Turkish foreign minister tells US envoy of determination “to
consolidate” ties
Anatolia news agency
16 Jun 05
Ankara, 16 June: The 229th anniversary of independence of the United
States was marked at a reception hosted by US Ambassador to Turkey
Eric Edelman on Thursday [16 June].
Speaking at the reception, Edelman said that 229 years had elapsed
since approval of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776
including the foundation principles reading, “we hold the truths
to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure
these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form
of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of
the people to alter or to abolish it”.
Recalling that former President Abraham Lincoln had objected to slavery
since it had been violation of those rights, Edelman said that rights
and freedoms could not be taken under guarantee anywhere in the world
unless rights of an individual were ensured everywhere.
Stressing that the United States faced one of the worst foreign
threats of its history on 11 September 2001, Edelman said that US
President George W. Bush, in response to that threat, included social,
political and economic factors in the defence.
Describing Turkey as a “source of inspiration”, Edelman said that
“Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had created a modern Turkey from the ashes
of the Ottoman Empire with similar principles”. Turkey’s vision
and achievements were worthy of appreciation; support of the United
States to the democracy in Turkey would continue to be one of the
basic principles of the US foreign policy, he stressed. Emphasizing
that Turkey-the United States relations could not be evaluated on
the basis of only political interests, Edelman said that the common
values of the two countries enriched and revived the alliance.
Edelman added that the United States would continue attributing
importance to friendly relations with Turkey, relying on opinions of
Turkey, and needing assistance of Turkey in the struggle for freedom.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah
Gul said that Turkey-the United States relations were based on common
values such as democracy, rule of law and human rights.
“Global threats of the 21st century such as proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and terrorism have made the strategic partnership
between Turkey and the United States more important. We consider our
relations with the United States one of priorities of our foreign
policy. Those relations have gained new dimensions as a result of
global developments. We are determined to further consolidate our
relations,” he said.
Gul thanked Edelman for all his contributions to the bilateral
relations between Turkey and the United States.
Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay, State Minister Mehmet Aydin,
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, General Staff Deputy Chief Gen Ilker
Basbug, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit
Alpogan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ali Tuygan,
Turkey’s Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk, Motherland Party
(ANAP) leader Erkan Mumcu and a number of guests were in attendance
at the reception.