    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 2, 2006]
    [Pages 1742-1743]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
    Erdogan of Turkey
    October 2, 2006

        President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome back to Washington. We
    just had a extensive and important dialog about how Turkey and the
    United States can and must work together to achieve peace. We talked
    about our determined efforts to fight terror and extremism. We talked
    about our common efforts to bring stability to the Middle East. We had
    an important discussion about both Iraq and Iran. Our desire is for--to
    help people who care about a peaceful future to reject radicalism and
    extremism.
        I made it very clear to the Prime Minister, I think it's in the
    United States interests that Turkey join the European Union. And I
    congratulate the Prime Minister and his Government for the economic
    reforms that have enabled the Turkish economy to

    [[Page 1743]]

    be strong, for the good of the Turkish people.
        And finally, we shared our deep desire to improve the lives of those
    who are suffering in Darfur. The Prime Minister shared with me a
    personal account of what he saw, the suffering he saw, the human--the
    pitiful human condition he personally saw in Darfur. He shared with me
    his Government's anxiousness to help the people there, and I assured him
    I shared the same concern. And it's important for the United Nations and
    the Government of Sudan to take forward steps to help the--end the
    suffering.
        I consider the Prime Minister a friend and a man of peace, and I
    welcome him.
        Prime Minister Erdogan. Thank you. Distinguished members of the
    press, it is a great honor and pleasure to be here upon the invitation
    of President Bush, an ally. The United States is a strategic partner, a
    very important strategic partner for Turkey and an ally for many years.
        In our meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss many points,
    especially terrorism. And the joint steps that we have taken in order to
    pursue with determination our fight against terrorism continues to be
    very important in our relations. In fact, we do share the same opinion
    about forming a joint platform in order to combat terrorism on a global
    scale.
        We also had opportunity to discuss Lebanon as well as Israel and
    Palestine.
        It was important to hear the President say that their support for
    Turkey's membership to the European Union will continue. We have also
    had the opportunity to discuss Cyprus, and I have expressed our
    sensitivities with regard to the issues related to Cyprus. And we had an
    opportunity to extensively discuss what we can do in the Middle East,
    what Turkey specifically can do in the Middle East.
        We have also discussed Turkey's progress and reforms with regards to
    the European Union--the Copenhagen political criteria as well as
    Maastricht criteria--and the recent work that is ongoing with the
    screening process at the EU for Turkey's accession.
        All in all, I think we had a very positive meeting, and I would like
    to thank the President for that.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:40 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. Prime Minister Erdogan spoke in Turkish, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.