Turkish Press
June 13 2005
Erdogan: Bush Personally Instructed U.S. State Secretary To Study
Direct Flights From U.S. To Ercan Airport Of N Cyprus
WASHINGTON (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Wednesday that U.S. President George W. Bush instructed U.S. State
Secretary to study direct flights from U.S. to Ercan Airport of
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Erdogan replied to questions of reporters following his meeting
with Bush.
A journalist asked, “if the United States launches an operational
action in Syria, and in case an expectation from Turkey appears,
to what extend Turkey can meet this expectation? Is such a military
possibility in question from the United States? Has this issue been
discussed at the meeting?”
Erdogan said, “this is a very very negative assumption,” and noted
it was wrong for him to make a political assessment over an assumption.
“We have done this over the topics democratization, freedoms, human
rights, supremacy of law and joint fight against terrorism. There
are many steps that have been taken. For example the issue of Hatay.
There are no more land mines and soldiers in Syrian side in the
border. Now, we will sweep the land mines and draw our soldiers. Of
course this requires time. All of them are change of mentality. All
can not happen instantly. We believe to have positive outcomes,”
Erdogan said.
Asked if any timetable was taken up regarding withdrawal of U.S.
presence while Iraq issue was under discussion, Erdogan said, “no.
We have not discussed any timetable or withdrawal of the United States
from there.”
“We only discussed how we considered the success of the current
interim administration. We have a positive point of view to Ibrahim
al-Jaafari. We have personally listened to his sincere feelings about
democratization. Now, the new constitution should be prepared and Iraq
should get prepared for the following process. The conditions are
difficult. There is a prime minister and administration struggling
under those difficult conditions. We said we will expend necessary
support.”
Replying another question, Erdogan said he gave information about the
foundations of the minorities in Turkey. He said, “188 foundation real
properties have been given to them so far and registered for their
names. Process continues on this issue. We have prepared Foundations
Law to accelerate and facilitate the process and sent it to the
Parliament. We have given information about this.”
CYPRUS ISSUE
Asked whether start of direct flights from Washington to Ercan
Airport of the TRNC, and teaching of U.S. lecturers in universities
in TRNC were discussed, Erdogan said, “we mainly focused on start of
flights between Washington and Ercan Airport. U.S. President George
W. Bush personally instructed the U.S. State Secretary to study
direct flights from U.S. to Ercan Airport. I also thanked to him for
visit of U.S. Congressmen to TRNC. A group of British businessmen
also visited TRNC. However issues about the universities were not
discussed. More than one year passed for the period about the report
which UN Secretary General presented to UN Security Council. We asked
support for this. We expressed our belief that UN Security Council
should make its decision from now on about this issue.”
Asked what the government was thinking to do to prevent
anti-Americanism tendencies, Erdogan said, “we are already showing
this with our implementations. Reactions are not needed.”
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Regarding economic relations between Turkey and the United States,
Erdogan said that there are 373 U.S. companies in Turkey at the moment.
“We expect some incentives to increase this number. If several
suggestions are made in this issue, I believe interest of U.S.
companies towards Turkey will increase,” he added.
“These companies have several problems in Turkey and we are aware of
them. We have taken steps to eliminate these difficulties,” he noted.
Erdogan said, “there are positive developments about some new
investments. I believe this process will speed up after our meeting
with Bush.”
Upon another question, Erdogan stressed that Bush used the expression
‘strategical partnership’ regarding relations between the two
countries. Erdogan said, “we have confirmed this during our meeting.
Steps which were and will be taken can only be possible through
partnership. The clearest example is Afghanistan issue. We have seen
examples of this in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Somali.”
IRAN ISSUE
When asked whether U.S. concerns over Iran’s nuclear armament
possibility was discussed during the meeting, Erdogan said, “it is
impossible to react positively to nuclear energy when it is taken up
as weapons of mass destruction.”
“If it is considered as humanitarian means, then it has become a
different issue. We conveyed that if this issue is considered as
weapons of mass destruction, Turkey is negative towards it and it
made necessary suggestions. We will continue to do so,” he added.
Erdogan said, “Turkey and Iran have relations in natural gas
and trade areas. Certainly, it is impossible to undervalue this
condition. But Turkey is negative towards nuclear energy in the aspect
of weapons of mass destruction.”
Upon a question about demands of the United States from Turkey,
Erdogan said, “opposition in Turkey criticizes us about our
accomplishments regarding these issues. I gave you concrete examples;
Turkey has planned to give an assistance worth of 100 million USD
to Afghanistan. Turkey commands ISAF for the second time within
two years. Turkey has provided logistic support in Iraq issue. Also
attitude of citizens of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
and determination of Turkish government about Cyprus issue as well as
Turkey’s attitude towards Broader Middle East Initiative are obvious.”
SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Upon another question, Erdogan said that so-called Armenian genocide
was not discussed during the meeting.
“Statements of Bush on April 24th about the issue are known. This
issue was overcome and there is no need to keep it on the agenda.
There are positive developments about the issue. For instance,
so-called Armenian genocide was rejected in Belgium. Also there are
positive developments in Council of Europe in this issue. Positive
activities are continuing in Germany as well. We will pursue our
studies based on documents and information,” he added.