    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 8, 2008]
    [Pages 41-43]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Abdullah Gul of Turkey
    January 8, 2008

        President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome the President of
    Turkey here. Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. This is not his first
    trip to Washington. I can remember many a time you sitting in the Oval
    Office as the Foreign Minister, and now you come representing the--
    representing a great strategic partner as its President.
        Turkey is a strategic partner of the United States. Relations
    between the United States and Turkey are important for our country. And
    we have worked hard to

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    make them strong, and I believe they are strong. We deal with common
    problems.
        One such problem is our continuing fight against a common enemy, and
    that's terrorists and such a common enemy as the PKK. It's an enemy to
    Turkey, it's an enemy to Iraq, and it's an enemy to people who want to
    live in peace. The United States is--along with Turkey, are confronting
    these folks. And we will continue to confront them for the sake of
    peace.
        I strongly believe that Europe will benefit with Turkey as a member
    of the European Union. I have held this position ever since I've been
    the President. I feel it as strongly today as when I first articulated
    it. I think Turkey sets a fantastic example for nations around the world
    to see where it's possible to have a democracy coexist with a great
    religion like Islam. And that's important. I view Turkey as a bridge
    between Europe and the Islamic world, a constructive bridge. And so I
    believe it's in the interests of peace that Turkey be admitted into the
    EU.
        We talked about energy and the need for all of us to help secure
    more energy supplies. We talked about--I'm about to brief the President
    on my trip to the Middle East. I know he's deeply concerned about
    whether or not it's possible to achieve a two-state solution in the
    Middle East. I believe it is, and I'm looking forward to sharing the
    strategy.
        All in all, we've had a very constructive conversation, and that's
    what you'd expect when you're--when two friends are in the room
    together.
        So, Mr. President, thank you for coming, and welcome.
        President Gul. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the
    President for his invitation here. Turkey and the United States are
    longstanding allies, and the relationship between our two continue--
    countries continue to be strengthened. We have a--we share a common
    vision, and we work together. And the relations between the two
    countries are such that they have an impact not only on the two
    countries but also on a regional and global scale.
        Our relations are important, and we will continue to work together
    to ensure that peace, stability, and prosperity continue to grow around
    the world. And we are also working against our common enemy, the PKK,
    and we have once again underlined the importance of our cooperation in
    fighting against the PKK. And I would like to thank the President for
    his determination, as well, on this regard.
        As the President has said, we have discussed some other important
    issues such as energy and the issues with respect to the Middle East.
    The President is engaged very much in efforts to ensure peace in the
    Middle East, and we believe that these are important efforts which can
    yield results.
        We've also discussed Iraq, and we will continue to discuss issues
    such as Iraq, the Balkans, and other issues. And I would like to thank
    the President for this meeting very much.
        President Bush. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:54 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to the Kurdistan Worker's Party
    (PKK). President Gul spoke in Turkish, and his remarks were translated
    by an interpreter.

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