Symposium Held On Developments As A Result Of September 11 And Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) - 28.05.2002 - Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, said on Tuesday that the strategical partnership between Turkey and the United States had deepened more after the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York on September 11, 2001, and added that the United States did not have a friendly country that was more sound and more important than Turkey since September 11.
Speaking at an international symposium organized by the Defense and Aviation Magazine at Ankara's Bilkent Hotel on ''Developments as a Result of September 11 and Turkey'', Pearson stressed that strategical partnership between Turkey and the United States had started before September 11.
Pearson said that they had benefited from Turkey's experiences as they were creating a front against international terrorism.
He noted that Turkey had given the most valuable and rapid recommendations, and had fully supported the United States.
''I believe that Turkey that will take over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and help Afghanistan to form its national army, will successfully fulfill all of its missions,'' he said.
Noting that regional cooperation between Turkey and the United States had been continuing in many regions such as the Caucasus, the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East, Pearson said that Turkey was one of the rare countries to set up dialogue with both sides in the Middle East.
Referring to relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), Pearson described inclusion of PKK and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party Front (DHKP-C) in the EU's list of terrorist organizations as an important step. He stressed that the United States had been supporting Turkey's full membership to the EU.
He said that both Turkey and the United States had shared the same opinion on protection of Iraq's territorial integrity, Iraq's abiding by the resolutions of the United Nations, and prevention of a separate formation in Northern Iraq.
Pointing out that the administration led by President Saddam Hussein used biological weapons on its own people and occupied its own neighbors, Pearson said that a reshuffle in the regime in Baghdad would help stability and welfare in the region.
Pearson said that they would continue to consult with Turkey on policies of Iraq.