Positive moves from USA will ease “disappointment” in Turkey – premier
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
27 Apr 05
ANKARA
[Passage omitted] Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Wednesday [27 April] that relations with the United States continued
to be one of the main pillars of Turkish foreign policy.
“We should be alert against the efforts of various groups and lobbies
who are uneasy about the development of Turkish-US relations and we
shouldn’t permit them,” told Erdogan an AKP [ruling Justice and
Development Party] meeting held in the parliament.
Referring to the many different comments and news made about Turkey-US
relations, Erdogan said that they were either wrong or exaggerated.
Pointing to the sound basis in Turkey-US alliance which continued for
50 years, Erdogan said that further improvement of the relations with
the USA in line with common interests and mutual benefits was one of
the main priorities of the Turkish government.
Erdogan stressed that the communication channels at all levels should
be open in that regard.
Erdogan said that the high-ranking visits between the two countries
would continue, stressing that Turkey-US cooperation should continue
as regards to Iraq, solution of Arab-Israeli conflict, Caucasus,
stability in Central Asia, reform efforts in the Middle East,
reconstruction of Afghanistan, fight with terrorism and energy
security. Erdogan stressed that finding a lasting and fair solution in
Cyprus, fight with PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] terrorism and
Armenian claims constituted an important place in Turkey-US relations.
Referring to the recent claims brought to agenda saying that there was
a widespread anti-Americanism in Turkey, Erdogan said: “The Turkish
nation, who has never forgotten the support US extended to Turkey in
many issues, is also aware of the fact that the two countries need
each other today and tomorrow.”
“However, I should clearly state that the positive responses of not
only the USA, but of all our allies and partners to our right
expectations will contribute significantly to overcoming the
disappointment that appears in the Turkish public opinion from time to
time,” said Erdogan.