Statements by U.S. Officials

US Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) Interview with “Sabah” Newspaper

Ankara, June 1, 2005

QUESTION: The US and Turkey have different policies about Syria. When you consider this, are Turkey’s policies and strategy about Syria disturbing the US? I mean, in particular, the visits by high-level Turkish officials to Syria. Was this issue raised during your meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan?

CONGESSMAN WEXLER: I think most Americans appreciate Turkey that it is very important and it can be very useful for Turkey to engage with its neighbors, including Syria and Iran. Turkey has national interests that are regional, and that must be respected. No country understands the consequences of terror in this region like Turkey does. And Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism – no ifs, no ands, no buts. When we analyze Syria’s role with respect to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq, when we analyze Syria’s historic role in Lebanon, and when we analyze Syria’s support for Hezbollah and other Palestinian rejectionist groups, it is clear to most Americans that Syria is an impediment to progress – progress with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian issues, progress with respect to Lebanon, and progress with respect to Iraq. As long as Turkey’s engagement with Syria is consistent with those acknowledgments, and as long as Turkey’s role does not otherwise compromise what seems to be a unified front against Syria at this point -- a unified front meaning the United States and Europe. Let’s remember that it was the United States and France together who co-sponsored the UN resolution demanding not only that Syrian troops remove themselves along with their intelligence officers from Syria, but also that Hezbollah be disarmed. On the one hand, Turkey criticizes the United States for not being more aggressive in attacking the PKK terrorists in Iraq, and Turkey has a valid point. But on the other hand, Turkey can’t criticize the United States for not taking a more aggressive stand against the PKK, and then Turkey not in turn be equally aggressive with Syria in demanding that Syria stop its support for terror, stop its support for Hezbollah. The same argument applies with Iran.

QUESTION: Was this issue raised during your meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: Sure, we discussed it.

QUESTION: Did you mention all of this, and what did Erdogan say about this issue?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: I did mention it. I mentioned it in the context of the evaluation of the whole relationship between the United States and Turkey, and I think that’s the way it needs to be analyzed. The United States is very grateful to Turkey and very appreciative of Turkey’s having -- not only once, but twice -- headed up the International Security Forces in Afghanistan. That illustrates, in a very current venue, the strength of the American-Turkish relationship, the fact that Turkey has twice headed up the Afghanistan Security Forces. The United States is very respectful of the way in which Prime Minister Erdogan has managed the Cyprus issue. The last time Prime Minister Erdogan came on official business to Washington, he promised Washington that he would remain one step ahead of the Greeks when it came to Cyprus. He fulfilled his promise, and he has earned a great deal of respect as a result of that. The way the Prime Minister has handled the economy has gained him significant levels of credibility in Washington. The way in which Turkey has presented itself to the European Union, which the United States has supported for a very long time, again is very much in concert with American interests. But the United States is at a place, in my view, where the war against terror and the war against rogue nations has developed to another level. What we would hope and we would expect of our allies, of which is a very significant one, is that there be a united front presented to authoritarian leaders such as Bashar Assad, so that Bashar Assad can see no light of day between the United States and Turkey, and the United States and Europe. And in this case Egypt is with the United States, Saudi Arabia is with the United States, and Jordan is with the United States. We would hope that Turkey would be in a similar posture.

QUESTION: When you consider the relationship between the US and Turkey, how do you describe and evaluate it now? How does it compare with the past?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: I think the relationship between the United States and Turkey is at a very healthy state. It is strong. What is common between us is much larger and more important than what differentiates us. The differences of the Iraq war are behind us. The question for me is whether or not Turkey will play an essential role in the evolution of democracy in the Middle East. That’s the question. We have great confidence that Turkey can play a very positive role.

QUESTION: So you have trust in Turkey?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: It’s not a question of trust. But Turkey needs to exert herself in a manner in this region which advances the cause of democracy. The fact remains that the Iranian nuclear program presents a degree of jeopardy for the region that requires a response not only from America, and not only from England, France, and Germany, but from Turkey. After all, if Iran develops a nuclear program and implements it, it will create the nuclearization of the Middle East. Turkey and Egypt and Saudi Arabia will be presented with very dire consequences. So the time to act in unison, in a strong voice, is now.

QUESTION: What is your comment on anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism in Turkey? How do you see nationalism in Turkey?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: Turkey has a rich history in respecting religious diversity. The Jewish community in Turkey has felt comfortable in Turkey for 500 years, and the community still feels comfortable. After the bombings in Istanbul, Prime Minister Erdogan made very important statements saying that an attack on a synagogue is an attack on Turkey, not distinguishing the Jewish community from the broader Turkish community. But it’s clear that there is a degree of extremism that has been expressed by a small number of people and a minority of media outlets. This has poisoned the environment for the larger culture, and politicians need to be very careful not to inflame the more extreme elements within society. I don’t think Turkey is even close to being an anti-Semitic society -- nowhere near that. However, one must be mindful of the fact that apparently there is greater audience for books like “Mein Kampf” than there was 25 years ago. So one must ask why? Why is that? Why, to a certain degree, have some elements of anti-Semitism and extreme nationalism become in vogue? And it’s incumbent upon political leaders, religious leaders, and communal leaders to stamp that out.

QUESTION: Do you think that anti-Americanism in Turkey is decreasing or increasing?

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: I have heard reports of increasing anti-Americanism in Turkey. I myself, when I’m here, don’t feel it. So it’s difficult to gauge. I think Turkey, not unlike many other societies, has had a difference of opinion regarding American actions in Iraq, and the manner in which America exerts its power. Those are all legitimate political beliefs. But I would hope that the overwhelming majority of Turkish citizens would remember that, ultimately, the United States is a strong ally of Turkey, and would recall that on Turkey’s most important questions, the United States has always been a strong ally. On the question of the European Union, the United States has supported Turkey’s entrance into the European Union at every turn. The United States has supported Turkey’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund for many years. America is the most significant contributor to the International Monetary Fund. The economic success that Turkey has enjoyed in the past two years is in direct relation to the economic support that the United States has provided through the International Monetary Fund and other international organizations. People can agree or disagree with President Bush, and they can agree or disagree with his characterization of America’s role in helping to create the environment for more growth of democracy, but to the degree that America is successful in creating more opportunities for democracy, that will benefit Turkey. Because Turkey is a democracy. That will create more markets and more stability, which will benefit both Turkey and the United States.

QUESTION: Thank you.

CONGRESSMAN WEXLER: It was my pleasure. Thank you for your interest.