings with Turkish and American businessmen, we will have the opportunity of informing them on recent developments in Turkish economy and investment opportunities in Turkey.''
When asked, ''President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has some reservations about recent developments on the Cyprus issue. It was stated following the meetings at the Cankaya Presidential Palace that a full consensus of opinion was reached. Did you remove reservations of President Denktas?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''a full consensus of opinion was reached. There is not any problem. Our efforts have been continuing under the statement released after the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).''
When asked, ''have you reached a consensus over a name to act as mediator?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''first of all, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan should make an assessment. If a request is made for appointment of a mediator in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, the sides' proposing different names will not result in a solution. This can be overcome through negotiations. I believe that appointment of a mediator who is well-experienced in politics will accelerate the process. The mediator should not be chosen from parties of the Cyprus issue.''
When asked, ''you said that Turkey could act as a mediator between Israel and Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, 'who has given this mission to Turkey? We did not request Turkey such a thing.' Can Turkey achieve success in mediation?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I do not have any information whether or not Israeli Prime Minister Sharon made such a statement. We stated that Turkey was ready to act as mediator. However, we did not make an official request. Earlier, I held telephone conversation with him to act as a mediator between Israel and Palestine. He told me that he would be pleased with such an initiative. However, I did not talk to him about mediation between Israel and Syria. Therefore, I do not want to say anything at this point.''

(UK) 26.01.2004