TURKEY’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH US FACES TEST
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 5 2007
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is in the US invited by US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and will start talks today. This visit is
being made in an atmosphere of Turkish expectations for concrete steps
from the US side in connection with the "Iraq" issue and "Armenian
genocide" claims, both considered by the Turkish government as the
highest ranking items on its agenda for 2007.
Gul’s agenda with top ranking figures in the US administration consists
of measures to be taken against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and
a possible cross-border operation, the "Armenian genocide" resolution
to be heard by the US House of Representatives, the referendum in
Kirkuk, developments in Iraq, Iran’s nuclear activities, Cyprus,
Syria and the Middle East.
Gul is expected to clearly state Turkey’s expectations from the US
administation, saying "concerete steps must be taken against the
terrorist organization PKK. Turkey cannot be expected to accept
genocide claims, and therefore, the genocide resolution must be
blocked. No referendum should be held in Kirkuk without a mutual
agreement ensured among the related parties." Ankara wants Washington
to maintain its attitude against the "genocide resolution," assuring
Turkey that the resolution will be rejected. Gul will request the
US administration to throw its weight against the issue, noting
that Turkish-American relations will be deeply affected in case the
resolution is accepted.
In a statement made at Esenboða Airport in Ankara before his departure,
Gul frequently underlined the "joint vision document" pertaining to the
status of relations between two countries. "I believe that this visit
will help to improve the deeply rooted bilateral relations between
Turkey and the US as two close allies in all areas," he said. The joint
vision document, issued during Gul’s visit to Washington in July 2006,
lists actions for further improvements in Turkish-American relations
defined as "strategic partnership."
During his visit, the Turkish foreign minister will meet top US
officials. In Washington D.C. Gul will meet Vice-President Dick Cheney,
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the President’s National
Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. He will also have working meetings
with several members of the US Congress. The Congress has recently been
discussing a controversial Armenian Genocide Resolution. Nancy Pelosi,
the Democrat House Speaker is not on Gul’s meeting list. Pelosi is
known to be one of the strongest voices of the pro-Armenian resolution
camp. Gul is going to give a speech at the German Marshall Fund
in Washington.
The new UN secretary-general will be reminded of Cyprus Gul is going
to continue his contacts in New York on February, 4 where he will
meet the new Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon.
Gul will ask Ki-Moon to hold on to the report prepared after the Annan
Plan. Ankara wants to see the report prepared by Kofi Annan after the
2004 referendum in Cyprus discussed in the UN Security Council. The
foreign minister is going to give a speech at the prestigious Council
on Foreign Relations about Iraq and the Middle East. Gul will head
back to Turkey on the evening of February 9. Upon Gul’s return to the
country, the Chief-of-Staff, General Yaþar Buyukanýt will fly to the
US on February 11. Suleyman Kurt Ankara
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress