Posted on 05/25/2003 10:17:34 AM PDT by Lessismore
WASHINGTON D.C. - Turkey shares various concerns of the U.S. about Iran, but it can't give guarantee to U.S. to support it in advance regarding the issues of Iran and Syria.
Turkish diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. said on Saturday that Turkey closely monitored the situation in a period in which the relations between the U.S. and Iran were getting tense. ''We express our concerns about weapons of mass destruction, nuclear potential and missiles. Our concerns about these issues are common with the U.S.''
One Turkish diplomat said that when the U.S.'s Iran policy got sharper, Turkey would need to take a stance and this would be done within the framework of national interests. ''But Turkey can't give guarantee to the U.S. about this issue in advance,'' the diplomat said.
The same source said that the U.S. gave more priority to Iran than Syria which were both on its agenda.
Noting that Ankara and Washington had the same views about ending the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK's existence in north of Iraq, Turkish diplomatic sources said that the U.S. had not yet taken initiative in this direction yet.
The U.S. didn't demand Turkey to withdraw its troops from the north of Iraq. Diplomatic sources said that the U.S. had to reach success in Iraq as this was also necessary for the Iraqi people, adding that Turkey also wanted to contribute to that.
One diplomat said that ''we can also have a role in meeting the urgent needs of Iraq, in providing public services. For instance Iraqi police can be trained by our experts either in Turkey or in Iraq. Certain measures can be taken with our support in fields of education, health, agriculture. Turkey can do many things in these issues with its experience and due to its advantage that it knows the region.''
Diplomatic sources stressed that Turkey-U.S. relations were promising despite the existing problems, adding that Turkey had to take more active efforts.
Sources didn't confirm the news telling that certain circles in U.S. Department of Defense were against Turkey's getting business in Iraq, adding that the dimension of the cooperation between Turkey and the U.S. in Iraq in the future would develop.
Meanwhile Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal is expected to go to Washington D.C. soon and meet with American officials. Sources noted that the possible visit of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to Washington D.C. could take place after that.
One diplomat reminded that a bill which foresaw indirect recognition of so-called genocide claims of Armenians by the U.S. was adopted by the Justice Committee of the House of Representatives and it was transferred to the general council of the House of Representatives, stressing that U.S. President George W. Bush opposed this bill.
''It seems that the U.S. administration is against the transfer of the bill to the general council, but this does not make us easy, because this bill can be used against us anytime. Therefore we will monitor the issue closely,'' the source added.
NO SH*T, do they think we're stupid?
I'm sure glad we didn't give these fools $15 billion to drive through their confused country.
Well, we might consider that as progress. The last time around they DID give us a guarantee in advance, strung us along just as far as possible, and then treacherously pulled the rug out from under our whole northern campaign.
Better a known enemy than a treacherous ally, any day of the week.
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