ISTANBUL - The U.S. President George W. Bush strongly supported Turkey`s European Union (EU) membership and said that Turkey, as a Muslim, secular and tolerant country, is very important for the future of broader Middle East region.
Speaking at Istanbul`s Galatasaray University, Bush said that Turkey`s historical significance was now greater than ever. He added that a tolerant Turkish society is a bridge between Europe, Asia and Middle East and said that Turkey`s success is very important for Middle East and Europe.
Bush said that he was honored to describe Turkey as an ``ally and friend``, adding that there were many citizens of Turkish origin living in the United States.
He recalled that as the USA they have been supporting many countries in their integration in Europe for years and now the EU would take a decision about Turkey`s membership. He said that Turkey met the standards of the EU and is rapidly paving the membership way. He added that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had a strong vision and he noted that the United States believe that Turkey, as a European power, belongs to the EU.
Underlining both the Muslim and European identity of Turkey, Bush said that the EU should prove that it is not a club of a single religion by accepting Turkey in the Union.
Bush said that actually there was an artificial border between Turkey and Europe now and added that the United States cannot accept this.
Bush also thanked Turkey for its role, as a democratic partner, in Middle East initiative.
Expressing the belief that freedom would bring peace to the Middle East, Bush said he believed that freedom would be the future of the whole humanity.
Bush said millions of people in the Greater Middle East region lived under pressure, noting that reforms and transformation were needed to be made in this region. He said countries like Turkey and the United States would help this. He said this transformation process would not be an easy one, noting however they would successfully complete this job given by the history to them.
Stressing that democracy could not be imposed but that Muslim people living in those countries who missed reforms up to now could prefer democracy, he said one alternative those people face was suicide attacks and death and the other one was a peaceful living.
Bush said political extremism and war were everywhere in the world, and stated Iraq and Iran as examples. Bush said they saw this struggle also in Turkey where terrorist PKK organization resumed acts of violence.
Bush said terrorists could not win and that democracy ideal was also strong in the Middle East.
Pointing to the reforms implemented in Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, and Yemen, Bush said countries who embrace violence invited more violence.
U.S. President Bush said Turkey has become a more stable democracy, stressing that U.S. had the hope that others would follow Turkey`s path.
Insisting on the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, Bush said this country became the brand of new democracy in the world only 15 months after war.
Bush said terrorists wanted to damage future of Iraq but indicated that they could not prevent the arrival of democracy in Iraq.
Recalling that NATO agreed to assist Iraqi security forces, Bush said that he was grateful to Turkey and other countries who helped Iraq`s self-rule and reconstruction.
Poverty, diseases and corruption caused terrorism, Bush said and pointed out that NATO`s importance has been increased.
Recalling the terrorist attacks which hit Turkey last November, Bush said that people who staged those attack had no religion and stressed that friends of those people were evil.
Bush said that if a person in his country spoke badly of Muslims, it had a negative impact on reforms made in Muslim world and similarly, if a person in the Islamic world spoke badly of the West, it had a negative effect on West`s perspective on the Muslims. U.S. President Bush ended his speech saying ``God bless Turkey and the United States``.
(GC-AY-BRC-ULG) 29.06.2004