Statements by U.S. Officials

Statement by Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Meeting on Ankara Declaration

May 31, 2007

Senior-level representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey met yesterday on the margins of the G-8 Ministerial to assess progress on the goals laid out in the Ankara Declaration of April 30. The Ankara Declaration is the first joint statement signed by the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan and affirms their commitment to cooperate on regional development and the war against terror. We, along with the G-8 and the rest of the international community, support Turkish efforts to foster improved relations between these two key partners.