ANKARA (A.A) - 12.06.2002 - Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Wednesday that Turkey-United States relations were at a very good point but added that he was still not satisfied with this level and thought the relations should be even better.
Izgi received the Assembly of Turkish American Associations Chairman Orhan Kaymakcalan and accompanying delegation.
Izgi stated that a new process should be launched for American people to understand Turkey's fight against terrorism after September 11 attacks in the United States, saying that they were ready to contribute to the studies of public relations which would be implemented in this field.
He said that they distributed the book prepared by Parliament which had the feature to reply so-called Armenian genocide claims and added that they would continue to distribute that book.
Touching on the relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), Izgi said, ''we have very important problems. The negative developments which Turkey experiences during the process to enter the EU appear as the demands which hurt Turkish people.''
Izgi said that there could be new alternatives due to the difficulties during Turkey's membership process to the EU.
He went on saying, ''then we will feel the necessity to further improve our relations with the United States. Turkey needs to improve its relations with United States, although it enters the EU.''
Izgi said that they should develop the relations as United States-Turkey-Israel trivet and added that the United States should also help Turkey in technology field as much as its assistance to Israel.
He pointed out that the United States should provide facilities to Turkey in trade field as many as the facilities which were made to Israel.
Izgi who stated that Turkey had proved to be a reliable friend both to West and also to the United States.
Kaymakcalan said that the relations between the administrations of the two countries should also be developed in the level of their people.
He went on to say that public relations companies should work for this and added that the deputies should visit different cities of the United States.

SP LEADER KUTAN RECEIVES ATAA DELEGATION
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan received on Wednesday a delegation of Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) headed by President Orhan Kaymakcalan.
Kutan said that Turkey had made some commitments to European Union (EU) and noted, ''we are in favour of accession of Turkey to EU by protecting its interests.''
They attributed great importance to the United States and the EU, Kutan stated.
Pointing out that there were some preconditions to open negotiation process with the EU, Kutan said, ''there is not a full consensus of opinion among the leaders about this issue. We think that EU criteria should be abided related with emergency rule, education of mother tongue and death sentence. We expressed this view at the summit held at the Presidential Palace. We say that we want to enter into EU. Of course, Turkey's special location cannot be ignored. Turkey is acting as a bridge between the East and the West. To this end, Turkey has utmost importance.''
Asked by a reporter what their attitude would be if the arrangements defined as ''precondition'' did not bring forth as a draft, Kutan said that they should firstly see the developments.
Kutan noted, ''we are in favour of Turkey's accession to EU by protecting its interests. Turkish government has made several commitments. There are Copenhagen criteria, National Programme and promises given to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Positive solutions can be found by taking into consideration all these.''
Asked if they would support a motion presented by deputies of Democratic Left Party (DSP) about the draft law foreseeing abolition of death sentence, Kutan said, ''they could not talk about alternatives hastily.'
Kaymakcalan said that as Turkish people in America, they were serving the interests of Turkey.
Turkey's importance and value was understood better in the United States in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Kaymakcalan noted.
Kaymakcalan said, ''how Turkey, as a secular and Muslim country, is fighting against terrorism has been understood.''