MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila writes on Prime Minister Ecevit's meetings in Washington. A summary of his column is as follows:
Prime Minister Ecevit's meeting with the US President George W. Bush seemed to meet all Ankara's expectations. President Bush's statement to the prime minister was interpreted as an expression of full support for the prime minister and the government regarding foreign policy and economic reforms. When Prime Minister Ecevit answered questions from the press, after the meeting, he said that he was pleased with the outcome of the talks and that Turkish-American relations had also been strengthened in the economic field. Ecevit also said that when the US had any plans over Iraq or Saddam, it would most certainly consult Turkey and pursue a policy which wouldn't contradict Turkish interests. The Bush-Ecevit summit is a sign that nothing is the same after the Sept. 11 attacks. As Turkey expected, the cooperation between Turkey and the US has taken on a strategic dimension. During the follow-up process, it seems that this cooperation will be maintained and enhanced. Bush's message that the US will act together with Turkey on Iraq has relieved Ankara. The Bush-Ecevit meeting was a tour on a wide range of issues. In the meeting where Afghanistan, Iraq, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Israel and Palestine, Cyprus, the Aegean, the EU and bilateral economic relations were taken up, Ecevit felt a warm reception in the area of economy and trade. Another point which must be underlined is that Turkey is seen as role model in the Islamic world following the events in Afghanistan. The meeting between Bush and Ecevit both passed in a positive atmosphere and met expectations.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION