TUSIAD APPLIES ‘NO POINT NOW’ BRAKE TO AMERICA TOUR
by Nilgun Karatas

Hurriyet in Turkish
March 13 2010
Turkey

The instruction issued by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to his
ministers and party executives saying, "Put off your trips to the
United States" has been echoed in the private sector as well. TUSIAD
[Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen] had planned
to go to the United States next week but has put the brakes on this
line of thought, "There would not be much point given the current
conditions." TUSIAD President Umit Boyner said, "We thought that the
visit would not be very productive at this time when the doors to
dialogue are closed."

Even though there has been no official announcement to the effect that
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan put off his trip before the so-called
genocide bill was accepted by the House of Representatives Foreign
Relations Committee, both state and civilian institutions have
begun changing their plans. Erdogan had planned to go the United
States before 24 April, which the Armenians call "genocide day" but
right now his programme is unknown. It has been learnt that he told
his ministers and AKP [Justice and Development Party] executives,
"Cancel your trips to the United States." The government’s position
here has influenced TUSIAD. TUSIAD’s management has put off a trip
to the United States planned for next week thinking that under the
current circumstances it would not be beneficial.

Dialogue Doors Closed

TUSIAD goes to the United States every year, especially when the
Armenian genocide issue is on the agenda, and conducts many high-level
meetings there. We asked TUSIAD President Umit Boyner why he put off
this year’s trip to the United States. He said: "The trip we had been
planning to make was put off because we are waiting for an audience
with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We had asked to speak with
her during our trip but she has been unable to respond so far because
her programme is very busy." Boyner recalled that dialogue between the
US State Department and the Turkish Foreign Ministry had stalled at
this time and that Turkey had recalled its ambassador. He continued:
"There can be breakdowns in communications between states from time to
time. It is largely up to the NGOs to restore communications. However,
even if we as TUSIAD hold some talks and come back with some proposals
there is no climate in Ankara for us to deliver such news or pass
on any messages. Right now, the doors to dialogue are closed so we
do not think that any trip to the United States at this moment would
achieve much."

Nobody Said "Do Not Go"

When asked if Ankara had told them explicitly to cancel the US tour
Boyner said, "No, definitely not." He continued: "But we are aware
that there is no dialogue for climate. We know that when the doors
for dialogue are closed even if we were to go to the United States
it would not be very productive." Boyner said they prefer to say
"postpone" rather than "cancel" and continued: "As an NGO we have
experienced this kind of situation before. But we have never seen
things taken this seriously before. However, we do think this is only
temporary. The climate for dialogue is definitely going to take shape.

As an NGO we have good relations and we are going to play our part
in creating this climate for dialogue."

Caglayan First To Cancel His Programme

One of the trips to the United States planned for this period then
dropped was the visit to be made by State Minister Zafer Caglayan.

Caglayan was going to go to Washington for special committee work on
the advancement of economic relations. During Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to the United States back in December and his meeting
with US President Obama they came up with a new partnership model
for economic and commercial relations. As part of this the Turkish
side was to be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and
Zafer Caglayan, while US Trade Envoy Ron Kirk and US Secretary of
Trade Gary Locke were to represent the US side. Caglayan had planned
to visit this country in the first week of March in order to get
together not only with the American representatives but also with
Turkish entrepreneurs living in the United States. However, in the
wake of developments concerning the so-called Armenian bill this visit
has reportedly been put off on the advice of Turkey’s Ambassador to
Washington and the Foreign Ministry.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress