NEW YORK (AA) - Turkey's Consul General in New York Omer Onhon said that Turkish-American relations have always been important and will remain to be so in the future. ''Turkey is a prominent value in the Middle East that the United States must take into consideration while making changes in the region,'' told Onhon.
Onhon evaluated and elaborated on Turkish-American relations at a symposium on ''Turkish-American Relations: The Future of a Strategic Partnership'' and sponsored by the Turkish-American Architects, Engineers and Scientists Association (MIM).
''During the Cold War, the U.S.'s most reliable and staunch ally was Turkey. This relationship adapted itself to the changes taking place in the international arena. The March 1st, 2003 motion in Turkey received the support of the Turkish government. However, the democratic spirit of the Turkish parliament rejected such a motion,'' told Onhon.
Onhon commented that Turkey stands in the middle of a region which is very unstable. ''Turkey has to determine its foreign policy based on the realities of the region. The U.S. and Turkey must analyze the realities of the region and act accordingly,'' remarked Onhon.
Onhon stressed that there is no anti-American sentiment in the Turkish society. ''Rather, what we are seeing is anti-Iraq policy of the U.S. in Turkey. There is a strong opposition to the U.S. policy on Iraq within the American society. Is such American opposition also anti-American? Claims that there is anti-Semitism in Turkey are also not true,'' mentioned Onhon.
Consul General Onhon expressed that Turkey is the country that helps the U.S. most in its fight against terror. ''Yet the American administration continues to do nothing in north of Iraq where there is a large group of PKK terrorists. There can not be double standards in the fight against terror. While operations are going on against many terror cells in Iraq, the PKK should not be left alone,'' noted Onhon.
According to Onhon, many political experts focus on the problems in Turkish-American relations. ''Almost no one focuses on the good cooperation displayed between Turkey and the United States in Afghanistan. Turkish-American ties are very important at a time when many circles are talking on clash of civilizations,'' expressed Onhon. Onhon added that Turkey is the only country where Islam and democracy live together.
Meanwhile, Mark Parris, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, stated that Turkish-American relations are progressing towards a normal stage. Parris indicated that Turkish-American ties will improve but will never reach its excellent level as it once was.
Meanwhile, Turkish journalist Cengiz Candar said that it is still possible to solve problems between the two countries and establish a strategic partnership. ''However, if the political culture present in Turkey continues, relations between the two countries will remain allergic,'' expressed Candar.
Zeyno Baran, an expert at the Nixon Center in Washington, said that Turkish-U.S. relations can not be defined as strategic partnership. ''Yet Turkish-American relations are not those of enemies,'' noted Baran.
Baran commented that the United States sees Turkey as a country that can not be trusted due to Turkey's stance on Iraq, Syria and Iran.
(SOL-MS)
2005-05-16