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Turkey Requests Removal of Congressional Veto on Arms Sale
Friday, August 27th, 2010
Asbarez
ANKARA (Hurriyet)-Turkish officials have asked the United States
administration to increase its pressure on Congress to approve a
pending arms sale to Turkey, which needs fresh weapons in its war
against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), according to diplomatic
sources.
`We have realized that we should better inform members of Congress
about Turkey and current issues. To this end, we will send delegations
to the U.S. Congress after Congressional elections in November,'
Hurriyet quoted an anonymous source close to the issue as saying.
The message was given to U.S. officials by the Turkish diplomatic
delegation headed by Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu that visited
Washington this week. The delegation held talks with senior State
Department officials William Burns and James Steinberg,
American-Turkish Council head Richard Armitage and representatives of
the pro-Israeli lobby in the United States.
According to reports, the U.S. Congress suspended negotiations for
arms sales to Turkey following the country's no vote at the United
Nations Security Council over imposing a new round of sanctions on
Iran. A number of Congressmen later signed a joint statement urging
the administration to review its state of alliance with Turkey.
`Turkey's objective was not and is not to defend Iran but to solve the
problem through diplomacy,' the delegation told their counterparts.
Regarding the sanctions on Iran, the Turkish delegation repeated its
commitment to the U.N. resolution and said it would implement it.
However, the Turkish diplomats underlined the close ties between
Turkey and Iran and made it clear that Washington's unilateral
sanctions would not be endorsed by Turkey.
The delegation also discussed with their counterparts continued
cooperation in Turkey's fight against the PKK. The Turkish diplomats
emphasized the need to intensify U.S. efforts to cut the flow of money
to the PKK, especially from Europe. The U.S. administration,
meanwhile, said it would continue to work with Turkey.
The appointment process of Francis Ricciardone as the top U.S. envoy
to Turkey was also on the delegation's agenda. `The absence of an
American ambassador is a serious matter,' said one Turkish diplomat.
U.S. officials said they were expecting that the appointment process
would be completed in early September but were avoiding making
concrete statements.
Turkey's relations with Israel and the suspended reconciliation
process with Armenia were also discussed. Having noted that Turkey
would not stop asking for an apology and compensation from Israel for
the May 31 flotilla attack, the Turkish diplomats also expressed their
desire to normalize ties with Israel.
Arguing that the reconciliation process with Armenia had been
suspended due to internal political problems in that country, the
Turkish diplomats asked the U.S. to intervene to revitalize the
process.
From: A. Papazian
Friday, August 27th, 2010
Asbarez
ANKARA (Hurriyet)-Turkish officials have asked the United States
administration to increase its pressure on Congress to approve a
pending arms sale to Turkey, which needs fresh weapons in its war
against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), according to diplomatic
sources.
`We have realized that we should better inform members of Congress
about Turkey and current issues. To this end, we will send delegations
to the U.S. Congress after Congressional elections in November,'
Hurriyet quoted an anonymous source close to the issue as saying.
The message was given to U.S. officials by the Turkish diplomatic
delegation headed by Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu that visited
Washington this week. The delegation held talks with senior State
Department officials William Burns and James Steinberg,
American-Turkish Council head Richard Armitage and representatives of
the pro-Israeli lobby in the United States.
According to reports, the U.S. Congress suspended negotiations for
arms sales to Turkey following the country's no vote at the United
Nations Security Council over imposing a new round of sanctions on
Iran. A number of Congressmen later signed a joint statement urging
the administration to review its state of alliance with Turkey.
`Turkey's objective was not and is not to defend Iran but to solve the
problem through diplomacy,' the delegation told their counterparts.
Regarding the sanctions on Iran, the Turkish delegation repeated its
commitment to the U.N. resolution and said it would implement it.
However, the Turkish diplomats underlined the close ties between
Turkey and Iran and made it clear that Washington's unilateral
sanctions would not be endorsed by Turkey.
The delegation also discussed with their counterparts continued
cooperation in Turkey's fight against the PKK. The Turkish diplomats
emphasized the need to intensify U.S. efforts to cut the flow of money
to the PKK, especially from Europe. The U.S. administration,
meanwhile, said it would continue to work with Turkey.
The appointment process of Francis Ricciardone as the top U.S. envoy
to Turkey was also on the delegation's agenda. `The absence of an
American ambassador is a serious matter,' said one Turkish diplomat.
U.S. officials said they were expecting that the appointment process
would be completed in early September but were avoiding making
concrete statements.
Turkey's relations with Israel and the suspended reconciliation
process with Armenia were also discussed. Having noted that Turkey
would not stop asking for an apology and compensation from Israel for
the May 31 flotilla attack, the Turkish diplomats also expressed their
desire to normalize ties with Israel.
Arguing that the reconciliation process with Armenia had been
suspended due to internal political problems in that country, the
Turkish diplomats asked the U.S. to intervene to revitalize the
process.
From: A. Papazian