statements by u.s. officials
Special Envoy for EU Affairs, C. Boyden Gray’s remarks after his meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan
Ankara, Turkey
Friday, July 11, 2008
C. Boyden Gray: We’ve just had a very positive meeting with the Prime Minister. We discussed energy, gas transit from the Caspian through Turkey, and hopefully the construction of the Nabucco pipeline to Europe. It was quite detailed, very positive, very constructive and I’m very positive, we’re more positive about prospects now than I was an hour and a half ago. So, I don’t want to go into too much detail. We spent the entire morning and afternoon so I’ll just leave it with that and thank you all for listening.
I would just add that Turkey and the United States are very strong strategic partners. We’re very pleased with the relationship and this is another milestone in a very strong alliance.
Ambassador Wilson: I would just like to add I took the opportunity to express on behalf of the U.S. government directly to the Prime Minister our condolences for the loss of three Turkish policemen killed on Wednesday during a vicious attack on our Consulate in Istanbul.
I told the Prime Minster how much we appreciate the work that goes on every single day to protect our foreign missions here as well as other foreign missions throughout Turkey. We appreciate it; it has made a big difference in our ability to do our business here.
And I think we are really working together and cooperating to get to the bottom of this particular attack.
Q: Why did the Embassy’s guards did not intervene during the clashes with police? There was a question about this and why after the police officer was shot, he wasn’t let in the Embassy?
Ambassador Wilson: The guards at that very point at our Consulate were unarmed at that particular time.
They did what they could to try to provide assistance to the visa applicants who were waiting outside to get in for their appointments.
Whenever our facilities are under attack, as was the case, the first thing to do is to lock the place to ensure that there can be no possibility of people with arms getting into our facilities, killing our people and killing dozens if not hundreds of Turkish customers who are there to get their visas and attain services from us.
Our Turkish guard on the scene rendered help to one of the policemen. And once the situation had stabilized and help had arrived we were happy to be able to ensure that the wounded Turkish officers could get all the help they could possibly get.
Again, we’re extremely saddened about the loss of life. We’re extremely grateful to Law Enforcement Authorities in Turkey for the work that they do to protect our mission, to protect other foreign missions.
Thank you.