ANKARA, Feb 17 (A.A) - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Sunday, ''as the alliance of countries sharing the common values such as democracy, human rights and supremacy of law, has always maintained its main target to settle a fair and lasting atmosphere of peace in Europe.''
President Sezer released a message to mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's NATO membership.
In his message, President Sezer noted, ''half a century has passed since Turkey joined the Alliance on February 18, 1952. NATO has played a vital role in security and reconstruction of West European countries devastated by the World War II since it was founded in 1949. However, NATO's role has not been restricted with these countries and its place in security of Europe has broadened in the course of time. The Alliance was founded with the Washington Treaty signed by 12 countries in 1949. Number of its members increased to 19 and 10 countries want to become a member of the Alliance.''
''As the alliance of countries sharing the common values such as democracy, human rights and supremacy of law, has always maintained its main target to settle a fair and lasting atmosphere of peace in Europe. As a natural conclusion of principles put forward by Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Republic of Turkey has taken its place in NATO 50 years ago and made significant contributions to the Alliance by defending contemporary values, peace and freedom,'' he emphasized.
President Sezer continued, ''while it has been developing new partnership relations with former Warsaw Pact countries and former Soviet Union republics after the Cold War came to an end, NATO, on the other hand, has put into practice new arrangements in which prosperous European allies could undertake more responsibilities. Today, there is a large family sharing common values and ideals in Europe-Atlantic region instead of hostile countries. Europe's undertaking more responsibilities in this new atmosphere became a natural requirement. I believe that our all European allies would display a fair and compherensive arrangement as undertaking this responsibility.''
''I want to reiterate once again that Turkey is ready to make any kind of contribution to development of the Alliance. I wish that the Alliance would continue to contribute to peace and stability in the world with great success,'' he added.
U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH SENDS MESSAGES TO PRESIDENT SEZER AND PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS OF GREECE TO MARK 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATO MEMBERSHIP OF TURKEY AND GREECE
U.S. President George W. Bush said, ''the Alliance now faces new, diverse, and global threats. The United States is prepared to counter those security challenges knowing we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with allies.''
U.S. President Bush sent messages to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and President Kostis Stephanopoulos of Greece to mark the 50th anniversary of NATo membership of Turkey and Greece.
The Presidential Prewss Center said on Sunday that in his message, President Bush said, ''it is with great pleasure that I am writing to congratulate you on the 50th anniversary of your country's NATO membership.''
''Fifty years ago NATO welcomed Turkey and Greece into its ranks in an effort to consolidate democratic countries in a Western alliance against a growing communist threat. There can be no doubt that the role your countries played throughout the Cold War was critical to eliminating that danger.''
President Bush continued, ''our Alliance now faces new, diverse, and global threats. The United States is prepared to counter those security challenges knowing we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with allies. Your countries' support in NATO's invocation of Article 5 immediately after the tragic events of September 11 is indivative of the friendship and cooperation that has characterized the Alliance for over 50 years.''
''The anniversary of Turkey's and Greece's NATO membership is perhaps even more notable in light of the warming relations your governments have experienced over the last few years. Progress in your bilateral relations and joint commitment to the Alliance, including joint Greek-Turkish staffs in NATO air operations centers in both your countries, can only strengthen our ties. I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and to the citizens of Turkey and Greece on this important occasion,'' President Bush added.