WASHINGTON D.C. – After holding discussions with high level American officials in Washington D.C., Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ali Tuygan has stated that a mutual conclusion was made affirming good Turkish-American ties.
Tuygan held a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington.
”During our talks, we have seen that our ties are good. We have informed our American friends about our expectations. Our discussions were fruitful. We established an atmosphere of mutual understanding.”
Tuygan indicated that tension in Turkish-U.S. relations is due to the ongoing war in Iraq. ”Both sides affirmed the strong alliance and decided to leave the past in the past…”
After asked about Iran’s nuclear program, Tuygan remarked that Turkey supports Iran in utilizing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. ”Yet the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region causes a serious threat to regional stability.”
Tuygan stressed that recently there has been an increase in attacks on Turkish military points by the terrorist organization PKK. ”We have informed the U.S. officials about our concerns on the topic of PKK, which is using north of Iraq as an heaven.”
Asked if a resolution would be presented to the U.S. congress on the so-called Armenian genocide, Tuygan replied that, despite some parliaments’ passage of similar resolutions, the U.S. congress is expected not to accept such a resolution. ”If the U.S. congress makes a decision in favor of Armenian demands, such a decision would cause disappointment in Turkey which has had excellent cooperation and strategic partnership with the U.S. for 50 years.”
According to Tuygan, Turkey has followed a policy of compromise with Bulgaria, Greece and Syria in the past decade. ”We wish for identical relations with Armenia. In the event Armenia chooses a negative option, it would receive an appropriate response from Turkey….”
On the topic of Iraq, Tuygan mentioned that Turkey wishes for the territorial integrity of Iraq. ”We wish for a neighbor (Iraq) that has a peaceful society and works hard for economic development. We want to help the Iraqis help themselves.”
Tuygan expressed that certain statements made by the U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman have become topics of discussion in the Turkish media. ”Mr. Edelman is a diplomat for whom we have high respect. We are deeply sad over his decision to leave Ankara. We are confident that he will continue his good ties with Turkey in his new assignment in Washington.”
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