[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E760-E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP FOR TURKEY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AMO HOUGHTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2000

  Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Speaker, last December I sponsored a ``Dear 
Colleague'' letter to the EU term President, Martti Ahtisaari, 
President of Finland, in support of Turkey as a EU candidate. Twenty-
six of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined me in sending 
that message to President Ahtisaari. Thankfully, Turkey became the 
European Union's first candidate for full membership with a 
predominantly Muslim population later in the month.
  I strongly supported Turkey's EU membership became membership would 
anchor a country who's population has long aspired to be part of 
Europe. It would also further strengthen the Turkish-U.S. relationship, 
and help foster a stronger Turkish-Greek relationship.
  Turkey is a secular Muslim country with a democratic tradition, whose 
recent presidential election underscores those ideals. Ahmet Sezer, 
former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, who has devoted his 
career to democratic principles, the rule of law, and freedom of 
expression received broad parliamentary support to become Turkey's 
tenth President. This development was favorably received in European 
capitals, the European press, and within Turkey.
  Turkey is one of the U.S. strongest and most reliable allies. For 
over fifty years Turkey and the United States have fought for shared 
principles through the Korean War, the Cold War, the crisis in Iraq, 
the Balkans, Kosovo, and elsewhere. In addition, Turkey is a major ally 
in combating terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism, and injustice around 
the world. In Kosovo, Turkey not only was instrumental in the NATO 
operations, but its humanitarian assistance to refugees was key to 
helping ease the suffering of the victims.
  EU candidacy has also fueled the rapprochement between Turkey and 
Greece. While the respective foreign ministers had started to meet, the 
tragic earthquake in both

[[Page E761]]

countries provided the much-needed impetus. In recent months the two 
countries signed a series of cooperation agreements covering areas as 
diverse as terrorism, the environment, tourism, cultural cooperation, 
investment protection, customs, and scientific and technological 
issues.
  Recent press reports indicate that Turkish Armed Forces will take 
part in NATO maneuvers which will be carried out in Greek territory in 
May, and that last week, Greece allowed Turkish four F-16 planes to use 
its air space for the first time, while they were flying to Germany to 
attend ``Elite 2000'' maneuvers. These improved relations will not only 
benefit Greece and Turkey, but also the United States, NATO, and Europe 
at large.
  Mr. Speaker, as a long time observer of Turkey, I continue to support 
that country's further western integration, and congratulate my friends 
in Turkey on the election of their new President.

                          ____________________