Events

The U.S. viewpoint on Turkish-American Relations
In the Framework of the Changing Dynamics in the Middle East

Remarks by Dan Sreebny , Counselor for Public Affairs
United States Embassy, Ankara

Tuesday, December 5, 2006, Turkish-American Association, Ankara

I am delighted to be here with you this evening.  I want to thank the Turkish American Association for organizing this timely and important conference, and I also want to thank all of you for attending.

Tonight’s seminar enables me to talk about two of my favorite geographic regions.  First, there’s Turkey, where I am currently honored and excited to be serving.  However, I have spent the bulk of my professional life working in and with the nations of the Middle East.  It is an area of real and complex challenges, but it is also a region with real achievements and even greater potential.  I have personally been enriched by my years in the Middle East, and by the many impressive, courageous individuals I have met there.

As I considered my topic this evening -- the U.S. viewpoint on Turkish-American relations
in the framework of The changing dynamics in the Middle East – I came to three conclusions:

The first conclusion will not surprise you.  It is that the Middle East is in a period of multiple serious challenges, that must be understood and addressed.

The second conclusion might not be so obvious.  It is that the United States and Turkey are very close to each other in the objectives we want to achieve in the Middle East.  In fact, careful analysis shows that we share many of the same goals, which enhances opportunities for us to work together in the coming months and years.  

My final conclusion, based on the previous two, is that developments in the Middle East demonstrate the continuing importance of the US-Turkish partnership – for our nations, for the Middle East, and for the world.

Let’s consider these one by one.  The previous speakers have already outlined the serious challenges we see right now in the Middle East. They include the continuing violence in Iraq; continued tensions between Israelis and Palestinians; Iran’s adamant efforts to develop nuclear weapons capabilities; developments that threaten Lebanon’s democratic government and social stability; and the sometimes disturbing role played in several of these countries by Syria.

In the interest of time, I’d like to consider these issues in terms of US and Turkish policies.  That is, I want to look at my own government’s policies on each of these issues, so you can compare them to those of the Turkish Republic.

Let’s start with Iraq. We're concerned about the level of sectarian violence and other types of violence that are ongoing in Iraq. Like Turkey, the United States wants to see an Iraq that is united, stable, democratic, prosperous and at peace with its neighbors. 

I know that many of you are anticipating the impending report from the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Democratic Representative Lee Hamilton.  You may be wondering what impact this report may have on US policies towards Iraq, combined with the results of the mid-term elections and the ongoing discussion about Iraq in the American media.

I can’t make any predictions about the Iraq Study Group report, but I would caution you against expectations of any quick and radical shift in our policies.  President Bush made his position very clear when he said on November 28, “We'll continue to be flexible, and we'll make the changes necessary to succeed. But there's one thing I'm not going to do: I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete.”

America’s policy and Turkey’s policy both strongly favor a unified, democratic Iraq within its present borders.  And we have been working, together with others, to support the efforts of the Iraqi people to create that kind of Iraq.  Turkey in particular played an important role in the politics during the second half of last year and early this year to broaden participation in the Iraqi political system.  

 Of course, it is impossible to discuss Iraq in Turkey without mentioning the particular, serious issue of the PKK.  Like Turkey, the United States considers the PKK a terrorist organization, and officially and legally designated the PKK a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.  The United States has done more to assist Turkey in its fight against the PKK than any other country.  In full coordination with the Turkish government, we have used our diplomatic, military, and intelligence resources to combat PKK operations, logistics, and fundraising.  This cooperation continues today.  

Are we satisfied with what we have accomplished so far?  No, we are not.  In the words of Ambassador Ross Wilson, “The large increase in PKK violence this year has been something that no democratic government can or should be expected to tolerate.  If our Shared Vision means anything, it requires a new and more vigorous approach by our two countries.  For these reasons among others, a US special envoy for countering the PKK was named – retired US General and former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Joseph Ralston.”

I don’t know how many of you have met General Ralston.  If you have met him, you know that he is not one to take on an assignment just for show.  He is a determined man, and he brings that determination to his current role as US special envoy for countering the PKK.  General Ralston put it far more directly than I ever could, when he said: “If the United States were not committed to the fight against the PKK I would not be here before you this evening.  If the United States were not committed to the fight against the PKK, I would not have made two trips to Baghdad in the last month to spark greater Iraqi action against the PKK.  If the United States were not committed to the fight against the PKK, we would not have the high level of diplomatic, military and intelligence cooperation with Turkey that exists today on that problem.  Plain and simple, the U.S. is in this fight with Turkey and will stay in this fight.”

But the US and Turkey share common concerns and goals in other parts of the Middle East.  We are both saddened by the continued cycle of violence and counter-violence between Palestinians and Israelis.  Under President Bush, our government has an established policy of working toward the vision of a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace, stability, prosperity, and dignity.

Last Thursday (November 30), both President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed this position while traveling in the Middle East.  Speaking in Amman, President Bush said, I believe it's in the Palestinian people's interest that they have their own state and I believe it's in Israel's interest that there be a democracy on her border and therefore we're working to that end.”  Secretary Rice, speaking after her meeting in Jericho with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stated, “I think that everybody recognizes that the creation of a viable, independent democratic Palestinian state that can live side by side in peace with Israel would be not just a remarkable achievement but a just achievement for the Palestinian people.”

Let’s move north from Israel, to Lebanon.  Both Turkey and the United States welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that helped bring the fighting over southern Lebanon between Hezbollah terrorists and Israel to an end.  Turkey made an important contribution to the UNIFIL peacekeeping force there.  This role and Turkey’s generous humanitarian help to the Lebanese people are factors for peace and stability in Lebanon, as are Turkish peacekeepers in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo. 

It is essential that all of UNSCR 1701’s provisions be fully implemented. This is the challenge: to assist the Government of Lebanon to build and strengthen its democratic institutions and promote economic growth while creating a new dynamic in the region for greater stability and peace. Our goal is to assist the government of Lebanon to assert its sovereignty throughout the country, to secure its borders, and to eventually disarm all militias.    

Turkey and the United States joined other nations in condemning the recent, brutal assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayal.  We view it as an act of terrorism, and we believe it's the responsibility of all countries to support the Siniora government and to oppose those who would try to divide Lebanon or return violence to political life in Lebanon.

Problems in Lebanon have been caused, at least in part, by certain actions from neighbors to its east – Syria and Iran.  Earlier this month, Secretary of State Rice said of Syria, “There’s no indication that Syria wishes to be a stabilizing force… right now, it appears to have aligned itself with the forces of extremism.”  We join Turkey and other nations in hoping for a different Syria, one that constructively contributes to regional developments.

Turkey and the United States have also joined with the rest of the world in dealing with Iran’s continued campaign to develop nuclear weapon capabilities.  Please note that this is not an issue of “Iran versus the United States,” however much certain figures in Iran might wish to see it that way.  Other nations have taken the lead in addressing this issue with Iran, starting with the UK, France, and Germany – the “EU 3” – and going on to the Perm 5+1 – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the United States.  There have been clear and detailed proposals that would allow Iran to develop peaceful nuclear capabilities, while ending any capacity to create nuclear weapons.  Iran has refused all of these options, insisting on a “just say no” policy toward the world.

Our objective is an Iranian nuclear program restricted to civilian, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and in compliance with international norms. Unfortunately, the current program is neither. We will continue pursuing a diplomatic strategy to achieve this goal.  And we appreciate the Turkish Government’s efforts to work with us in a very significant and complementary way, complementary to what we are doing, what the EU 3 are doing, what the Perm5 plus Germany have been doing, to try to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.    

The United States and Turkey are working together to address all of these issues, along with other countries.  Our July 2006 “Shared Vision” document pledged that we would work together on “promoting peace and stability in the broader Middle East through democracy; supporting international efforts towards a permanent settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution; fostering stability, democracy and prosperity in a unified Iraq; (and) supporting diplomatic efforts on Iran’s nuclear program.”    

As you know, Turkey lives in what some have called a “tough neighborhood.”  Some skeptics have argued that Turkey was only important to America in the Cold War era, because of its location.  That is nonsense.  Of course Turkey’s geographic setting matters, for Turkey and for its friends.  But Turkey is important, not solely for where it is, but actually for what it is – a strong, stable, secure, and secular democracy democracy with a vibrant economy, that contributes to the well-being of all the regions it touches. The US-Turkish relationship remains just as important today, to both nations, as it was in the Cold War era.  Turkey and the United States will both benefit from a continued, close partnership in dealing with the challenges of the 21^st century, in the Middle East and elsewhere.