Statements by U.S. Officials

Remarks by US Congress Members Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Following Their Meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Ankara, May 30, 2006

CONGRESSMAN BLUNT:  I am Congressman Roy Blunt, the Republican whip in the United States Congress.  Today my friend the Democratic whip, Mr. Hoyer, and I, along with three of my colleagues and our Ambassador, met with the Prime Minister.  We had a good and frank discussion, as friends do, discussing Iran, Iraq, the Middle East peace process, and the mutual relationships that our countries have.  Our visits as two of the top ranking leaders in the Congress along with the visit of our Secretary of State just a month ago and recent visit of members of the Turkish Parliament to Washington are good examples of the constant communication we have.  Both Mr. Hoyer and I have been to Turkey a number of times and we are glad to be here again today. I would like to call on him to make some remarks.

CONGRESSMAN HOYER:  Thank you very much, Leader Blunt.  As Mr. Blunt said, I am Steny Hoyer.  I am from the State of Maryland and I am the Democratic whip -- the number two leader -- in the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.  I share Mr. Blunt’s view that this was a very positive meeting between allies and friends.  Both Turkey and the United States have a great interest in security and stability in the Middle East and in the international community.  Both Turkey and the United States have a joint interest in seeing the defeat of those who would perpetrate terrorism in this region and around the world.  We discussed Iran in particular and its acquisition of nuclear capability.  Mr. Blunt and I both expressed our determination that this matter should be resolved diplomatically, and expressed our hope that the Prime Minister and his government would be deeply involved in attaining that objective. 

We also discussed the Palestinian-Israel issue.  And we expressed our concern about Hamas and its support of terrorism and its assertion that Israel should be destroyed and not allowed to exist.  I think Mr. Blunt and I were both pleased, as was our delegation, at the Prime Minister’s assertion that when Hamas officials visited this country and met with your Foreign Minister that the solution of two states was urged upon them.  The cessation of terrorist activities was urged upon them, both of which we think are positive representations, and that Hamas must abandon terrorism, must abandon terrorist structures, and must admit to the two-state solution if peace is to be accomplished between Palestinian people and Israel and in the Middle East.  Mr. Blunt and I both reiterated the fact that it is the position of the United States that we will not treat Hamas as a legitimate member of the international community until it rejects terrorism and rejects the premise that Israel will be destroyed. 

Lastly, the Prime Minister brought up the issue of the Armenian genocide and resolutions which have been passed in various parliaments around the world.  Of course those resolutions do not speak of the present government or any recent government of Turkey, but of predecessors.  The Prime Minister made a suggestion about setting up a group of people made up of academics and experts who would look at this issue and attempt to bring it to resolution.  I think both Mr. Blunt and I believe this issue ought to be resolved and taken off the agenda.  It has been an irritant for a long period of time, ever since I went to Congress twenty-five years ago, and it ought to be addressed. 

We were pleased the Prime Minister took such a long time to meet with us discuss so fully many of the issues with which we both have concerns. 

CONGRESSMAN BLUNT:  I think on the Armenian issue, just to make it clear, we are also supportive of the Prime Minister’s idea for an historical and archeological review of those actions and welcome his willingness to try to resolve this issue.

Thank you.