[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 5 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Pages 157-158]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan 
of Turkey

January 28, 2004

    The President. It is my honor to welcome Prime Minister Erdogan to 
the Oval Office for the second time. I've been looking forward to this 
meeting because Turkey is a friend and an important ally of America. I 
have found that the Prime Minister is a person who is easy to talk to. 
He's a straightforward man, which makes it easy to be able to deal with 
common issues.
    And we talked about Iraq, and I assured him the United States' 
ambition is for a peaceful country, a democratic Iraq that is 
territorially intact.
    He briefed me on the Cyprus talks, and I appreciated his trying to 
find a solution--a solution to a long-standing dispute.

[[Page 158]]

    I appreciate the Prime Minister's steadfast determination to fight 
terror. Both of us understand what it means to have our fellow citizens 
destroyed by the merciless killing of terrorists. Both of us understand 
that we must stay on the offensive against terrorists and bring them to 
justice before they hurt innocent people.
    Over lunch, we'll discuss other issues of importance. I'm really 
looking forward to going to Turkey later on this year. It's going to be 
an important meeting. Every one of my friends who has traveled to your 
country has come back with great stories of warm hospitality and 
magnificent sights.
    So I'm proud to welcome our friend to the Oval Office.
    Prime Minister Erdogan. First of all, I would like to thank you very 
much. It, indeed, made us very happy to learn that after listing PKK and 
KADEK in the list of terrorist organizations, the United States has 
decided to list KONGRA-GEL among terrorist organizations. We were very 
happy for that. We thank you.
    It's very obvious where Turkey stands in the fight against 
terrorism--that needs to be mutual and international, especially in the 
aftermath of what happened on September 11th. We are in a common effort 
to fight terrorism, and we share the same views regarding our strategic 
partnership in restructuring Iraq.
    I also share the same views in--in developing Middle East. And we 
spoke of the fact that we support the good will mission of the 
Secretary-General of the United Nations, and we are willing to restart 
the negotiations, taking Annan's plan as a reference point.
    I state once again that the Turkish side is determined for a 
solution. We will always be a step ahead of our Greek counterparts, and 
we're determined to solve this as soon as possible.
    I thank you for your invitation, for your----
    The President. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, Prime Minister Erdogan referred to Secretary-
General Kofi Annan of the United Nations. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.