AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS AND PUBLIC EVENTS

Remarks by Ambassador Ross Wilson Following his Meeting with  Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker at The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

April 17, 2006, Ankara

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Good morning.  It is good to see all of you.  I just finished a very good meeting with Minister of Agriculture Eker.  We talked about a couple of different topics.  First, we talked about the problem of avian influenza, the steps that Turkey has taken, and the steps that the United States is taking to support Turkey’s efforts and to support regional efforts to deal with the bird flu problem.  I again commended the Government of Turkey for the very effective actions that it has taken since avian influenza first came on to the scene here at the end of last year and the beginning of this year.  Second, I commended Turkey’s role as a regional leader and dealing with the bird flu problem, as was reflected in the conference that took place in Ankara last week.  The United States was pleased to support this Turkish initiative, together with the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization.  And third, I discussed with the Minister briefly the United States’ plans to provide about $1,000,000 in funding as part of the overall World Bank assistance project to Turkey for dealing with avian influenza.  Our efforts will be aimed at supporting the Government’s work to facilitate the reintroduction of poultry into rural areas in Turkey, and also to ensure that that reintroduction is carried out in a safe and hygienic way so that there is not a recurrence of a bird flu problem in this country.  The Minister and I also discussed briefly the WTO case that the United States and other countries have filed regarding Turkey’s arrangements for the importation of rice.  The Minister provided some helpful clarification about exactly what the Government has done so far to change the policies here, and that will be helpful to Washington in determining how we go forward.  I will be happy to answer a question or two.

QUESTION:   There were some press reports that the United States has demanded three naval bases from Turkey.  Are these reports true?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  There is no substantiation to those reports.  The United States is not seeking bases of that sort in Turkey.

QUESTION:  Can you give us a date for the possible visit of Secretary Rice to Turkey?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I can tell you that Secretary Rice remains interested in visiting Turkey.  Any announcement about specific plans to visit here will be made out of Washington, not from here.