Ambassador's remarks and public events

AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON
INTERVIEW WITH MITHAT BEREKET, CNN-TURK

SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
(aired on September 28, 2006)

QUESTION:  Now we were supposed to talk about the Middle East, the PKK, the Turkish-American relations, Northern Iraq, we still talk about those, but something urgent came up yesterday. The head of the EU Commission Barroso had declared, had made a remark about Bulgaria and Romania, the enlargement of EU must be stopped.  Now, how do you see this remark? What’s your reaction to that remark?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I’ve seen the press reports of Mr. Barroso’s remarks, I’m not in a position to really comment directly on his words, I think.  What I would say - a couple things. First, the fundamental decisions that will be made about Turkey’s accession to the European Union will be made by the member states of the European Union and Turkey. The United States is not directly part of that process. We have supported Turkey for a long time. We believe that Turkey’s accession to the European Union is in Europe’s interest and in Turkey’s interest. Fundamentally, the decisions have got to be made by the parties. I think Turkey will have to work hard over the coming months and years. This will be along process to further convince European publics that it is ready to meet the commitments and the obligations that are part of being a member of the European Union.  And clearly, Mr. Barroso’s remarks would seem to suggest - if the press reports are accurate - that at least that one individual needs a little bit of convincing both on the general proposition of EU’s further expansion as well as with respect to Turkey.

QUESTION:  The U.S. Administration is concerned about Turkey’s full membership in the EU.  Now, it seems that after these remarks you would easily imagine that the anti- EU people in Turkey will come to forth and say - they will say look we told you that you will never get us in. So, what should the…how should Turkish people react to such a thing? Do you have any idea about that?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Well, I think my advice to people here has been  - and to the Government here - has been to take the long view with respect to EU accession. This is not a decision that is going to be made this month. It’s not a decision that is going to be made this autumn, it’s not a decision that’s going to be made this year or even in the next several years. It’s a long process. The agreements that were reached last year, call for the process to conclude around 2012 or 2013.  Maybe that time frame will be met. But in any case that’s a whole bunch of years off. There’s a lot of work that Turkey needs to do in terms of political reform, in terms of economic reform, legal reform and the adoption of the so-called European aquis that is important both for Turkey’s future - frankly whether Turkey gets in to the EU or not, those reforms are essential and important and I think have been judged by the people of Turkey to be important. And making progress in those areas will demonstrate, will help to demonstrate to the people of Europe that Turkey is serious and Turkey is committed to this process. But it is a long process and will take time.

QUESTION:  And there is a really interesting thing. Do you think that there is a possibility that if the Turkish-EU relations will go bad or will go foggy, this will bring Turkey more closer to the United States? Because this is really the fact, this is always the internal… (inaudible) discussed about these things and something happen when the relations with EU is sort of like going bad, then Turkish foreign policy is in a way coming more towards the US?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Well, I don’t want to speculate about what might happen as there are rises and falls or advances and setbacks in Turkey’s accession process with the European Union. I think my country’s relationship with Turkey’s stands on its own merits; it’s based on common interests that we have, common interests that we share with many of those same European countries that are also members of NATO. And, I think our relationship will advance in the coming several years on its own terms more or less unconnected from the technical process that Turkey makes with respect to the EU.  And our relations will advance also as Turkey’s economic and political reforms move forward; which are important to us as they are important to the European Union and to the people of Turkey.

QUESTION:  So as far as I understand to finish this section your advice to Turkish people and the Turkish Government about EU is just continue with the process. No matter what they say, what Barroso says, just continue.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  My advice to the people of Turkey is to continue with reforms that are in Turkey’s interest, to continue pursuing the European Union accession effort in a patient and also in a persistent way and to find creative and look for creative and flexible ways to deal with the many, many, many issues that will arise over the coming number of years as this process plays itself out.

QUESTION:  Coming to the other topics. Now, how do you consider the fact that there is some sort of reaction, some criticism about the US in Turkey because of Iraq, because of Northern Iraq, because of the PKK. When you go to Anatolia, which we followed your visit to Anatolia (inaudible) it seems that you (inaudible) with antipathetic questions, with some criticisms, how do you feels about those?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Throughout my career representing the United States I’ve come across people who did not like this or that aspect of the foreign policy of the president in office at that given time. It’s sort of goes with the territory. I think, in my view the key ingredient for addressing concern around the world about our foreign policy, for addressing anti-Americanism here or elsewhere, is for our policies to succeed.  If, and to the extent that we are successful in helping Iraq to stand upon its feet as a strong and stable democratic and unified country, that’s in Turkey’s interest, that’s in the interest of the people of Turkey.  And, I think what we are doing will then be appreciated.  Similarly if we are successful and as we are successful in persuading Iran to abandon its nuclear programs and to come into compliance with its treaty obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, that is something that is in the interest of Turkey, it is in the interest of the Turkish people, and will be appreciated.  The key for us is to succeed in our policies. 

QUESTION:  So what is the solution to really sort of change this anti-Americanism or anti-Bushism in Turkey?  What should be done from your side, from Turkey’s side?  (inaudible) because of Iraq, because of the PKK.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  As I indicated the first and most essential thing is for our policies to succeed whether it is Iraq or Iran or with respect to the PKK and the kind of agenda that General Ralston mapped out when he was here a couple of weeks ago.  I think it is important for us to try to explain what it is that we are doing, or what we think we are trying to do, to be open and accessible to the people of Turkey - and I appreciate the opportunity on this program today to respond to questions.  I think it is also important for us to look other ways to bring our peoples together.  Life isn’t just about politics.  Life isn’t just about foreign affairs.  There are strong business ties between our two countries that we need further to develop.  There are strong ties among academicians, among our universities.  There are more Turkish students that study in the United States than from any other country in Europe.  That reflects an ongoing tie and connection between the United States that we can work on that we can strengthen as we try to deal with some of these other sentiments that are out there.

QUESTION:  Coming to the PKK, now it seems that it’s an obvious fact that Turkish public opinion is very much concerned about the PKK.  Now, what would you or what did you or what are you doing as US in northern Iraq against the PKK?  Would you also as the US declare that you recognize PKK as a terrorist organization?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  First, let me say that the United States deeply regrets the violence that has taken place here over many, many years.  We sympathize with the many losses that the people of our ally…our friend and ally Turkey have suffered over many years from PKK violence and in particular from the upsurge of violence that has taken place this year.  It is horrific, it is brutal, and it’s a reminder to everybody in the world of what the dangers of terrorism represent for our civilizations and why are countries must work together effectively to deal those dangers.  We have worked with Turkey over a number of years in a number of different ways to try to be helpful with respect to the PKK.  Whether this is information sharing with respect to PKK activities in presence in Turkey and in northern Iraq that we believe has been helpful to the Turkish authorities in going after and neutralizing PKK presence, in particular in Turkey, or activities that we have carried out in Europe together with Turkey to cut off funding, to get PKK leaders and other figures arrested and either tried for the offenses that they have committed in European countries or extradited here.  There is a complex of activities that I think are also important.  What we have…what the State Department and others have said over the last number of weeks is that we believe that northern Iraq should not and will not and must not be a base for continued PKK activities against this country either for the launching of violent attacks on Turkey or for the organization and supply of attacks against Turkey.  General Ralston, our new Special Envoy for Countering the PKK was here and in Iraq about two weeks ago.  He talked about developing a range of measures that we can take, that the United States and Turkey can take, that the United States, Turkey and Iraq can take so that northern Iraq will not be in the future a base for the PKK to operate.  We share the concerns of Turkey, we are going to try to work now in the coming weeks to address those concerns in particular as they pertain to northern Iraq.

QUESTION:  On the other hand, the patience of Turkish people is very short, especially those families who lost their boys in the southeastern part of Turkey.  Now, don’t you think as the US Administration of a military campaign or any (inaudible) cooperatively with Turkish military or alone, or maybe let the Turkish military do the job on Kandil mountain, because there is a big concern in Turkey.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  First, we share, and I in particular share, the frustration and a deep sense of urgency on the need to deal with this problem.  And General Ralston when he was here reflected exactly those sentiments.  What he said as a military man with 35+ years in the military where he had to do a lot of terrible things that militaries have to do, was that the use of military force should always be a last resort.  He said it is not off the table.  He will be engaged now in the coming number of weeks together with his Turkish counterpart General Baser and his Iraqi counterpart whenever that individual is announced to try to identify a range of measures that will be effective and it would be visible to the people of Turkey to show to the people of Turkey that the United States is with them. 

QUESTION:  So when do you think we will really start to see something concrete that’s happening as Turkish people will start to see something concrete against PKK?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I wouldn’t want to put a timeframe on it.  We certainly understand that the need is urgent, and I believe that General Ralston was able when he was in Iraq to convince the Iraqi authorities that the need is urgent as well. 

QUESTION: They still couldn’t decide who will be the envoy, their coordinator.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  We have not used the word coordinator.  I have tried very consciously to avoid that word.  I believe that we have heard a couple of different names over the course of last several days.  I expect that somebody will be named here very shortly.

QUESTION:  Coming to the special envoys or coordinators which cause a lot of debate in Turkey but even Chief of Staff Yasar Buyukanit sort of said that we should not call them coordinators, stop calling them as coordinators.  What will they do?  I mean what will they do that career diplomats like yourself or military people personnel or other bureaucrats couldn’t achieve until today?  What will they do more?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I think there a couple of things that we look at least to General Ralston to do.  Turkish officials will have to address what General Baser’s role will be.  In General Ralston’s case, what we are looking for is first, for him to lead the US team in these trilateral talks and bilaterally as well with Turkey, but in the trilateral format US-Turkey-Iraq.  Previously, our representative to these negotiations was a rather low-ranking or mid-level State Department official.  We have elevated this quite significantly as a sign of our seriousness and commitment to work much more effectively and in a much more active way with Turkey and Iraq on this issue.  Second, the other part of General Ralston’s task is to pull together the various strands within the US Government and make sure that they’re all working in the same way and that we are more effective collectively in implementing the various steps that we have.  We had a whole lot of people who were and who are responsible for different aspects of the PKK problem.  And whether it’s within the State Department, or among people at the State Department and the Defense Department, or our European US military European Command which is responsible for Turkey and has been helpful to some extent in the efforts with Turkey to go after the PKK in Europe, or the US Central Command which is the US military presence in Iraq.  General Ralston can pull all those elements together, and I think he certainly sees his job as making trying to ensure that all of them work together that we apply all of the elements of US power and influence, whether they are diplomatic or military or security or law enforcement or other things, and that we aim them more effectively at this problem.

QUESTION:  So you are saying that as far as I understand that the military option is still on the table against the PKK.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  General Ralston was quite categorical in saying that no option is off the table. 

QUESTION:  What should be done to really destroy PKK, to really erase PKK?  What should be done?  What’s the solution?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Well I think that fundamentally the real answer to your question probably has to come from General Ralston.  At a higher level, what we want to see here is for the PKK to cease its terrorism, to lay down its arms, to no longer function in northern Iraq, in particular in northern Iraq, and really, in a certain sense, to exist as a terrorist entity.  That’s what we all want to see.

QUESTION:  Because, as you know it is a very sort of delicate issue for the Turkish people.  If the US will do something with Turkey or without Turkey against the PKK, this may change the sort of perception of US in Turkey dramatically from maybe bad to good.  How do you feel about that?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I am aware that the concerns, that the views that Turkey…that many Turks have that we have not done enough on the PKK are part of our problem in this country.  So to that extent yes, I think that our taking more active and visible steps will help to address this problem, some of the problems we have had in US-Turkish relations.  It is also important to do - and the reason we will do it - is because it is important to fight against terrorism.  Turkey has helped the United States in the fight against terrorism, the United States has helped Turkey in the fight against terrorism, this struggle with the PKK is part and parcel of that and it’s why we’re committed to it.

QUESTION:  Coming to President Bush will accept Prime Minister Erdogan, they’ll meet in Washington.  What will be on the table?  What is on the agenda of the US side?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I think that what a big part of what President Bush will be looking for in his conversation with Prime Minister Erdogan is really to get the Prime Minister’s sense and then have a discussion about the key events around Turkey.  Obviously, of course the President’s interested in what’s going on in Turkey, and I am sure the Prime Minister may want to talk about that.  But this whole conversation we just had about the PKK, we know that’s important.  It will be important for the Prime Minister to state his concerns and for the President to hear those, and for the two of them to talk a little bit about the way forward now that General Ralston, General Baser and the Iraqi side will be engaged in over the coming several weeks.  There is the broader issue of Iraq and where Iraq is headed.  I think we have appreciated the helpful role that Turkey has played over the course of the last couple of years.  We must remain in harmony, in sync as we work now over the coming number of months and years to complete the job in Iraq and be sure that it really does succeed as a strong democratic, independent, unified country.  I am sure they will want to talk about Iran.  The issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions is very, very high in the list of concerns in the United States. 

QUESTION:  So will the US ask for anything or demand things concerning Iran?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Well, the United States doesn’t make demands of Turkey.  We’re allies and we develop joint plans and joint strategies and joint approaches to problems, certainly a problem like this one.  I think that the President will be interested to get the Prime Minister’s sense of how Turkey sees the situation, what Turkey thinks might be some useful avenues to pursue with Iraq.  And I assume that the Prime Minister would also be interested in the sense of the United States strategy as we work, in particular, with the so-called EU 3 countries, the other members…the permanent members of the UN Security Council to try to move this forward over the coming several weeks. 

QUESTION:  And coming to Iran, what is the policy of US towards Iran at the moment, towards Iran’s nuclear program?  Is it now we are getting into more diplomacy sort of side of things (inaudible) where are we at the moment?  where are you at the moment?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  We’ve never had military action with respect to the Iran nuclear problem as kind of our top agenda item.  The President has never taken that off the table or ruled it out.  But he has been very categorical for many, many months if not longer than that that we want to resolve this manner peacefully, we want to resolve it diplomatically and that we are committed to working to the very, very, very end to try through diplomatic means to persuade Iran to change its approach.  Fundamentally, what we want is for Iran to come in to compliance with the commitments it made when it signed the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.  That includes suspending its uranium enrichment activities, ceasing other activities that can have no other logical explanation but as steps toward the development of nuclear weapons.  And we want for Iran - and Turkey I think also wants for Iran - to be fully transparent on what are its nuclear energy plans and developments, plans with which in principal we have no particular problem, we’ve made that very clear. 

QUESTION:  Where do you place Turkey in this policy?  How can Turkey help US vis-à-vis Iran?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  I believe that Turkey has for many months been very helpfully conveying the message that Iran should be fully transparent in its nuclear energy development efforts, that it should cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and that it should meet and adhere to its commitments under the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.  I also believe that the Turkish Government has encouraged the Iranian authorities to take a good, long look at the package of proposals that was put forward by the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany several months ago, a package that included a wide range of incentives and positive steps that all of our countries, including the United States were prepared to take if Iran would suspend its uranium enrichment activities and then more broadly to pursue a peaceful and a transparent nuclear energy program with the IAEA and quite incontrovertibly abandon its nuclear weapons efforts.

QUESTION:  And very lastly, in one of our interviews with Richard Pearl, he described the impact of the first of March decision of the Turkish Parliament as a bruise.  He said it’s sort of like a bruise appeared or caused a bruise in Turkish-American relations.  Do you think we still suffer from this bruise or it’s getting better?

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Well, clearly, there were people in particular in the US military who were disappointed with the decision that the Turkish Parliament took.  Clearly, there were also many people including in our military who appreciated that this was a decision by Turkey’s democratically elected Parliament that reflected Turkey’s commitment to democracy, to democratic institutions, to democratic values.  We respect the decision that Turkey made in March 2003.  Life has gone on.  Our relationship with this country is a very important one, we have a lot of work to do and have been doing a lot of good and important work in Iraq, in Iran, and elsewhere around the region.

QUESTION:  Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much.

AMBASSADOR WILSON:  Thank you.