Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 28 2005
Turkish PM: ‘We Cannot Forget the American Support to Turkey’
* Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan: `Turkish people do not
forget the American support to Turkey’s EU membership, Turkey’s
struggle against terrorism. We cannot forget the American support’
* ”We should be alert against the efforts of various groups and
lobbies who are uneasy about the development of Turkish-US relations
and we shouldn’t permit them,” told Erdogan in AK Party meeting held
in the parliament.
Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA (JTW)
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he cannot share the ideas
that Turkish people is anti-American. Turkish PM emphasized that
Turkish people cannot forget the American support from the area of
energy co-operation to combating against terrorism. Erdogan gave a
speech in Turkish Grand National Assembly yesterday.
`WE MUST ACT TOGETHER’
Tayyip Erdogan continued:
`Relations with the United States is one of the main axis of our
foreign policy. W e time to time face exceptional differences in
methodology in some cases. But these differences cannot remove the
ultimate common understanding and need to make co-operation.
Naturally, the reaching a long-lasting and just solution in Cyprus,
combating against PKK terrorism and Armenian allegations are part of
the agenda in our bilateral relations. If we can follow a policy
together, all sides will benefit from that and Turkish-American
relations will be strengthened. ‘We must be alert against the efforts
of various groups and lobbies who are uneasy about the development of
Turkish-US relations and we shouldn’t permit them” told Erdogan in
AK Party meeting held in the parliament.
DISSAPOINTMENTS
Erdogan said Turkey cannot forget the American supports:
`Turkish people cannot forget the support of the United States we
have been in co-operation from combating terrorism to international
energy routes. Turkish people is aware of that we need each other
today and tomorrow. Fulfillment the expectations of Turkish people by
not only the US but also by our all allies will reduce the degree of
disappointments in Turkish public opinion.
`NO RELUCTANCE IN EU PROCESS’
Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the AK Party, Prime
Minister Erdogan said, ”the progress made by our government in
relations with the EU are evident. Even our opponents cannot deny
that we have reached the furthest point in our relations the EU.
Currently, European countries have begun considering Turkey a
‘partner’ or a ‘future-member’ instead of a ‘party’. Therefore, I
cannot understand those who claim that we slowed down in our EU
membership process. Our government will never give up its goal of
increasing political, economic and social standards of Turkish
people… There are many people in the EU who well-analyze Turkey’s
future contributions to the Union in its efforts to become a more
influential international actor’.
Erdogan argued he could not understand the claims of that Turkey
slowed down in EU process:
`After the decision of 17 December Summit there has been no slowing
down or any reluctance in Turkey’s EU progress… Turkey expects the
same sincerity, goodwill and consistency it showed from the EU.
Sometimes the EU says `we are aware of the injustice, yet we cannot
do anything’, and this kind of explanations damage the credibility of
the EU. We have warned them for the years, however they could not
show the similar foresight.’
`THIS IS NOT A EUROPEAN ATTITUDE’
Erdogan said the official EU circles sound the irrelevant issues to
prevent Turkey’s EU process. Stressing that Turkey had been
fulfilling its commitments with good-will and coherence, Prime
Minister Erdogan said that they expect the EU to display the same
thing.
`Turkey as promised will sign the Protocol. And it is our right to
expect from the EU to approve the financial aid and changes in direct
trade with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the EU
promised to do so. In parallel with progress of Turkey’s EU bid, the
some unofficial groups in Europe sounds some issues which irrelevant
with Turkey’s EU membership. Now these irrelevant issues are sounded
by the some official EU circles. This is not a right attitude. This
is not the attitude we expect from the EU. This is not a European
attitude.’
”Turkey is a source of confidence and stability for both its region
and Europe. Turkey has been trying to contribute to efforts of
finding lasting solutions to problems in world. It is clear that
Turkey would make many contributions to the EU,” Tayip Erdogan
added.
JTW
28 April 2005