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ATC Dinner in Honor Of Gen Ergin Saygun, Dep Chief Turkish Gen Staff

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  • ATC Dinner in Honor Of Gen Ergin Saygun, Dep Chief Turkish Gen Staff

    GENERAL ERGIN SAYGUN SPEECH TRANSCRIPTION
    ATC DINNER IN HONOR OF GEN. ERGIN SAYGUN, DEPUTY CHIEF,
    TURKISH GENERAL STAFF

    JANUARY 28, 2008
    THE CAUCUS ROOM

    Content Copyright © 2008 American-Turkish Council

    `General Scowcroft, thank you very much for those most philanthric
    words. I do not have a speech; this is my prepared speech.' [holds up
    small sheet. laughter. `All-right' from crowd] `Well don't say
    all-right. This could last for about two hours.' [laughter]


    `I must thank you, on my own behalf and also on behalf of my team for
    this generous hospitality, which we are used to whenever we visit
    Washington. The hospitality of ATC, friends of Turkey in this country,
    and what they've done in promoting Turkey and being the voice of the
    Turkish people in this country, is beyond recognition and beyond
    appreciation. So we are grateful for what you are doing and what you
    have been doing and we know that it will continue.


    We also appreciate very much your contributions to the relations between
    two countries. We know that the relations between our two states, Turkey
    and the United States, wouldn't be where it is today without your
    support. President Gul during his recent visit to Washington, delivered
    a speech, at an ATC event and highlighted your contributions to the
    economic and commercial development of Turkey and the United States. We
    know of this contribution because although there are some obstacles, we
    know that this relationship is growing day by day.'


    `We are here with my team for the just-concluded HLDG meetings. I am
    pleased that we have again found that we don't have big problems as far
    as policies, our relationship, and understanding each other with our
    American counterparts is concerned, that is good and most encouraging.'


    `The HLDG, as you know, deals with military cooperation. That includes
    training exercises, procurements in defense industries. In all of those
    areas, we haven't reached a complete agreement, but we reached to an
    agreement to make sure that work on this issues will continue and we'll
    do our best to settle any outstanding issues. There is a committee for
    this on both sides, Assistant Secretary Long and I have set deadlines
    for these issues that includes FMS export licenses. I also had the
    chance to meet senior military and civilian officials including General
    Cartwright, who is in the loop on all these activities together with
    others. We also discussed the operations we are doing in Northern Iraq
    with General Cartwright and General Petreous.'


    `I also met with Nicholas Burns and various other people. We have
    similar approaches to similar problems. We have in front of us big
    issues such as Kosovo, which will declare its independence next month.
    It will bring a new era for the Balkans but also carries the possibility
    of bringing with it some problems associated with the regional and
    external countries. So we need to do more in Kosova and make sure that
    whatever the outcome it is long-lived. We also need to do a little bit
    better in Afghanistan, to which the United States is contributing
    another thirty-two hundred marines to secure the southern gap. The US,
    of course, is expecting other allies to follow suit. At least to
    contribute large and small capabilities.'


    `We fully share these concerns. Our American friends understand us, that
    we have and we believe we are doing our share as far as Afghanistan is
    concerned. We lead ISAF twice, the Kabul International Airport twice.
    Bilaterally, we are providing huge amounts of training and rebuilding,
    refurbishing, also providing instructors. You name it, because we know
    NATO has to succeed in Afghanistan and has no other choice.'


    `Iraq, of course, is another area. We, are working very close,
    militarily, with, our American colleagues and also initiated first
    contact with the Iraqis. We have made quite clear that we intend to
    increase our relations with the Iraqi army, in the long run, which we
    believe will be to the benefit of the two countries. There are other
    issues like energy security, central Asia, and various other things.


    If I can come back to the Armenian resolution that General Scowcroft
    mentioned. I have raised this issue with everyone I have talked with so
    far. There are small things which shadow our relations. The priests
    school or ecumenical statutes of the patriarch, the Armenian border or
    relations with Cyprus. These things are so small compared to what we can
    do together, the huge issues like Central Asia, like the Caucuses, the
    Black Sea region, and energy security. I find it exceedingly difficult
    to understand why we let these small things overshadow our bigger
    interests. I agree with all of the things I have heard during this
    visit, that defense industry cooperation would be better. I have been
    hearing different stories, different opinions and I make a commitment to
    go after them and find out exactly what the problem is.'


    `We have some US companies entering in Turkey but the majority still
    aren't, and there are different reasons for it. I am determined to dig
    out what the real reasons are. You might say `Well, this is not
    something new this has been going on for some time. Well, its always
    time to start. I will have to look into this.'


    `Another issue that I wish to bring to your attention is what Turkish
    defense industry can provide to the United States. When you look at Iraq
    or Afghanistan, when you look at your maintenance repair requirements,
    especially on some of the equipment which all militaries use, we have
    excellent maintenance and repair facilities. So instead of shipping all
    of these all the way down to the United States, you can bring them down
    to Turkey, and we will provide the necessary logistical support. This is
    an issue which I think is being worked on and NAMSA (NATO Maintenance
    and Supply Agency) has visited Turkey, making an inspection of the
    facilities.'


    `We, of course, appreciate very much America's efforts in fighting
    terrorism. We also appreciate very much that the United States from the
    very onset, declared the PKK a terrorist organization. That was a big
    support for us, and I do hope that other allies will see this reality
    and will start supporting us rather than supporting the PKK. What we are
    doing with the United Sates is exactly in line with what NATO has said
    when it declared Article 5 of the Agreement after 9/11. It says, please
    exchange intelligence and please cooperate against this menace, the
    menace of terrorism. What we are doing in Northern Iraq, of course, we
    know we are very cautious, first about collateral damage. We have done
    everything possible to make sure no civilians are hurt. So far we know
    that no civilians are hurt. Please do not believe the misinformation
    that has been provided, stating that Turkish military forces are hitting
    villages and are killing civilians. We have not hit a village, we have
    not hit any schools or hospitals. Nothing. We can verify with the BDA,
    the Bomb Damage Assessment after each mission, and with the UAVs that
    are provided by the US authorities.


    So we are after the PKK, but we have no intention of fighting other
    people unless they intend to fight with us. We have no intention of
    occupying any part of Iraq. If we go in, we will come out when we are
    finished. Its as simple as that. We know that the security of Iraq and
    the security of North Iraq is directly related to the security and
    stability of Turkey. Therefore we will refrain from any action that will
    distance the security of the state. These are the basic points and
    principles of our operations, and what we are doing is, in our view, in
    line with what Prime Minister Maliki and Prime Minister Erdogan agreed,
    when Maliki visited Turkey.'


    `Again the commitment of the United States at the highest level, the
    Presidential level, to this endeavor is very much appreciated. We will
    not misuse it, and we will do our best to make sure that the commitments
    we have made will be kept.


    Speaking of commitments, we know that you cannot fight and finish
    terrorism. You can fight a terrorist that's what we are doing. But in
    order to finish terrorism, other measures are required: socially,
    economically, diplomatically, whatever, and our government at the
    National Security Council level has made sure that Turkey has taken this
    commitment in working with these issues. Some of the measures are
    already in place and others will be rigorously pursued.'


    `So this is all I have to say to give you a sort of update of what is
    happening. There are other issues, such as Iran, Syria, Russia
    activities, activities in the region, but I don't want to spoil a nice
    and delicious dinner. General Scowcroft, thank you very much again. ATC
    thank you very much and of course, Preston, where are you? Thank you.
    He's an old friend. I know him for, God knows how many years; twenty
    years? Yes sir, at least that. He's always around when you need him.
    Good characteristics. Thanks again. Thanks a lot for your generous
    hospitality. I thank ATC, again for what you have been doing for so
    long.

    Thank you very much.'
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