Statements by U.S. Officials
Deputy Chief of Mission Nancy Mceldowney
Remarks at the Office of Eskisehir Governor Kadir Calisici
November 21, 2006
DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY: This is my first visit to Eskisehir. It is a great pleasure for me to be here and a great honor to be received here in this office. I look forward to talking about all of the issues that are relevant to life here in Eskisehir, and also to looking at ways that we can cooperate more in terms of Turkish and American interests. And I hope if I am very fortunate I will be able to return the hospitality and have this wonderful gentleman come pay a visit to me in Ankara.
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Deputy Chief of Mission Nancy Mceldowney
Answers Press Questions at Tte Office of Eskisehir Mayor Yilmaz Buyukersen
November 21, 2006
QUESTION: US-Turkish relations have been tense recently. What is your approach to this issue?
DCM MCELDOWNEY: I don’t see that there has been tension in Turkish-American relations. We are partners and allies going back over 50 years. And we have cooperated together on some of the world’s greatest missions such as the Cold War. All friends, all allies have differences of opinion from time to time. And true friends and true allies talk to each other about those areas where they differ as well as about the areas where they agree. One of the reasons I have come to Eskisehir today is because I want to talk with and listen to the people of this fine city. Ankara is my home and it is a place I love. But I know that there are also important views and extremely important things happening all over this country and particularly here in Eskisehir.
QUESTION: You said that from time to time some bitter things may happen between friends. But the news we get from the United States is not that good at all. First of all, one of our ministers, and then a general of ours were attempted to be searched bodily. And this was not a good thing to happen in fact. What would you say about these things
DCM MCELDOWNEY : What I would say to that is the following. General Ergun Saygin was recently in the United States as a guest, an invited guest of his American counterpart. He is a man that we hold in very high regard and very great esteem. I am also very fortunate to count him as a personal friend of mine. And we would very much regret if there was any misunderstanding about security procedures at one building or another, but that in no way detracts from our respect for this man as a representative of Turkey and the Turkish military, and also our very high regard and respect for Turkey as a friend and a partner and an ally of ours. And I believe you may have heard something similar coming from the headquarters of the Turkish General Staff this morning.
But for me, the headline of today is Eskisehir. And the great things that are happening in Eskisehir that relate to the United States and Turkey. Turkish companies export over 60 million dollars a year of products into the United States. We cooperate together at the NATO military base that is on the Turkish Air Force Base here in Eskisehir. And we have also been honored to provide educational assistance at Anadolu University, but also to elementary schools in neighborhoods of Eskisehir to promote education and to promote the health of school-age children here in this city. I will visit all these places today and I will look for more ways that we can deepen our cooperation and more ways that we can expand our friendship so that it serves both the people of Turkey and the people of America.
QUESTION: I don’t like to disturb your agenda, but I know as an Eskisehir journalist, Eskisehir is a number one issue for us all. But, how do you see Turkish politics when you look from the United States? Although there are some speculations about possibility of holding early general elections, but in any case, we will have a presidential election and a general election in 2007. How do you observe this situation?
DCM MCELDOWNEY : I observe this situation with great interest. As a foreign diplomat, it is not for me to express a view on one issue or another relating to domestic Turkish politics. The people of Turkey will decide those things. What I am here to support is Turkey as a friend and ally and to do what I can to promote the democratic process in Turkey which is already so strong here.
QUESTION: Last question. The name of your host today is circulated among the presidential candidates. Have you heard about it?
DCM MCELDOWNEY: That is a question that I defer to my host. I am a guest.
QUESTION: Have you heard about it? I don’t want an answer from you.
DCM MCELDOWNEY: He doesn’t want an answer. As I said, I defer to my host on that.
QUESTION: You talked about the Cold War period. At that time Turkey and the United States were struggling against a common enemy. And now the Cold War is over, and years passed over it. How do you evaluate Turkish-US friendship now?
DCM MCELDOWNEY: On what basis would Turkish-US friendship proceed?
QUESTION: We are allies now, but what is our goal now?
DCM MCELDOWNEY: The world is filled with a number of challenges and a number of opportunities. I am convinced that we will be better able to face those challenges and seize those opportunities if we work together as friends and allies. And I believe that we are two countries and two peoples that share values, that share goals, and therefore we are natural partners in this way. And so my hope is that next year and the year after our relationship will be even stronger than it was during the course of the Cold War. But now we go back to Eskisehir. Thank you very much.