SEZER: TURKEY HAS EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO NATO'S FIGHT AGAINST THREATS OF CENTURY
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said that Turkey had effectively contributed to the NATO's fight against threats of the century since it became a NATO member on February 18, 1952 and it had proven that it was a powerful and reliable ally.
President Sezer issued a message on Wednesday to mark the 52nd anniversary of Turkey's NATO membership.
Noting that the NATO had been maintaining its activities on settlement of security, peace, prosperity and stability also in regions around the Europe-Atlantic area, Sezer stressed that the success of the operation that the alliance had been carrying out in Afghanistan under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was vital as it was the first ever out-of-bounds operation of the NATO.
Sezer said that successes of the NATO in Afghanistan would also constitute a serious example in terms of the effective role and responsibilities that it could undertake in a broad geography including the neighboring areas.
Noting that the alliance's biggest ever expansion would happen with seven new members during the NATO Summit to be held in Istanbul between June 28-29, Sezer said, ''with this respect, Turkey sincerely supports the NATO's policy of open door to new memberships.''
Turkey definitely believed that the NATO would maintain the internal and external transformation that would allow a more effective fight in unity and solidarity against threats targeting peace, stability and security in the future, the President noted and added that Turkey would continue to fulfill its responsibilities and make every contribution to this process.
''Turkey has effectively contributed to the NATO's fight against threats of the century since it became a NATO member on February 18, 1952 and it has clearly proven that it is a powerful and reliable ally. With this respect, consolidation of the transatlantic tie has played a significant role in securing peace and stability in Europe-Atlantic area,'' the President stated.
ERDOGAN: NATO MAINTAINS ITS ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT OF SECURITY, PROSPERITY AND STABILITY ALSO IN REGIONS ADJACENT TO EUROPE-ATLANTIC AREA
Prime Minister Erdogan issued a message upon the 52nd anniversary of Turkey's NATO membership.
Recalling that Turkey became a NATO ally on February 18, 1952, Erdogan said that Turkey had effectively contributed especially after the Cold War to the NATO's fight against the threats of the century like terrorism, proliferation of mass destruction weapons, ethnic clashes, mass migrations and weapon and illicit drug smuggling.
Erdogan stressed that Turkey had fulfilled its responsibilities in protection of transatlantic ties and defense of free and democratic communities' common values as a result of its well-trained and disciplined armed forces during most problematic years of the Cold War period.
''As an alliance of the countries which have adopted common values like democracy, human rights and supremacy of law, the NATO has provided formation of a fair and lasting environment of peace, security and stability in Europe. So except for the seven countries that will become NATO members soon, there are still countries in Europe which want to be NATO members,'' he said.
''Today, the NATO maintains its activities and efforts for settlement of security, prosperity and stability also in regions adjacent to the Europe-Atlantic area. With this respect, success of the first out-of-bounds operation that the alliance has undertaken in Afghanistan is important. Successes of the NATO in Afghanistan will constitute a valuable example in terms of the effective role and responsibilities that the alliance can undertake in a broad geography including the adjacent areas,'' he said.
Stressing that the historical NATO Summit which was going to be held in Istanbul at the end of June 2004 would constitute the first important activity after the ever biggest expansion with seven new members, Erdogan said that with this respect, Turkey sincerely supported the NATO's policy of ''open door'' to new memberships.
Erdogan added that Turkey would continue making maximum contribution to the NATO's activities to provide peace, stability and security.
(MS-AÖ) 18.02.2004