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'US-TURKEY SECURITY TIES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED'
Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 3, 2011
Turkey
US Ambassador to Turkey Ricciardone says he is sure that the
resignation of Turkey's top brass will not affect the security
relations between Turkey and the United States at a hearing at the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 'The security relationship goes
beyond individuals, it is based on institutions,' Ricciardone says
This file photo shows US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone
speaking at a hearing last year in the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. AA photo
Security relations between Turkey and the United States will remain
unaffected by the recent resignation of Turkey's top brass, U.S.
Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said Wednesday at a hearing
at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We look forward to working with the new [military] leadership. The
security relationship, though, goes beyond individuals, it is based
on institutions. Turkey is a state of law and strong institutions
that are durable even though they are dynamic and in change. I have
every confidence that our security relationship will continue to
be strong, that our military leaders will meet with the new Turkish
military leaders... I am very confident things will be just fine,"
Ricciardone said.
Ricciardone has been acting as the envoy to Turkey, but his appointment
must still be approved by the Senate.
Commenting on the resignation of Turkey's chief of General Staff and
top force commanders, Ricciardone said there was always turnover in
the military leadership around this time of the year.
"This turnover happened in a different way by means of a resignation
under evident protest for particular reasons articulated by Gen.
[IÅ~_ık] KoÅ~_aner," he said, adding that he was "very, very
confident" that this situation had not caused any setbacks in security
relations between the two countries.
"During my 33-year career in the Foreign Service, I've had the
pleasure and the privilege of previously having served in Turkey three
times. And through this period, I've observed Turkey's continuing
transformation into a more democratic, more open and more economically
vibrant modern state, and as a player with growing influence on
the world stage," he said. "Throughout this change in development,
there has been one constant, and that has been Turkey's continued
commitment to its partnership with the United States and the NATO
alliance. It's also a member of the G-20 now, and having one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world."
Ricciardone also highlighted Turkey's role as a majority Muslim nation
and as a secular democracy, while drawing attention to the intensive
cooperation that has taken place between Turkey and the U.S.
for decades in diverse areas, ranging from trade and regional stability
to countering terrorism and strengthening democracy.
"Just last month, Turkish security officials arrested an alleged
al-Qaeda cell that was plotting to bomb Western interests in Turkey,
including the United States embassy. We support Turkey's own foremost
security objective of defeating the terrorist violence, which the PKK
[outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] continues to perpetrate and which
has led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turks since the 1980s. We strongly
support Turkey's efforts to improve the human rights and economic
situation for the Kurds, and their democratic participation as full
citizens, and the rights also of other communities of vulnerable
groups in Turkey," he was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.
The U.S. backs Turkey's aspirations to join the European Union,
while the U.S. will also continue to press for the reforms required
for Turkey's accession, he said.
"I've been privileged to serve in Ankara during the Arab Spring,
during which I've strived to enlist Turkish support for the NATO
role in Libya, for a successful transition to democracy in Egypt,
and in collaboration with my colleague and friend next door in Syria,
to pressure the regime in Syria to cease its brutal repression and
to heed the will of its people," he added.
"On missile defense, Turkey did support, of course, the NATO statement
at Lisbon. They support the NATO effort to have a phased adaptive
approach radar system. We've moved well beyond that generality to
have detailed technical discussions and legal discussions with the
government of Turkey," Ricciardone said.
Senator Robert Menendez, known for his critical stance toward Turkey,
criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements on the
issue of Cyprus and inquired about Ricciardone's views on the matter.
Ricciardone replied that the U.S. wanted a solution based on a bi-zonal
and bi-communal federation on the divided island.
Menendez also inquired about Ricciardone's views on Armenian
allegations of genocide regarding the bloody events of 1915. "I stand
behind President [Barack] Obama's characterization of the Yeds Meghern,
as the Armenians themselves call it, the tragic massacre, murder of,
you know, a million and a half men, women and children marched to
their deaths in 1915. But I stand behind our characterization of that
and our efforts of what we're trying to do now," he said.
Ricciardone also pointed out that any instability in Syria could have
direct security and economic repercussions on Turkey's vital national
interests. The Turkish government did not see religious minorities
as a threat and was pleased over religious diversity in the country,
Ricciardone said, adding that the Turkish government had been exerting
efforts to alleviate the problems of religious minorities.
Touching on Israel, he said: "I feel very certain, having discussed
this at length with the prime minister and the foreign minister,
certainly the military leadership, that all these Turks, whatever
their feelings, misgivings, irritation, issues over the terrible
flotilla incident of last year, over events in Gaza, they understand
that to influence events in the region, to be part of a more peaceful
and prosperous region, which is in their vital national interest,
they need to have a normal, fruitful, respectful, full diplomatic
dialogue with Israel, and they want to get back to that," he said.
Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 3, 2011
Turkey
US Ambassador to Turkey Ricciardone says he is sure that the
resignation of Turkey's top brass will not affect the security
relations between Turkey and the United States at a hearing at the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 'The security relationship goes
beyond individuals, it is based on institutions,' Ricciardone says
This file photo shows US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone
speaking at a hearing last year in the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. AA photo
Security relations between Turkey and the United States will remain
unaffected by the recent resignation of Turkey's top brass, U.S.
Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said Wednesday at a hearing
at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We look forward to working with the new [military] leadership. The
security relationship, though, goes beyond individuals, it is based
on institutions. Turkey is a state of law and strong institutions
that are durable even though they are dynamic and in change. I have
every confidence that our security relationship will continue to
be strong, that our military leaders will meet with the new Turkish
military leaders... I am very confident things will be just fine,"
Ricciardone said.
Ricciardone has been acting as the envoy to Turkey, but his appointment
must still be approved by the Senate.
Commenting on the resignation of Turkey's chief of General Staff and
top force commanders, Ricciardone said there was always turnover in
the military leadership around this time of the year.
"This turnover happened in a different way by means of a resignation
under evident protest for particular reasons articulated by Gen.
[IÅ~_ık] KoÅ~_aner," he said, adding that he was "very, very
confident" that this situation had not caused any setbacks in security
relations between the two countries.
"During my 33-year career in the Foreign Service, I've had the
pleasure and the privilege of previously having served in Turkey three
times. And through this period, I've observed Turkey's continuing
transformation into a more democratic, more open and more economically
vibrant modern state, and as a player with growing influence on
the world stage," he said. "Throughout this change in development,
there has been one constant, and that has been Turkey's continued
commitment to its partnership with the United States and the NATO
alliance. It's also a member of the G-20 now, and having one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world."
Ricciardone also highlighted Turkey's role as a majority Muslim nation
and as a secular democracy, while drawing attention to the intensive
cooperation that has taken place between Turkey and the U.S.
for decades in diverse areas, ranging from trade and regional stability
to countering terrorism and strengthening democracy.
"Just last month, Turkish security officials arrested an alleged
al-Qaeda cell that was plotting to bomb Western interests in Turkey,
including the United States embassy. We support Turkey's own foremost
security objective of defeating the terrorist violence, which the PKK
[outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] continues to perpetrate and which
has led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turks since the 1980s. We strongly
support Turkey's efforts to improve the human rights and economic
situation for the Kurds, and their democratic participation as full
citizens, and the rights also of other communities of vulnerable
groups in Turkey," he was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.
The U.S. backs Turkey's aspirations to join the European Union,
while the U.S. will also continue to press for the reforms required
for Turkey's accession, he said.
"I've been privileged to serve in Ankara during the Arab Spring,
during which I've strived to enlist Turkish support for the NATO
role in Libya, for a successful transition to democracy in Egypt,
and in collaboration with my colleague and friend next door in Syria,
to pressure the regime in Syria to cease its brutal repression and
to heed the will of its people," he added.
"On missile defense, Turkey did support, of course, the NATO statement
at Lisbon. They support the NATO effort to have a phased adaptive
approach radar system. We've moved well beyond that generality to
have detailed technical discussions and legal discussions with the
government of Turkey," Ricciardone said.
Senator Robert Menendez, known for his critical stance toward Turkey,
criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements on the
issue of Cyprus and inquired about Ricciardone's views on the matter.
Ricciardone replied that the U.S. wanted a solution based on a bi-zonal
and bi-communal federation on the divided island.
Menendez also inquired about Ricciardone's views on Armenian
allegations of genocide regarding the bloody events of 1915. "I stand
behind President [Barack] Obama's characterization of the Yeds Meghern,
as the Armenians themselves call it, the tragic massacre, murder of,
you know, a million and a half men, women and children marched to
their deaths in 1915. But I stand behind our characterization of that
and our efforts of what we're trying to do now," he said.
Ricciardone also pointed out that any instability in Syria could have
direct security and economic repercussions on Turkey's vital national
interests. The Turkish government did not see religious minorities
as a threat and was pleased over religious diversity in the country,
Ricciardone said, adding that the Turkish government had been exerting
efforts to alleviate the problems of religious minorities.
Touching on Israel, he said: "I feel very certain, having discussed
this at length with the prime minister and the foreign minister,
certainly the military leadership, that all these Turks, whatever
their feelings, misgivings, irritation, issues over the terrible
flotilla incident of last year, over events in Gaza, they understand
that to influence events in the region, to be part of a more peaceful
and prosperous region, which is in their vital national interest,
they need to have a normal, fruitful, respectful, full diplomatic
dialogue with Israel, and they want to get back to that," he said.