[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        SECRETARY CLINTON VISIT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on 
U.S.-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans, I was greatly encouraged 
by the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to our 
ally, Turkey. This historic visit sends a clear signal that the United 
States greatly values its strategic partnership with Turkey--which has 
benefited both of nations for over half a century.
  During the visit, Secretary Clinton announced an upcoming trip to 
Turkey by President Barack Obama, and together with Turkish Minister of 
Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan released a Joint Statement.
  Over the coming months, I am convinced that U.S.-Turkish relations 
will continue to deepen and flourish under the stewardship of President 
Obama, Secretary Clinton and the new Administration. It is clear that a 
strong and mutually respectful friendship is in the national interests 
of the United States and Turkey, and also serves to promote regional 
peace, security and prosperity. To that end, I encourage all of my 
colleagues to review the text of Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister 
Babacan's joint statement, which I am including in the Congressional 
Record.

   Joint Statement by Turkey and the United States of America on the 
Occasion of the Visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 
   Upon the Invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ali 
                         Babacan, March 7, 2009

       Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Ali 
     Babacan today reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, 
     solidarity and strategic partnership between the Republic of 
     Turkey and the United States, as well as the commitment of 
     both countries to the principles of peace, democracy, 
     freedom, and prosperity enshrined in the Shared Vision and 
     Structured Dialogue document agreed to in July 2006.
       Turkey and the United States reiterated their determination 
     to continue close cooperation and consultation on all issues 
     of common concern. They pledge to contribute to peace and 
     stability in the Middle East and in this context, to support 
     a permanent settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, 
     including alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and 
     resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a 
     two-state solution; to enhance energy security and to expand 
     the Southern corridor of natural gas and oil infrastructure 
     to enable Caspian basin and Iraqi energy producers to reach 
     European and world markets; to promote peace, stability, and 
     prosperity in the south Caucasus, including through U.S. 
     support for the efforts of Turkey and Armenia to normalize 
     relations and joint support for the efforts of the Minsk 
     Group to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict; to continue 
     to cooperate in the Balkans; to support strongly a 
     comprehensive and mutually-acceptable settlement of the 
     Cyprus question under the auspices of the UN and in this 
     context ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; and to 
     enhance their cooperation in the fight against terrorism, 
     particularly against their common enemies, the PKK and al-
     Qaeda. The United States will continue its intelligence 
     support for Turkish operations against the PKK and is 
     reviewing ways to be more supportive. As members of the G-20, 
     Turkey and the United States pledge continued cooperation to 
     deal with the global economic crisis and efforts to increase 
     and diversify bilateral economic relations with particular 
     emphasis on trade, investment, scientific and technological 
     cooperation.
       Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Babacan discussed 
     Turkey's accession to the European Union as a member, a goal 
     the United States continues to strongly support, as well as 
     the Government of Turkey's continued emphasis on reform 
     process. With their commitment to Transatlantic relations and 
     as Allies in a strong NATO, they pledge continued cooperation 
     in Afghanistan, including through continued Turkish 
     contributions to Afghanistan. They reiterated their 
     commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial 
     integrity of Iraq as well as reiterated their support for a 
     democratic, pluralistic, unified and federal Iraq. They also 
     welcome Turkey's deepening relations with the Government of 
     Iraq as evidenced by high level visits as well as trilateral 
     meetings to discuss cooperation against the PKK. Turkey and 
     the United States will strongly back the United Nations 
     Security Council in its work to maintain global peace and 
     security for the prevention and removal of threats to the 
     international community and in this context will cooperate in 
     dealing with issues including terrorism, drug trafficking, 
     organized crime and the threat of the proliferation of 
     weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in 
     the region and beyond.
       Finally, they reaffirmed their determination to diversify 
     the broad based bilateral relations particularly between the 
     Turkish and American people. In that context, the Secretary 
     and Minister announced the establishment of ``Young Turkey/
     Young America: A New Relationship for a New Age.'' This 
     initiative will enable emerging young leaders in Turkey and 
     the United States to develop initiatives that will positively 
     impact people's lives and invest in future ties between the 
     leadership of our two countries.

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