NEW YORK - Turkey`s membership to the European Union (EU) will be positive for all related parties, said Jim Leach, Republican member of U.S. House of Representatives.
American and Turkish participants discussed the relations between Turkey, the United States and Israel in a meeting which was organized by American Jewish Committee on Thursday.
Taking the floor, Leach supported Turkey`s membership to the EU. He said, ``Turkey`s EU membership will have a positive meaning both for Turkey, the EU and the United States.``
Meanwhile, Turhan Comez, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy, said, ``friendship between Turkey, the United States and Israel is very important for global peace and stability.``
Recalling that Turkey supports the United States in its fight against terrorism, Comez meanwhile said, ``Turkish public opinion believes that the United States does not pursue its fight against PKK terrorist organization strongly enough.``
Noting that he have visited Iraq many times both before and after the war, Comez said, ``Iraqi people are pleased with overthrown of Saddam Hussein, however, they are uneasy that the chaos in the country will deepen. We also fear that the chaos will spread from Iraq to the world.``
On the other hand, Turkish Consul General in New York Omer Onhon said Turkey is uneasy about allegations connecting terrorism with Islamic religion. ``Islam, which envisions tolerance, curses terrorism`` he noted.
Ercument Kilic, President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) also said, ``nearly 500,000 people of Turkish origin are living in the United States and this number reaches 1,000,000 together with Turkic people originating from former Soviet Republics and Bulgaria.``
(GC-ULG) 02.09.2004