MILLIYET- Columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the US and expectations of that visit. A summary of his column is as follows:
The meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Ecevit has been indexed to unbelievable economic expectations. In fact the meeting will last only 45 minutes and there won't be a joint press conference. A dinner might be added to the meeting to please the Turkish side. However, in trade or aid the American administration doesn't show the same understanding. US circles believe that the invitation for this visit had the aim of thanking Turkey for the stance it adopted following the Sept. 11 attacks. This is not a visit made for Turkey's economic salvation. That is why the Americans are surprised at the size of the delegation of businessmen accompanying the prime minister. The loosening of textile quotas will be carried out according to a plan, and the US sources believe that it would be impossible to alter the planned quotas. The quota rate will be loosened by 50% through 2005 in stages, as American textile producers are already facing stiff competition and are applying pressure on the US Congress and the administration. However, there is a treaty between the US and Turkey signed in 1929 which is still valid. This was called the 'Trade and Maritime Traffic Treaty." Under this accord, both countries granted each other most favored nation status. Despite the existence of this treaty, the textile quotas are lower than the one already granted for Taiwan which only became a nation in 1949. During the US senate delegation's recent visit to Turkey, it was stressed that a second border gate with Iraq should not be opened. An operation against Iraq is not an issue which will be discussed in the near future, and that should relieve Turkey. However, the US believes that Saddam Hussein must be overthrown. These concerns were answered by Ankara before the prime minister's visit with a statement that it held the same opinion regarding Saddam. In fact, it will be very hard for some Turkish trade demands to be met during this visit. If we base our expectations and calculations on realities, we won't be disappointed.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION