Turkish Press
April 16 2005
Tuygan: Turkish – American Ties Are Good
Published: 4/16/2005
WASHINGTON D.C. – After holding discussions with high level American
officials in Washington D.C., Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Ali Tuygan has stated that a mutual conclusion was
made affirming good Turkish-American ties.
Tuygan held a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington.
”During our talks, we have seen that our ties are good. We have
informed our American friends about our expectations. Our discussions
were fruitful. We established an atmosphere of mutual
understanding.”
Tuygan indicated that tension in Turkish-U.S. relations is due to the
ongoing war in Iraq. ”Both sides affirmed the strong alliance and
decided to leave the past in the past…”
After asked about Iran’s nuclear program, Tuygan remarked that Turkey
supports Iran in utilizing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
”Yet the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region causes a
serious threat to regional stability.”
Tuygan stressed that recently there has been an increase in attacks
on Turkish military points by the terrorist organization PKK. ”We
have informed the U.S. officials about our concerns on the topic of
PKK, which is using north of Iraq as an heaven.”
Asked if a resolution would be presented to the U.S. congress on the
so-called Armenian genocide, Tuygan replied that, despite some
parliaments’ passage of similar resolutions, the U.S. congress is
expected not to accept such a resolution. ”If the U.S. congress
makes a decision in favor of Armenian demands, such a decision would
cause disappointment in Turkey which has had excellent cooperation
and strategic partnership with the U.S. for 50 years.”
According to Tuygan, Turkey has followed a policy of compromise with
Bulgaria, Greece and Syria in the past decade. ”We wish for
identical relations with Armenia. In the event Armenia chooses a
negative option, it would receive an appropriate response from
Turkey….”
On the topic of Iraq, Tuygan mentioned that Turkey wishes for the
territorial integrity of Iraq. ”We wish for a neighbor (Iraq) that
has a peaceful society and works hard for economic development. We
want to help the Iraqis help themselves.”
Tuygan expressed that certain statements made by the U.S. Ambassador
in Ankara Eric Edelman have become topics of discussion in the
Turkish media. ”Mr. Edelman is a diplomat for whom we have high
respect. We are deeply sad over his decision to leave Ankara. We are
confident that he will continue his good ties with Turkey in his new
assignment in Washington.”