Turkish Daily News
March 23 2005

Turkish Press Yesterday

More criticism from the US

As Turkish-U.S. tensions continue, “The Project for the New
American Century,” a U.S. think tank known for their neoconservative
attitude, has criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) for pursuing anti-U.S. policies, reported daily Radikal.

A director of the organization, Bruce Pitcairn Jackson, in
testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s
subcommittee on European Affairs said, “The AKP is characterized by
strident anti-Americanism, cultural anti-Europeanism and a resurgent
xenophobia,” reported the daily.

Concerning Turkey’s foreign policy, Jackson said Turkey has quietly
broken off its strategic relationship with Israel, refused to
negotiate with Armenia on the opening of their common border and
requested from the United States the oppressive treatment of the
Kurdish population in Iraq. “In diplomatic jargon, Turkey has become
‘unhelpful’,” said Jackson, reported Radikal.

The daily also reports on Jackson’s proposals, which it says will
worry the AKP government, quoting him as saying: “Just because
Turkish officials become indignant at the mention of a genocidal
campaign conducted by Ottoman authorities against Armenian civilians
in the early years of the last century does not mean that coming to
terms with history should not be discussed between democratic allies
.. we must be clear in what we say and do.”.