Turkish defence minister stresses importance of Turkish-US relations
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
25 Mar 06
Washington, DC, 25 March: Turkish National Defence Minister Vecdi
Gonul has indicated that “relations with the United States is one of
cornerstones of Turkish foreign policy”.
Gonul delivered a speech on “Evolving security environment and
Turkey’s strategic role in Eurasia” in a conference organized by Los
Angeles World Affairs Council.
“There have been Turkish-US military relations at the highest level,”
he underscored, and noted that the volume of cooperation between
Turkish and the US defence industries amounted to 13bn US dollars over
the last 20 years.
Stating that Turkey and the United States attached great importance to
prevention of proliferation of mass destruction weapons and ballistic
missiles, Gonul recalled that Turkey, as an ally of NATO, stayed at
the front line against a possible threat of missile which might be
developed in the Middle East.
Gonul noted that Turkey always played a role of bridge between the
east and the west.
“The latest developments have shown there is lack of dialogue between
different communities worldwide,” Gonul stressed that Turkey’s EU
membership would give an important message underlining that different
cultures could exist together peacefully.
Pointing out to Turkey’s cooperation in US-led war in Iraq, Gonul
recalled that 4,990 sorties were conducted in the Turkish airspace,
Turkey’s Incirlik base was used and the parliament approved a
government motion permitting the dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Gonul noted that Turkey has doubled its economic and commercial
relations with Iraq since 2003, indicating that 50 per cent of
processed oil need of Iraq was provided by Turkey. He stressed that
one fourth of electricity need of this country would also be provided
by Turkey this year. Stating that Turkey supported peace process in
Iraq, he underlined that it also attached special importance to
territorial integrity of Iraq. Gonul said that Turkish public had
concerns over discriminative attitude of Kurdish population in Iraq.
“Natural resources of Iraq belong to all Iraqi people,” he stressed.
Noting that Iraqi election was a great step taken on the way of
democracy, he said that the new Iraqi government should focus on
constitutional amendment. Gonul said that Kirkuk was still a very
important matter affecting the stability in Iraq, noting that the
destiny of Kirkuk should be determined by all Iraqi people.
He noted that terrorist organization PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]
was continuing its activities in the north of Iraq, stressing that
Turkey expected all relevant parties to solve this problem. “Turkey
considers that Iraqi government and coalition forces have equal
responsibility to end those activities there,” he said.
Gonul said that Turkey had sound and special relations with Israel and
Palestine.
Stating that Hamas should assume a reasonable attitude, he said that
Turkey was ready to assist efforts necessary to resume peace talks
within the scope of the road map.
He indicated that Turkey considered that Upper Karabakh issue was the
main obstacle in front of peace and cooperation in the region, stating
that a peaceful solution to this matter would contribute to
development of regional cooperation and would normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations.