[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6500-S6501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the letter I 
just received, as President pro tempore, from the Prime Minister of 
Turkey be printed in the Record. The Prime Minister discusses the 
importance of the Turkish-U.S. partnership and shares his views 
regarding the recent developments in Iraq. He calls upon ``the 
distinguished members of the U.S. Congress to work hand-in-hand with 
their Turkish colleagues to further strengthen the cooperation and 
solidarity between our two countries . . .''.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


[[Page S6501]]




                                           Republic of Turkey,

                                            Ankara, April 2, 2003.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate, Hart Senate Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       I take the liberty of writing you to share my views 
     concerning the recent developments in Iraq and the future of 
     the Turkish-U.S. partnership.
       Turkey and the United States maintain a partnership. It is 
     a friendship that has withstood the test of time and events 
     for over half a century. This partnership is unique as it is 
     precious and has flourished on its own merits. It is firmly 
     rooted in the common values and interests, and a long history 
     of friendship.
       When the United States called on our help in the defense of 
     freedom in Korea we were there. Indeed, our forces sustained 
     high casualties to help to liberate this country. We joined 
     forces in NATO since 1952. Turkey was in the frontline in 
     this successful struggle. More recently, we were again on the 
     same side in the Balkans, a region which now enjoys stability 
     and progress. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Turkey 
     stood firm with the United States in confronting and 
     containing Iraq. When terror struck the United States, we 
     shared the deep grief of the American people and displayed 
     full solidarity. Our partnership has been global in reach, 
     covering the Middle East, Somalia, Bosnia Herzegovina, 
     Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan, as well as the Caucasus and 
     Central Asia, where we are involved in contributing to 
     democracy, peace and stability. The solidarity between the 
     U.S. and Turkey, the only western democracy in the Muslim 
     world, has reassured the world that a global clash of 
     civilizations will remain an unfulfilled prophecy. Had there 
     been no such partnership between Turkey and the United 
     States, both our countries would now be striving to establish 
     it. Instead, we have a history of partnership that warrants 
     even better days.
       This brings me to the current question of Iraq, which has 
     created certain sensitivity. I should stress two fundamental 
     points in a bid to set the record straight.
       The first point refers to an injustice sometimes done in 
     assessing Turkey's support in the war. Turkey has a vibrant 
     democracy and the overwhelming majority of the Turkish people 
     is against war. Their reflexes are shaped by the fact that 
     the Iraqi people, including Arabs, Kurds, Turcomans and 
     others will continue to be our neighbors long after the end 
     of military operations. At the same time, the Turkish people 
     have paid untold social and economic costs on account of the 
     last Gulf War. We have suffered economic hardship and had to 
     face hundreds of thousands of refugees from northern Iraq. 
     PKK/KADEK terrorism, which claimed more than thirty thousand 
     lives, was able to breed in such an environment. We cannot 
     afford a replay of those.
       It was precisely due to the expression of this public 
     anxiety over yet another war that the elected representatives 
     in our parliament could not muster the necessary votes to 
     approve the government decree involving the basing of U.S. 
     troops in Turkey. Nonetheless, in a subsequent vote our 
     parliament did approve extensive overflight rights for the 
     U.S. and coalition forces. Given that Turkey is bordering 
     Iraq, one has to accept that this is not an ordinary but a 
     substantive contribution. Furthermore, cooperation that did 
     not require parliamentary approval was underway even months 
     before the beginning of hostilities and continues to date, in 
     various forms. The relevant U.S. authorities are fully aware 
     of this. We have indeed provided whatever we could.
       The second point concerns the role wrongly envisaged by 
     some, for Turkey, that is confined to providing a mere 
     geographical launching pad for military operations. Indeed, 
     Turkey's role and the essence of Turkish-U.S. partnership are 
     far more fundamental. Turkey is one of the leading partners 
     of the United States in winning the peace in Iraq and the 
     broader Middle East.
       At the end of the military operations both Turkey and the 
     U.S. would want to see an Iraq that is whole and free. We 
     have been advocating a transition in Iraq towards a peaceful 
     state, disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, with its 
     territorial integrity intact, and in which all segments of 
     the populations take part in administering their common state 
     and enjoying equitably the benefits of their rich natural 
     resources. This is our joint vision and aspiration.
       A couple of lessons also can be derived from the recent 
     event. We must exert even greater efforts together to promote 
     the Turkish-U.S. partnership. On her part, Turkey is 
     committed to working with U.S. to take our partnership to new 
     heights. The potential of our strategic partnership is 
     unlimited. From our bilateral political, military and 
     increasingly economic cooperation, to our solidarity in 
     shaping a peaceful and stable state of affairs in our 
     volatile region, and combating the scourge of terrorism, on 
     all these issues the partnership between Turkey and the 
     United States has much to offer. As the only predominantly 
     Muslim country which is firmly and irreversibly embedded in 
     the western world, Turkey has unique capabilities to help 
     promote security and stability in the Middle East and beyond, 
     so that all countries in the region including Israel and 
     Palestine will enjoy lasting peace. Our democratic and 
     secular values provide a model to the world to obviate a 
     clash of civilizations. The United States has been and 
     remains to be our valued partner in this common endeavor.
       What is more, the recent developments and events have 
     underlined once again the need to forge a greater dialogue 
     among our legislators in a bid to better understand each 
     other's priorities, expectations and constraints.
       Therefore, as we look to the future, I call upon all the 
     distinguished members of the U.S. Congress to work hand-in-
     hand with their Turkish Colleagues to further strengthen the 
     cooperation and solidarity between our two countries and 
     nations to fulfill the great promise of the Turkish-U.S. 
     strategic partnership.
           Sincerely,
                                             Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
     Prime Minister.

                          ____________________