USIA Transcript: Christopher-Gonensay Pre-Meeting Statements (96-05-20)

Miscellaneous Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Gopher <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

5/20 Christopher-Gonensay Pre-Meeting Statements

(Turkish foreign minister confers with Christopher) (1310)

Following is an official transcript of their remarks to the media prior to the meeting:

First let me emphasize that we believe Turkey is playing a critical role in our efforts in Bosnia through its contributions to IFOR as well its assistance in the reconstruction process. We are also working together on the Middle East peace process and working to build security in the Mediterranean as well as the other adjacent areas.

Today, we are going to be reviewing our cooperation in the adjacent areas and will especially be talking about the status of Operation Provide Comfort, which I believe should be continued, as it is in the best interests of both Turkey and the United States. We're committed to being helpful, if we can, to resolve the differences between Greece and Turkey. We will also be discussing, in a related connection, the situation in Cyprus.

I want to emphasize our desire to be helpful all the way across the board and I want to recognize the Minister's meeting with his Greek counterpart and their willingness to have a dialogue, which I think is very desirable.

Last year, as you recall, Turkey made important progress in strengthening its ties to Europe by entering the Customs Union of the European Union. That was a significant step forward, and related to that was the improvements Turkey made in its human rights practices.

We will have a good agenda to discuss today, and Mr. Minister you're very welcome here. The Turkish-U.S. relationship is very important to us and we regard ourselves as a firm friend of your country.

FOREIGN MINISTER GONENSAY: Thank you Mr. Secretary. I am, indeed, very happy to be here today. It was a meeting that I requested, a working meeting that I requested. We have an enhanced partnership with the United States, a special relationship that is working very well in many areas, both bilateral and regional. We are collaborating on many important issues in the region to bring stability and peace to that region. We appreciate the help that the United States is giving to our efforts in the region to establish peace and stability.

This is going to be a working meeting, as Mr. Secretary has said. The United States-Turkish relationship is a trusted and tested relationship of many years and we will be dealing both on bilateral questions and some other questions, as the Secretary has said. Our problems with Greece in the Aegean and our recent peace initiative will be an important item on the agenda.

I'll try to explain to the secretary what we are trying to do to establish peace and to solve all our problems with Greece in the Aegean, and again, Provide Comfort is another item on the agenda which is important. The Turkish Parliament has prolonged once again Provide Comfort for three months on the condition that there are substantial changes in its operation. So we will be discussing how we can meet that challenge.

Again, once again, I'm very happy to be here to discuss all these issues.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you've both have spoken of enhancing security, will there be any concrete improvements in the relationship -- not that its a bad one, of course -- but I mean any new weapons? Mr. Minister or Mr. Secretary, is there anything broader here with Israel and Turkey, because we've had back-to-back visits now, talk of closer security ties. Is there any thought being given by the Administration to some grouping of nations that have similar security concerns and interests?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: On the first part of your question, Barry, we have a number of arms relationships with Turkey. We've transferred, pursuant to various congressional authorizations, a substantial amount of assistance to the Turkish military and we're continuing to do so. Those items can be taken up initially, individually. As you know, recently the president has notified Congress of his desire to provide various weapons or military assistance to Turkey and that will be part of our discussion.

On the second part of your question I would want to ask the Minister to comment as well. We are very pleased by the increasing contact between Israel and Turkey and the relationship they have developed. We appreciate Turkey's support for the Middle East peace process. We don't have any formal groupings in mind, but we do think it is desirable that the relationships be facilitated, that they be increased in their contacts. As I say, the relationship between Turkey and Israel that has been developing in the last few months we think to be highly desirable.

FOREIGN MINISTER GONENSAY: I think we can attach great importance to the Middle East process and we are doing our best so that it reaches success, complete success. It is within that perspective that we have good relations, increasing relations with Israel, but I have not come here with anything on my agenda concerning groupings of countries or alliances between countries. This is not on my agenda.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, has the Cobra gunship issue been resolved for Turkey?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: It has not been resolved.

QUESTION: Do you expect it to be resolved favorably?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I don't expect it to be resolved in the discussions today. It is a matter that continues to be under review here.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, there was a break down in the truce in southern Lebanon over the weekend. Is it this Administration's opinion that Israel has violated the truce by firing outside of the security zone, or is that a right that is guaranteed in a side letter from the United States to Israel?

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: I've been involved in considering that matter, over the weekend. The facts are still somewhat cloudy on that subject. I think what the weekend incident does is emphasize the need to set up very promptly the monitoring group that's called for in the understanding that was reached. The ambassadors met here last week, and made a good deal of progress in working out the modalities for the monitoring group. I talked to Foreign Minister Shara in Syria last night, after he returned from a trip to South America, and we are going to be pressing for the early formal establishment of the monitoring group. At the present time it constitutes an informal grouping of ambassadors who are trying to work out the modalities for the monitoring group.

I hope this incident that took place yesterday in southern Lebanon has come to an end and that there will be no further ramifications from it. As I say, the facts are still somewhat cloudy and emphasize the need for precisely the kind of monitoring group that's called for in the understandings.

QUESTION: Mr. Gonensay, I have a question about water, did you agree to sell water to Israel; if so how much, and how will it be delivered and when?

FOREIGN MINISTER GONENSAY: No, we did not, and as far as Syria is concerned, we have said on many occasions that unless and until the time Syria renounces terrorist activities against Turkey categorically and puts a stop to them we will not discuss the water issue with them. Thank you very much.

Miscellaneous Directory - Previous Article - Next Article