Statements by U.S. Officials
U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Interview With Mete Çubukçu, News Director, NTV
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Çırağan Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
on the margins of the
Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan
ÇUBUKÇU: We know that the present situation in Pakistan is very important for America, in terms of fighting with the radicals like al-Qaeda and Taliban, and you start with a new – to change the strategy in Pakistan? Up until now, how is that succeeding?
HOLBROOKE: In the first seven months of the Obama Administration, we have focused on several issues: changing our strategy, helping Afghanistan hold a presidential election – and that election isn’t quite over yet, the voting is but the counting isn’t – and building up our civilian and military effort and coordinating that with the international community. So that’s where we are right now with the major changes. We’ve also intensified our focus on Pakistan a great deal, as you can see by our participation in this conference and our strong sponsorship of Pakistan. And you’re right; it’s an area of great importance, especially to Turkey. Turkey has a special role in Afghanistan, Pakistan – for historic, cultural, political and strategic reasons.
ÇUBUKÇU: How do you see the Turkish mission for both Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is there any [inaudible] heightened troops, do you demand any more troops from Turkey during the agenda?
HOLBROOKE: Turkey – the aid and military assistance Turkey gives – to Afghanistan is for Turkey, and Turkey alone, to decide. But Turkey’s a member of NATO. And as everyone in Turkey knows, I’m a very strong supporter of Turkey’s role in NATO and, I hope, eventually, Turkey’s membership in the European Union. In that capacity, the Turks have got to decide what they do next. But I will say this: Turkey is a vitally important part of the international effort in Afghanistan. They run a wonderful Provincial Reconstruction Team in Wardak province. They will decide how to proceed as they go forward. I come to Istanbul as often as I can, and to Ankara, to talk to Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and his colleagues, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sinirlioğlu, so we are very pleased to work with Turkey. It is our view that Turkey’s role in Afghanistan and Pakistan is not only important now, but the more it is able to increase it the better it will be for stability. There’s a unique affinity between the people of Pakistan and the people of Turkey, which anyone can see. And there’s a special historical and cultural relationship between Turkey and Afghanistan. So we encourage this. But it’s up to Turkey to decide.
ÇUBUKÇU: Whether to send more troops or not.
HOLBROOKE: It’s up to Turkey. I will never – unlike some previous administrations, we’re not going to come to anywhere and ask people, tell people, we won’t tell people what to do. It’s up to them to decide.
ÇUBUKÇU: And this will be my last question, about your mission ten years ago in Dayton …
HOLBROOKE: Fourteen years.
ÇUBUKÇU: [Inaudible] Now there is a discussion in Turkey about the new Kurdish initiative. Some politicians, opposition leaders say that if this happens Turkey could be like Yugoslavia. There’s a fear of separation in the region. How do you see this new initiative and this discussion about the former Yugoslavia?
HOLBROOKE: Thank you for mentioning the Dayton Agreement which ended the war in Bosnia and brought peace to a troubled area. But I would say… by the way, it’s ten years for Kosovo, so you’re not wrong. It was fourteen years for Bosnia and ten years for Kosovo. But I want to say that there is no similarity between former Yugoslavia and Turkey. Former Yugoslavia was put together after World War I by the people who drew the map of Europe at Versailles. And they drew a map that put a lot of different people into one place. Turkey was – is a great country that was created out of the culture of its predecessor, and is a great country conceived of by your greatest leader, Kemal Atatürk. And there’s just no similarity. So I don’t understand the connection at all. Knowing both countries, I never would have compared them.