USIA - Text: Ambassador to Turkey Nominee Mark Parris' Statement, 97-09-23

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TEXT: AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY NOMINEE MARK PARRIS' STATEMENT

(At Sept. 23 Senate confirmation hearing) (700)

Speaking at a confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee September 23, Parris cited other compelling reasons for U.S. interest in and involvement with Turkey, noting its tradition of secular governance and democracy, its commitment to integration with the West, and its participation with U.S. forces in Korea, the Gulf War, Somalia, and Bosnia.

Parris has served as special assistant to the president and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs at the National Security Council, and as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs. He has also served in Tel Aviv and Moscow, the Azores, and Lisbon.

Following is the text of his prepared statement for the committee:

(Begin text)

STATEMENT OF MARK R. PARRIS Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations September 23, 1997

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

I am honored to appear before you today as President Clinton's nominee to be Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey. I am grateful to the President and to Secretary Albright for the confidence they have shown in choosing me for so important an assignment. If confirmed, I will do everything in my power to justify their trust and yours.

Mr. Chairman, Turkey is important to the United States of America.

It is important first of all because of its influence on a remarkably broad range of American interests: from bringing peace to Bosnia to bringing peace to the Middle East, from containing Iraq and Iran to opening up the Newly Independent States of Central Asia, from solving the problem of Cyprus to normalizing the situation in the Caucasus, from combating regional terrorism to shutting down drug trafficking.

Turkey is important to us as a paradigm: a large, predominantly Muslim country in a troubled region with a tradition of secular governance and expanding democracy; with a 70-year commitment to integration and cooperation with the West; and with a 50-year record of standing shoulder- to-shoulder with American forces from Korea, to the Gulf War, to Somalia, to Bosnia.

Turkey is important to Americans because we have a natural interest in the institutionalization of practices and attitudes which are the natural concomitants of mature, self-confident, democracy -- and which will be key to Turkey's successfully coping with the challenges it faces at home.

Finally, Turkey is important because of its potential for affecting the pocketbooks of ordinary Americans, whether as one of 10 countries that the Department of Commerce has designated "Big Emerging Markets," or as a part of the solution of the problem of bringing to market Caspian resources which will affect the availability and price of energy well into the next century.

This is a compelling agenda. Successfully managing so diverse a set of interests would be a challenge under any circumstances. At a time when Turkey is engaged in a profound debate over the nature of Turkish society and over the role Turkey should play in the international arena, it will be even more challenging.

I have not, Mr. Chairman, had the privilege of serving previously in Turkey. But I have worked closely with Turkish representatives in previous assignments. And my experience in the U.S.S.R., throughout the Middle East, and in Europe has given me exposure to many of the issues which currently are, or are likely to be, relevant to our relations with Turkey in the years ahead.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Chairman, I will be privileged to be accompanied in Ankara by my wife and good friend, Joan Gardner Parris, who with me has spent a fascinating quarter century representing the United States abroad, and who has been studying Turkish with me since April. We look forward to contributing what expertise we have gained, and the enormous excitement we feel about this appointment, to the task of doing America's business in Turkey.

(End text)

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