US Department of State
, USA
March 7 2009
Joint Statement by Turkey and the United States of America on the
Occasion of the Visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton Upon the Invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Ali Babacan
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
Ankara, Turkey
March 7, 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
today reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, solidarity and
strategic partnership between the Republic of Turkey and the United
States, as well as the commitment of both countries to the principles
of peace, democracy, freedom, and prosperity enshrined in the Shared
Vision and Structured Dialogue document agreed to in July 2006.
Turkey and the United States reiterated their determination to
continue close cooperation and consultation on all issues of common
concern. They pledge to contribute to peace and stability in the
Middle East and in this context, to support a permanent settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict, including alleviating the humanitarian
crisis in Gaza and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the
basis of a two-state solution; to enhance energy security and to
expand the Southern corridor of natural gas and oil infrastructure to
enable Caspian basin and Iraqi energy producers to reach European and
world markets; to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the
south Caucasus, including through U.S. support for the efforts of
Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations and joint support for the
efforts of the Minsk Group to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict;
to continue to cooperate in the Balkans; to support strongly a
comprehensive and mutually-acceptable settlement of the Cyprus
question under the auspices of the UN and in this context ending the
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; and to enhance their cooperation in
the fight against terrorism, particularly against their common
enemies, the PKK and al-Qaeda. The United States will continue its
intelligence support for Turkish operations against the PKK and is
reviewing ways to be more supportive. As members of the G-20, Turkey
and the United States pledge continued cooperation to deal with the
global economic crisis and efforts to increase and diversify bilateral
economic relations with particular emphasis on trade, investment,
scientific and technological cooperation.
Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Babacan discussed Turkey’s
accession to the European Union as a member, a goal the United States
continues to strongly support, as well as the Government of Turkey’s
continued emphasis on reform process. With their commitment to
Transatlantic relations and as Allies in a strong NATO, they pledge
continued cooperation in Afghanistan, including through continued
Turkish contributions to Afghanistan. They reiterated their commitment
to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq as well as
reiterated their support for a democratic, pluralistic, unified and
federal Iraq. They also welcome Turkey’s deepening relations with the
Government of Iraq as evidenced by high level visits as well as
trilateral meetings to discuss cooperation against the PKK. Turkey and
the United States will strongly back the United Nations Security
Council in its work to maintain global peace and security for the
prevention and removal of threats to the international community and
in this context will cooperate in dealing with issues including
terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime and the threat of the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
delivery in the region and beyond.
Finally, they reaffirmed their determination to diversify the broad
based bilateral relations particularly between the Turkish and
American people. In that context, the Secretary and Minister announced
the establishment of `Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship
for a New Age.’ This initiative will enable emerging young leaders in
Turkey and the United States to develop initiatives that will
positively impact people’s lives and invest in future ties between the
leadership of our two countries.
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