Ambassador's remarks & public events

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON AT A LUNCHEON WITH THE US-TURKEY INTERPARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP AT THE PARLIAMENT

ANKARA, JANUARY 3, 2006

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Thank you very much for those kind remarks.  Thank you very much for the opportunity to meet with all of you here today.  In all of the initial meetings that I have had since arriving in Turkey only a month ago, I have gotten a very warm reception from the officials that I have met with, and the signals that have been sent to me from the President, from the Prime Minister, from other government ministers, and other people that I have met with in this country are that Turkey wants to see continued improvement in its relationship with the United States.  That is exactly the signal that I have come to send to Turkey and that Washington wishes to send to Turkey at this important time.  Of course in our relations there have been some difficult times, there have been some disagreements. That is natural between friends and allies.  Of course there have been some difficult moments some of which continue to be written about, and talked about.  In some respects, that is also normal between friends and allies.  The approach that I bring to my work here in Turkey is to look forward that how we can work together in the future in those many areas where we have common interests and common objectives.  When I was sworn in for this position by Secretary Rice, I referred to a Turkey that stands on the frontlines of peace and freedom in an area in the world where peace and freedom is under challenge.  Turkey’s interest in a peaceful and successful Iraq is no less than the interest of the United States in a peaceful and successful Iraq.  I was deeply disturbed yesterday to hear about the attack on Ambassador Unal Cevikoz, a close personal friend of mine.  I was in touch with him last night.  We are very, very grateful and pleased to hear that he is ok.  Our embassy has extended its assistance to the Turkish Embassy and we want to try to do everything we can to ensure the success of Turkey’s important diplomatic mission in Baghdad.  When we look elsewhere around Turkey’s borders, it is Syria, and Iran, and in a somewhat different way in the Caucasus, we see continued difficulty, instability, in the case of Iran and Syria continued challenges of the international community and to peace and freedom.  Based on my conversations with the Government I believe that Turkey, the Turkish Government, wants the same thing in those countries that the United States wants.  I want to try while I am here, and I believe the Turkish Government wants to try as well, to find ways we can work together to accomplish, and bring about the ends on which we agree in those two countries.  As we have for a number of years, I want to continue our work in support of Turkey’s entry and accession to the European Union.  I want to continue our work on behalf of a long term settlement in Cyprus, and to ensure that how Cyprus is handled does not constitute an obstacle either in our bilateral relations, or in Turkey’s accession to the EU.  We also want very, very much to ensure that we work closely, and more importantly, effectively with the Government of Turkey on the problems of international terrorism that are so important in today’s world.  It was very helpful for me that the first discussions I had upon arriving in Turkey, after presenting my credentials to the President, were together with our FBI director and our CIA director to specifically talk about how we will work together on these important issues.  And we made clear at that time, Mr. Goss in particular made clear at that time, that the President of the United States and US Government attach great importance to working with Turkey on the problem of PKK terrorism.  We are determined to do everything we can to assist in dealing with this problem.  There are many, many other problems and issues on our platter with Turkey.  This is an important and diverse relationship.  When Secretary Rice swore me into this position, she described it as a strategic relationship of extreme importance.  And in seeking to develop that relationship, I look forward to working with all of you.  I look forward to benefiting from your advice and your counsel, and I hope that we can accomplish important and useful things for our two countries over the course of the next several years.  Cok cok tesekkur ederim.