Ambassador Remarks
Press Event
Ambassador Ross Wilson And DYP Chairman Mehmet Ağar
True Path Party (DYP) Headquarters
Ankara, February 10, 2006
Ambassador Wilson: Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be here this morning, to have an opportunity to visit the headquarters of the True Path Party and to talk with you, Chairman Agar.
Thank you very much for the kind words that you have said about me and the positive things that you have also said about the importance of the US – Turkish relationship and cooperation on the many issues and concerns that we share.
I look forward to an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the current views of the True Path Party on the political issues before us – to learn about the ideas and the platform that you will be taking as Turkey heads towards elections, which should take place by November 2007.
I would like to take the opportunity of being here this morning with the media to express on behalf the United States our deep regret and sincere condolences to those who have lost their lives in the bombing yesterday in Istanbul. The United States condemns that action and we will continue to work with Turkey on issues of international terrorism, supporting in any way we can the investigation of this and the bringing of the perpetrators to justice.
And I’m sure you agree with me that our two countries must work together as effectively as possible to deal with this specific crime that took place yesterday in Istanbul and the broader problem of international terrorism.
Question: I would like to get the US opinion on British Foreign Minister Straw’s remarks that if Papadopoulos continues like this and does not support Turkey’s action plan, then eventually Britain would recognize the TRNC and that international public opinion, too, supports this.
Amb. Wilson: I think I’d prefer not to comment specifically on what Mr. Straw said. The United States has given support and has welcomed a proposal that Foreign Minister Gul put forward several weeks ago.
We believe that the proposal put forward is an important step to reinvigorate the United Nations-sponsored negotiating process on Cyprus. And we have called on all of the parties to continue to support that process and to come forward with their own ideas on how to move it forward.
Question: According to an interview in Hurriyet today, Foreign Minister Gul said that we won’t allow any use of Turkish soil against Iran and he also said that Turkish history is older than the US history. Can you comment please?
Ambassador Wilson: Well, first I don’t really know exactly what Foreign Minister Gul said, so it is difficult for me to comment directly on that. But I will say that the United States has not asked to use Turkey as a base from which to carry on actions of the sort that the Foreign Minister apparently referred to against Iran. We are pleased that the Turkish Government shares with us and with many others in the international community a strong concern about the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and a strong view that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. And the United States, the so-called EU3, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Turkey, as well as a number of other countries all want to work as effectively as possible on the diplomatic track to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear programs.
Question: I’d like to ask both Mr. Agar and the Ambassador this question about the "Valley of Wolves, Iraq." The Ambassador has been subject to this question many times. Is the anti-Americanism in the film affecting relations?
Ambassador Wilson: Well first of all, I don’t generally go to the movies. I only see films on airplanes, so I’ve not seen this, but I’ve heard some things about it. Obviously I am not going to be real excited about a film that apparently caricatures Americans as violent, blood-thirsty people. I am not going to be enthusiastic about a film that portrays Americans and Turks fighting one another. Americans and Turks have never in 230 years of American history fought one another.
Having said that, this is just a movie. It is entertainment. And unless and until people here ascribe great political significance to it, I’m not inclined to, either.
Chairman Agar: Let me tell you my view. As the Ambassador stated, in the 230 years of history of the US, US and Turkish troops never fought with each other. They have always fought shoulder to shoulder together, but this recent incident in Suleymaniye hurt the public deeply.
Certainly this must be repaired fully and in the long run it will be repaired through different ways, but what I find strange and funny is the fact that this movie was watched by some government members and they liked it.
There are similar examples in Hollywood. It is a fact that this movie is reflecting the psychology, sentiments of the public. It’s better to put it that way. We need to accept the fact that this is only a movie and real life is different and politics are different than that. But it is a fact that it reflects the sentiment of the public.
Thank you.