[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E459-E460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TURKEY PROPOSES COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE AEGEAN

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 27, 1996

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, on March 24, 1996 new Turkish Prime 
Minister Mesut Yilmaz issued a statement calling for a process of 
comprehensive negotiations to resolve all bilateral Greek-Turkish 
problems in the Aegean as a whole.
  Mr. Speaker, it is in the national interest of the United States and 
in the interest of lasting peace and stability in the eastern 
Mediterranean region that the differences between Greece and Turkey be 
resolved. We should use bilateral and multilateral means, as well as 
third-party mediation as necessary. All available opportunities for 
moving negotiations forward should be explored.
  The key here is action, not just rhetoric or good intentions. We will 
have to see whether Turkey and Greece are willing to take concrete 
steps to resolve their longstanding differences in the Aegean.
  These two NATO allies need to work with each other, with other NATO 
allies and if necessary with other international institutions to 
resolve their mutual problems. The proposals of Prime Minister Yilmaz 
hopefully will provide a timely opportunity to help break the current 
impasse in Greek-Turkish relations.
  In order to inform other Members on the substance of Prime Minister 
Yilmaz' proposals, I am including the text of his statement in the 
Record. The text follows:

           Turkey Proposes Comprehensive Peace in the Aegean

       In a statement issued in Ankara today, Prime Minister Mesut 
     Yilmaz called on Greece to enter into negotiations without 
     preconditions with a view to settling all the Aegean 
     questions as a whole, on the basis of respect for 
     international law and agreements establishing the status quo 
     in the Aegean.
       The Turkish proposal included talks on the conclusion of a 
     political framework agreement, a swift agreement on a 
     comprehensive set of confidence building measures related to 
     military activities, avoiding unilateral steps and actions 
     that could increase tension and a comprehensive process of 
     peaceful settlement, including third party arbitration.
       The statement is as follows:
       ``During the recent years, there have been important 
     changes in the world political scene, with old enemies 
     increasingly seeking peace with each other. As a matter of 
     fact, many years ago Ataturk and Venizelos were able to 
     settle the Turkish-Greek differences through an epoch-making 
     historical compromise and to usher in an era of long-term 
     friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
       ``Today, we are going through a tense period in our 
     relations with Greece. The latest crisis has demonstrated 
     once again that the present state of Turkish-Greek relations 
     is fraught with dangers. The fundamental interests of both 
     countries lie in peace and cooperation, not confrontation. We 
     both stand

[[Page E460]]

     to benefit from developing friendly and good-neighborly 
     relations. Turkey and Greece have to overcome the cycle of 
     conflict into which they have been locked. The failure to 
     settle the existing problems creates an environment conducive 
     to the eruption of new crises. This vicious circle must be 
     broken at some point. The leaders of both countries are faced 
     with a historic responsibility to establish a climate of 
     mutual confidence, to give a new structure to their bilateral 
     relations which would be free of problems, and thus open a 
     brand new chapter in the Turkish-Greek relations. Turkey is 
     ready and determined to do her utmost in that regard. I 
     believe that the Greek leaders also have the necessary 
     political will to live up to this historic responsibility.
       ``The current problems between the two countries must be 
     taken up with a new and realistic approach. By isolating them 
     from the emotions stemming from history and the chains 
     imposed by short-term temporary considerations, our ultimate 
     goal should be to bring comprehensive and lasting solutions 
     to all the differences and problems between the two sides, 
     especially those related to the Aegean Sea. An eventual 
     settlement of the Aegean issues will only be viable and 
     lasting if it is built on the fundamental rights and 
     legitimate interests of both countries. For that reason, we 
     should discuss our differences on the basis of mutual respect 
     and with a willingness to reach a compromise.
       ``Turkey is a law-abiding country. In keeping with 
     international law, she has always respected the territorial 
     integrity and the inviolability of borders of all her 
     neighbors, including Greece. In a similar vein, Turkey 
     harbors no intention towards altering the status quo in the 
     Aegean through unilateral steps and to make gains by de facto 
     actions. An essential aspect of Turkey's position on the 
     Aegean issues is respect for the status quo in the Aegean 
     which was established through international agreements. These 
     are the basic principles defining Turkey's approach to both 
     her relations with Greece and the matters related to the 
     Aegean. We have the right to expect Greece to display the 
     same understanding and approach. If Greece also adopts these 
     principles, it will be much easier to reach mutually 
     acceptable solutions than is generally thought. In this 
     spirit, Turkey wants to see all disputes pertaining to the 
     Aegean settled through peaceful means in accordance with 
     international law. She stands ready for such a settlement.
       ``I am therefore calling on Greece to enter into 
     negotiations without preconditions with a view to settling 
     all the Aegean questions as a whole.
       ``The search for a comprehensive and lasting solution will 
     be conducted on the basis of respect for international law 
     and the international agreements establishing the status quo 
     in the Aegean. The talks that could be started on an 
     exploratory basis shall not prejudice the respective 
     positions of both sides regarding the substance of the 
     issues.
       ``When it comes to peaceful means of settlement which would 
     be appropriate to the special nature of the Aegean questions, 
     Turkey does not rule out from the outset any method based on 
     mutual acceptance. We have no prejudices in this respect. 
     Accordingly, we are prepared to discuss with goodwill 
     appropriate third party methods of settlement. The form, 
     conditions and legal requirements of such methods can be 
     taken up in detail in the course of the talks.
       ``The fundamental aim of such a peace process would be to 
     resolve the differences that emerged after the historic 
     compromise brought about by Ataturk and Venizelos. It is, 
     therefore, essential for the two parties to rise to the 
     occasion and take utmost care to avoid being tempted by petty 
     political gains and a dangerous opportunism, if the peace 
     process is to succeed.
       ``Concurrently with the initiation of a process of peaceful 
     settlement aimed at bringing a comprehensive and lasting 
     solution to the Aegean disputes, Turkey is also ready to 
     start talks on the conclusion of a political document/
     declaration containing the basic principals that will govern 
     the relations between the two countries or an agreement of 
     friendship and cooperation. Such a political framework 
     agreement, in addition to the fundamental principles on which 
     the relations will be based, may also specify the avenues of 
     cooperation as well as the procedures and settlement methods 
     to be applied in case of the emergence of differences.
       ``Likewise, simultaneously with this process, I also 
     propose to start talks in this transitional period with a 
     view to bringing about a swift agreement between the two 
     countries on a comprehensive set of confidence building 
     measures related to military activities.
       ``Once the process of peaceful settlement is thus 
     initiated, the two sides will naturally have to avoid 
     unilateral steps and actions that could increase tension.
       ``I am proposing to Greece to engage in a comprehensive 
     process of peaceful settlement that will not exclude from the 
     beginning any method of settlement including third party 
     arbitration. This will make an immense contribution to the 
     strengthening of peace and stability in our region. 
     Similarly, bringing a comprehensive solution to the Aegean 
     questions will also contribute to the settlement of other 
     questions in eastern Mediterranean on their own merits and 
     within their own parameters. As our Greek friends frequently 
     say, ``actions speak louder than words.'' I, therefore, 
     propose action, not words.
       ``I sincerely hope that Greece will give due consideration 
     to our call for a peaceful settlement based on international 
     law and legitimacy and will not let this historic opportunity 
     slip away. This process may require a period of reflection 
     and preparation. Whenever they respond to our proposal 
     positively and are ready to engage in such a process, Turkey 
     will also be ready.
       ``I am sure that our two nations living across each other 
     along the shores of the Aegean do not want tension between 
     them. They do not want mutual enmity. What they do want is 
     peace, friendship and cooperation. I believe that as two 
     nations with deep roots in history, the Turkish and Greek 
     peoples deserve them.
       ``The late President Turgut Ozal, in a speech during a 1985 
     visit to the United States, stressed the need for such a 
     compromise and said that we owed this to the future 
     generations. I believe that we owe this not only to the 
     future generations, but also to the present generation. 
     History never forgives those who shrink from their 
     responsibility.''

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