ATC CHAIRMAN SAYS TURKEY EXPECTS US SUPPORT FOR N IRAQ COOP

Thursday, 16 October 2008 12:23
Turkey

A U.S. executive expressed thought on Thursday that Turkey was
expecting the support of the United States for a cooperation with
the regional administration in Iraq.

Brent Scowcroft, the chairman of American-Turkish Council (ATC),
said that he thought that the Turkish government was expecting
U.S. support to ensure cooperation with authorities in the north of
Iraq, particularly with Massoud Barzani–the head of the regional
administration in north of Iraq–regarding PKK.

Iraq problem was related with the PKK issue at a certain extent,
Scowcroft told reporters in Istanbul.

On Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915, Scowcroft
said if Turkish government tried to establish relations with the
Armenian government, it would help prevent adoption of a resolution
in the United States regarding those allegations.

Scowcroft said that this would convince legislators that these
allegations were an issue concerning the two countries, and therefore
they (the legislators) should take a backward step and leave the
solution of the problem to the two countries.

The chairman said that he was optimistic that dialogue between Turkish
and Armenian governments could be maintained and this was the best way
to prevent adoption of a resolution regarding the incidents of 1915.

Retired general Brent Scowcroft served as the national security
adviser of former U.S. presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush.

Scowcroft met Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, and Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler on Monday,
and later proceeded to Istanbul.

As one of the leading business associations in the United States,
American Turkish Council is dedicated to effectively strengthening
U.S.-Turkish relations through the promotion of commercial, defense,
technology and cultural relations.

The goals of ATC are to help resolve problems and disputes that
affect U.S.-Turkish commercial, defense and cultural relations;
to encourage trade and investment between the United States and
Turkey; to educate the public and private sectors on the importance
of the strategic alliance between the United States and Turkey; to
increase the understanding and appreciation of the history, culture
and traditions of the United States and Turkey; to promote awareness of
U.S.-Turkish issues; and to facilitate dialogue between the government
agencies of both Turkey and the United States and the private sector.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress