Statements by U.S. Officials

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) Interview with NTV

Ankara, May 31, 2005

QUESTION: Senator Hagel good morning. Welcome to NTV.

SENATOR HAGEL: Thank you.

QUESTION: As you know, the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will visit Washington next week. It is no secret that bilateral relations are not at the level that both sides would wish. Can we say that this visit might be a new era in Turkish-US relations? Or would that be a very optimistic approach?

SENATOR HAGEL: Well first, I think we have to appreciate that the relationship between Turkey and the United States has been a very strong and important relationship since World War II. I think the Turkish-American foundation of NATO has been a critical dynamic for NATO. Our two countries have so many common interests. That doesn’t mean we are not going to have differences. All countries have differences. Countries respond in their own self-interest. But what’s important is keeping that relationship anchored to the common interests that both countries have. Certainly the geopolitical strategic interest in this region of the world that both Turkey and the United States have are critically important. We have defense issues, energy issues, economic issues. Most Americans believe it is important that Turkey have an opportunity to enter the European Union. There are issues of stability and security. So we have had differences in the past, and we will probably have differences in the future. But again, let’s not be unmindful of the foundation of the relationship, of how strong it is and how important it is.

QUESTION: As you know, before the beginning of the war in Iraq the US Government had some requests from the Turkish side. It is not a secret that all the requests were not met by the Turkish side. The Incirlik Base will be used in a way, but we are not sure that this is enough for the US side. During the visit of Prime Minister to Washington, what kind of requests might be on the table from the American side? 

SENATOR HAGEL: I do not speak for the Bush Administration. I am one United States Senator, so I am limited as to what my reach is. It is very important, I believe, that the Prime Minister be in Washington, and not just for the optics of it, the symbolism of it. I have always felt that the more relationships can develop one-on-one and personal visits, then the more likely it is that whatever differences there are can be resolved in a way that is suitable for both sides. Obviously, when the Prime Minister meets President Bush, they will talk about many issues, and Iraq will be one. Energy will certainly be another. The EU issues, Cyprus, and the PKK will be an issue. These are all very important issues, because they affect Turkey directly, and they affect the United States either directly or indirectly. Anytime our allies are being affected, especially our friends that are as important as Turkey, then we need to pay attention to that. So all these issues will be on the table and they should be.

QUESTION: One of the issues, as you said, is Iraq, and another one is the PKK. In Ankara there is a big disappointment. Many people believe that the US hasn’t done a lot concerning the terrorist organization PKK. Can we expect some concrete steps from the US side toward the PKK in the short term?

SENATOR HAGEL: President Bush has said very clearly that he considers – and I think all of us in the Congress consider -- the PKK to be a terrorist organization. It is in the interest of both Turkey and the United States, and the region and the world, to deal with these terrorist organizations. We are not unmindful of the problems that the PKK has presented, and still does, to Turkey. What President Bush has said is that we will continue to work with the Iraqi Government, and the Iraqi Government will become stronger as we help them. Turkey has now invited the Iraqi Government to send its military and police for training to Turkey. Other countries are helping them as well. When that Government develops a constitution and the United States and other coalition partners are able to strengthen that Iraqi Government, then the PKK will be dealt with. It will have to be dealt with. But I don’t know of any country that has done more to deal with the PKK than the United States. The fact is we have 150,000 troops in Iraq, we are dealing with terrorism there, as we are dealing with terrorism in Afghanistan, where Turkish Forces are now once again leading the ASAF Forces. And we very much appreciate Turkish leadership in Afghanistan. So these issues will be dealt with, but they will be dealt within the general context of terrorism, even though the PKK is a very real threat to Turkey. But make no mistake, the United States is very much in alliance with Turkey on helping Turkey deal with the PKK.

QUESTION: In recent days, the attacks of the terrorist against Turkish Security Forces are increasing. Almost every day, one or two Turkish soldiers or policemen are dying because of terrorist acts. Can we expect any military action in the short term from the US side against the PKK? They are still in northern Iraq and, as you say, there is quite a large military presence in Iraq on the US side. So can we expect military action against the PKK?

SENATOR HAGEL: Well, I think the real question is how the United States will continue to assist and support the Iraqi Government, the Iraqi forces. As you know, the United States force structure in northern Iraq is very limited. We really don’t have very much American force structure in northern Iraq, because that is an area of Iraq that is one of the more stable, generally speaking, aside from the PKK. American forces have been concentrated more in the central and west-central areas, where the insurgency has been the deadliest. But it will really be a result of the Iraqi Government working with the Turkish Government and the coalition forces in Iraq, including the United States, to deal with the PKK. The Iraqi Prime Minister paid a recent visit here to Turkey, and he had a good, lengthy conversation with the Turkish Prime Minister on some of these issues. When I was with the Prime Minister last night, we went into some detail on the issues and some of the specifics of that conversation. Obviously, dealing with the PKK is a very high priority for all of us.

QUESTION: Can we expect some new requests from the US side during the visit of the Prime Minister to Washington within the framework of the Iraq issue? For example, might the US side ask the use of some more military bases in Turkey for any purpose?

SENATOR HAGEL: I’m not aware of any additional requests that will be forthcoming from the Bush Administration to the Turkish Government. As you noted at the top of your show, the Turkish Government is already providing assistance and flyover and humanitarian aid and other support. As you also know, the Turkish Government, when the Iraqi Prime Minister visited a couple of weeks ago, made a commitment to send more electricity, more help, and offered assistance in helping to train Iraqi police forces. But as to additional requests by the Bush Administration to the Turkish Government, I am not aware of any that might be made.

QUESTION: I have two questions concerning the Cyprus problem. There is an American delegation at the moment in the Turkish part of Cyprus, and they are going to fly to Ankara this afternoon. For many commentators, this was an historical step from the US concerning the Cyprus problem. Can we expect more concrete steps from the US? For example, would you consider opening a trade office in the Turkish part of Cyprus? Can we expect direct flights of American airlines to Ercan Airport? Or, for example, can we expect direct trade between US companies and Turkish –Cypriot companies?

SENATOR HAGEL: I would say that those are all possibilities. I think most people in Turkey know that the United States strongly supported the Annan Plan for Cyprus, and of course northern Cyprus voted for that. We are very supportive of that effort. We are big supporters of the northern Cypriot effort to try to resolve that issue. You noted the Congressional Delegation being in Cyprus and having landed at Ercan Airport. This is another symbolic gesture, once again indicating our support for northern Cypriot efforts. All of the things you mention, I think, are possibilities. We thought that the Secretary General’s plan, Kofi Annan’s plan, was a good plan. We are very sorry that the southern Cypriots turned it down. But we need to resolve this issue. It is not in the interest of Europe, of Cyprus, of Greece, of any of us to have this hanging out there. We have too many common interests. We are very supportive of Turkey’s entry into the European Union. We think that is in the best interests of Turkey, of the region, and of Europe. So many of these factors will affect the outcome. But this issue of Cyprus needs to be resolved.

QUESTION: The Prime Minister will have a meeting with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, in New York after his meeting with President Bush. There seems to be a possibility that negotiations for a solution may start in the autumn. But there is a question, because Mr. Papadopoulos, the leader of Greek Cyprus, doesn’t appear to be very eager for a solution. This is the impression in several capitals in Europe, and in Ankara. The Greek part of Cyprus is a part of the EU, but many people believe that the EU doesn’t put enough pressure on Greek Cyprus to sit at the negotiation table and to give some concessions. Do you think that the United States can take an initiative to put a bit more pressure on Mr. Papadopoulos?

SENATOR HAGEL: The United States is somewhat limited in this area, because obviously we are not part of the European Union. We have some restrictions as to how far we can or should go in trying to bring any influence to bear on the European Union. However, the European Union members know that the United States is strongly supporting Turkey’s entry into the EU. They know that the United States has strongly supported Kofi Annan’s plan for Cyprus. They also know that we have been strong supporters of northern Cyprus and their efforts to resolve the problem by voting for the Annan Plan. So yes, we can act subtly and bring some subtle pressure to bear. We can talk with our friends and allies in the European Union. But in the end we are limited as to how far we can go, and I think that’s appropriate. It should be that way. This needs to be resolved by the parties involved. The United States can play a role if the Europeans and the Greeks and the Turks want us to play a role, and we would stand ready to facilitate that role.

QUESTION: Do you expect a solution to the Cyprus problem in the near-term future?

SENATOR HAGEL: I would hope so. It’s clearly in the interests of all. I would hope that we could get this resolved for all the right reasons. Kofi Annan has put a lot of time in this. His plan, I thought, was workable and just. But we can’t give up on it. We have to keep going back to try to resolve the problem, and I have some hope that we will have this issue resolved.

QUESTION: As long as the isolation policy continues toward the Turkish part of Cyprus, do you believe that Ankara or the Turkish Cypriots should give some new concessions?

SENATOR HAGEL: Well, certainly it is possible, but that is why you have negotiations. I am not ready to start negotiating for anyone. I am incapable of that. But that’s the whole point of negotiations. That is also why sometimes third parties are helpful from the outside. It is not unlike the Israeli-Palestinian issue, where we have the quartet led by the United States trying to help facilitate some kind of a resolution. So the United States can play a role and has played a role in that in the past. I’m sure that will continue, but that’s only if both sides want us to play a role.

QUESTION: One more question about Turkish- EU relations. As you know, the French people said no to the EU Constitution the day before yesterday. Some commentators have claimed that this is going to have a negative impact on Turkish-EU relations. Do you share this view? What is the importance of Turkey for the EU when you look at the picture from Washington?

SENATOR HAGEL: On the first question, I am not close enough to give you any kind of legitimate or wise analysis of the impact or on how it might affect Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. I suppose you could make an argument theoretically one way or the other on that. Generally, my sense would be that the French turning the Constitution down probably is not going to make a lot of difference on that issue. The fact is that the accession of Turkey to the European Union will be based on the merits of that issue. As to the second part of your question, I think it is important for Europe as well as Turkey, but especially for Europe to have a more complete and unified European Union. Currently there are 25 members, but here is Turkey, that has been a very valuable and important member of NATO since 1952 but is still not part of the European Union. It seems to me that the continuity and the consistency of what the European Union effort has been about would make it very logical to include Turkey. So I can see Turkey as a very valuable member of the EU, just as it has been a very valuable member of NATO. Clearly, it is in the interest of Turkey.

QUESTION: Is a closer relationship between Turkey and the EU to the benefit of the US?

SENATOR HAGEL: I think so. It is not America’s role to dictate to the European Union who it should take and not take. But it seems to me that we have so many legitimate interests that have been born up over the last 60 years -- and I use NATO as one of those – and the founding members of the EU and the members of the EU today are members of NATO. And Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952. So it seems to me just a logical extension from the geopolitical strategic interests of Europe and Turkey to the economic interests. You can’t decouple any of those interests anyway. They are all integrated into the same pattern of policy.

SENATOR HAGEL: Yesterday you had a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Did you bring any message from the White House to this meeting? Also, there are problems in Turkish-US relations from time to time. Can we still talk about a strategic partnership?

Yesterday you had a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Did you bring any message from the White House to this meeting? Also, there are problems in Turkish-US relations from time to time. Can we still talk about a strategic partnership?

SENATOR HAGEL: Absolutely. The strategic partnership that exists between Turkey and the United States is more important and more relevant today than it has been at any time in the last 60 years. This new world that we all live in, with 6.5 billion people, is more complicated, more integrated, and presents more dynamic challenges than we have ever known. If we are all to negotiate these challenges and work through these issues of our time, then it is going to take a seamless network of relationships. Many of those relationships for America in this part of the world -- not just in Europe, but in Central Asia and beyond -- has been connected to and based on its relationship with Turkey. So that strategic relationship between Turkey and the United States is more important today than it has ever been. I do not see that being cracked. Are there differences? Of course. We’ve had differences in the past, and we will probably have differences in the future. But again, the critical part of any relationship that it is built on the foundation of common interests, of what has worked, and then work your way through the differences.

QUESTION: Any message from the White House to Prime Minister?

SENATOR HAGEL: No. The President will see the Prime Minister next week, and they will speak directly. I was not carrying any message. I’m in the region for a week visiting six countries, and I wanted to reaffirm once again the importance of the relationship between the United States and Turkey and also to talk about some specific issues -- energy issues, the EU, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, and our relationship overall.

QUESTION: Senator Hagel, thank you very much answering the questions of NTV.

SENATOR HAGEL: Thank you.

Thank you.