[A-List] Turkey/US alliance: US Ambassador stressed strategic partnership

[Sabri Oncu <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Symposium Held On Developments As A Result Of September 11 And
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) - 28.05.2002 - Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador
to Turkey, said on Tuesday that the strategical partnership
between Turkey and the United States had deepened more after the
terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center
complex in New York on September 11, 2001, and added that the
United States did not have a friendly country that was more sound
and more important than Turkey since September 11.

Speaking at an international symposium organized by the Defense
and Aviation Magazine at Ankara's Bilkent Hotel on "Developments
as a Result of September 11 and Turkey", Pearson stressed that
strategical partnership between Turkey and the United States had
started before September 11.

Pearson said that they had benefited from Turkey's experiences as
they were creating a front against international terrorism.

He noted that Turkey had given the most valuable and rapid
recommendations, and had fully supported the United States.

"I believe that Turkey that will take over command of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and
help Afghanistan to form its national army, will successfully
fulfill all of its missions," he said.

Noting that regional cooperation between Turkey and the United
States had been continuing in many regions such as the Caucasus,
the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East, Pearson said that
Turkey was one of the rare countries to set up dialogue with both
sides in the Middle East.

Referring to relations between Turkey and the European Union
(EU), Pearson described inclusion of PKK and the Revolutionary
People's Liberation Party Front (DHKP-C) in the EU's list of
terrorist organizations as an important step. He stressed that
the United States had been supporting Turkey's full membership to
the EU.

He said that both Turkey and the United States had shared the
same opinion on protection of Iraq's territorial integrity,
Iraq's abiding by the resolutions of the United Nations, and
prevention of a separate formation in Northern Iraq.

Pointing out that the administration led by President Saddam
Hussein used biological weapons on its own people and occupied
its own neighbors, Pearson said that a reshuffle in the regime in
Baghdad would help stability and welfare in the region.

Pearson said that they would continue to consult with Turkey on
policies of Iraq.


Anadolu Agency 5/28/2002 7:36:52 AM

Full article:
http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=5987