Turkish Press
March 21 2005

Bagis: There are some circles which claim that there is an
anti-American sentiment in Turkey
Published: 3/21/2005
Anadolu Agency

BURSA – Egemen Bagis, chairman of Turkey-U.S. Parliamentary
Friendship Group and a deputy from Justice and Development Party
(AKP), stated that there are some circles which claim that there is
an anti-American sentiment in Turkey.

“Once the U.S. attitude towards the terrorist PKK organization
changes, such a sentiment will reach a new dimension,“ said Bagis.

Bagis attended a luncheon meeting of the Turkish Young Businessmen`s
Association (TUGIAD) Branch in Bursa.

“Turkey and the United States have a past of 200 years. 60 years out
of the total has been spent as strategic partners. The two allies
have cooperated in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Somalia and the Middle
East,“ remarked Bagis.

“Turkey and the United States share the same notions on the
protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq. However, Turkey has
not received the right response to the situation in north of Iraq. In
the past, United States was the country that recognized the PKK as a
terrorist organization. The U.S. decision came at a time when no
European country regarded the PKK as a terrorist group,“ stressed
Bagis.

According to Bagis, the freedom of the PKK terrorists in north of
Iraq hurts the Turks each and every day. “Furthermore, the changes
in demographic structure is a matter of concern. In the past few
weeks, tri-partite meetings between Turkey, United States and Iraq
began, which surely is a matter of positive development.“

Reminded by a journalist about the recent comments made by American
correspondents against Turkey, Bagis expressed that this situation is
identical to a chain-accident. “Action…reaction. Turkish media
says one thing and the U.S. media writes in return. My personal
opinion is that once the U.S. administration reacts to the PKK
presence in north of Iraq, we will cool-off tension between Turkey
and the United States. Countries like Iran and Syria were formerly
accused by the Turkish government for providing shelter to PKK
terrorists. Today, such neighbors are cooperating with Turkey and are
returning PKK terrorists captured in their respective countries.“

Bagis added that a change in the U.S. administration`s stance on the
situation in north of Iraq will break the anti-American sentiment in
Turkey. “Turkish-American ties are so historical and comprehensive
that it would be unfair to base our relations on a single issue of
PKK or Iraq. I believe that our media takes issues more seriously
than its counterparts in the States. There are virtually hundreds of
newspapers and editors in America. One of the American journalists
writes, after encouragement by certain circles, and tries to
establish the agenda for that day. Such articles get coverage on the
first page of certain Turkish newspapers. We must not take these
reports or editorials as too seriously.“

Istanbul deputy Bagis told that Turkey`s European Union (EU) dream
will put an end to all conspiracy theories. “You may think that it
is a joke but often we get two questions from foreign investors in
Turkey: Could a military coup take place again in Turkey? Could
Islamic Law enter Turkish politics? It is my firm opinion that the EU
will remove all these suspicions in Turkey. The EU is a development
that guarantees Turkey`s stability. For this reason, the EU is on top
of our agenda,“ noted Bagis.

Bagis further indicated that, prior to November 3rd, 2002, Turkey did
not have good relations with its neighbors. “In the past several
years, relations with Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Iran and
Iraq have improved. The ties with Armenia are not at the level where
they should be due to Armenian insistence on some borders.“

Bagis commented that Armenians once again have historical
allegations. “If the Armenians cool-off tensions between Turkey and
Armenia, they will surely receive a positive response. In 2004, we
have permitted flights of the Armenian national airlines to Istanbul
four times a week. We have given a hand of friendship to the
Armenians. According to data I have received, there are over 30,000
Armenian citizens working in Turkey. These Armenians are not Turkish
citizens but have come to Turkey for various reasons. About half of
these Armenians look after our children as baby sitters. This
incident itself shows that we have no hatred of any one but love for
all. We share common cultural values.“