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The White House, USA
June 6 2013
Washington: Remarks by the Vice President to the American Turkish Council
Washington
The White House has issued the following news release:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. (Applause.) You all should
know better than to listen to the Ambassador. Thank you all very, very
much.
Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it's great to be with you. Quite frankly,
we've become friends, and it's great to join you tonight and be here
to speak to this organization.
And, Ambassador Holmes, and, President and CEO of the Turkish Council
Tom Kennedy, thank you for the kind words as well.
Look, it's most of all a pleasure to be back here with Rich Armitage,
Ambassador Armitage. We've been good friends -- I mean this sincerely
-- we've been good friends for a long, long time. And the thing that I
like about him -- and we went through some pretty interesting times in
eight years in another administration and long before that. And the
thing about Rich Armitage and I'm sure it's the reason why you look to
him is he is absolutely straight as an arrow. He's the only witness I
can say who testified before my committees multiple times that I
never, never -- and I mean this sincerely -- once ever wondered
whether I was being misled or I was being misled by omission -- never
one single time. And that is a rare commodity in this town, and almost
any other town. And so I realize, Mr. Ambassador, I'm probably ruining
your reputation by acknowledging this, but I -- if I were a little
freer to tell you, I still seek his counsel, and he's still an
incredible asset to the United States government.
I'm delighted to be here with all the Turks and Americans who through
business, family, friendship help carry this relationship forward
every single day.
As we meet here today, as you all know, there's violent protests in
the streets of Turkey, which raises concerns around the world,
including in my own country. To state the obvious, only Turks are
going to be able to solve their problem, but the United States stands
for certain clear principles in these circumstances: nonviolence from
both government and demonstrators; respect for the freedom of assembly
and a free and independent press.
Turkey's future belongs to the people of Turkey and no one else. But
the United States does not pretend to be indifferent to the outcome
because we firmly believe that countries with open societies,
political systems and economies, democratic institutions and a firm
commitment to universal human rights, these are the countries that
will thrive and be the most powerful countries in the 21st century.
Today -- today's Turkey has a chance to demonstrate that there's no
need to choose between economic advancement and democracy, between the
system that empowers the winners of elections and yet protects those
who are in the opposition.
One reason Turkey's economy in my view, Mr. Prime Minister, has
thrived so much over the past decade is because it's realized the
benefits of the steps it has taken toward greater political openness.
Its economy has tripled. It's gone from the world's 26th largest to
the 17th largest today. And Prime Minister Erdogan has a goal that it
be one of the 10 largest economies.
Turkey has brought inflation from 100 percent to 6 percent and made
its last IMF payment in May. Turkey has set a goal for it being in the
top 10 economies by 2023. And I'm confident with the right choices,
Turkey will accomplish that goal.
Toward that end, the U.S. and Turkey launched a framework for
strategic and economic commercial cooperation in 2009. We've already
seen a 75 percent increase. I'm preaching to the choir here, I know --
but a 75 percent increase in trade, reaching $20 billion -- still much
too small, but growing with overwhelming potential as I discussed with
Prime Minister Erdogan when he was here -- $5 billion dollars of U.S.
direct investment in Turkey, $1 billion of Turkey investment -- direct
investment into the United States with a hope for more.
Still as the Prime Minister and I discussed when we spoke together in
front of the U.S.-Turkey Chamber of Commerce during his very
successful visit here, the potential to do more is so vast; more to
improve the business climate and attract investment, more to realize
the immense opportunities in the areas of light tech, pharmaceuticals
and energy; and more to help bright Turkish students access American
universities. Today there are already more students from Turkey at our
universities than any other country in the European Union, and we
welcome that. And we want to see more. That deepens the roots of
relationships.
And we've recently set up a new high-level committee that will allow
us to move forward on issues that will unlock greater trade,
investment and innovation. We'll keep Turkey informed of the progress
of the U.S. trade talks with the EU, so that when the time is right
we'll be able to take our trade relationship with Turkey to the next
step.
There are also encouraging signs that Turkey is willing to take
important steps forward in resolving outstanding issues with the
Kurds, the Greek Orthodox Church and others. And we hope to see a
similar vision in progress when it comes to Turkey's longstanding
problems with Armenia and Cyprus. But these are courageous leaders
that exist now. The past is not the anchor that it's been in the past.
We also want to keep working closely with Turkey on many strategic
challenges -- the many that we both share. We're both members of the
most powerful military alliance in history. Since 1952, Turkey has
been a member of NATO. Our commitment to the collective defense is
critical, manifest in the Patriot missile batteries in Turkey's
border, but also the world has change. Its change, in many respects,
and our relationship today is about more than just defense. We've been
military allies for a long time. But it's beyond that today.
It includes our work together on issues and organizations as diverse
as the G20, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the challenges that are
of a changing Middle East. But just as we have in the past, we're
going to continue to have some disagreements, we always do, as NATO
allies -- and all NATO allies do. We've disagreed in the past with
Turkey about Israel. But Turkey understands and no one doubts that our
commitment to Israel's security and survival is absolute. That's why
we're so pleased that Prime Minister Erdogan and Prime Minister
Netanyahu began to reestablish the strategic cooperation between the
two countries that they had in the past. We encourage them to keep
working constructively to repair those ties.
We will, as allies, sometimes disagree on tactics but we are all
working toward the same thing -- a two-state solution, an independent
Palestinian state and a secure Israeli state; a successful Egyptian
transition; a democratic multi-ethnic nonsectarian Syria with
institutions intact; a non-nuclear Iran. On all the major issues, we
are in agreement whether or not occasionally tactically we disagree.
That is consequential.
And it falls to each of us to shore up the foundations of our strength
at home, because in the 21st century, greatness among nations is
defined not simply by the size of the country, by the dynamism of its
economy, by the openness of its -- it's more by the dynamism of its
economy, the openness of its markets and society; its ability to build
and draw on new talents of its citizens and help them deliver their
dreams. That's the new definition as a practical matter.
Your success, Deputy Prime Minister, as an ally and as a strategic
economic and democratic partner, is profoundly -- profoundly -- in the
naked self-interest of the United States of America.
The Turkish people will be authors of their own future, but they
should know that the United States, Mr. Prime Minister, stands ready
-- stands ready as an ally and a friend to help make that future more
secure, prosperous, and democratic as Turkey celebrates its 100th
anniversary as a republic.
That's our goal in this relationship. Turkey is a vital ally. And the
promise that Turkey holds for the entire region as an emerging major
power, if it works, is all for the good for everybody.
So, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it's always a pleasure to be with you.
We've had a lot of private conversations and I have no doubt about the
trajectory of your country. We're happy to come along for the ride. We
wish you all the success in the world. And thank you all for keeping
this relationship so vibrant.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
June 6 2013
Washington: Remarks by the Vice President to the American Turkish Council
Washington
The White House has issued the following news release:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. (Applause.) You all should
know better than to listen to the Ambassador. Thank you all very, very
much.
Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it's great to be with you. Quite frankly,
we've become friends, and it's great to join you tonight and be here
to speak to this organization.
And, Ambassador Holmes, and, President and CEO of the Turkish Council
Tom Kennedy, thank you for the kind words as well.
Look, it's most of all a pleasure to be back here with Rich Armitage,
Ambassador Armitage. We've been good friends -- I mean this sincerely
-- we've been good friends for a long, long time. And the thing that I
like about him -- and we went through some pretty interesting times in
eight years in another administration and long before that. And the
thing about Rich Armitage and I'm sure it's the reason why you look to
him is he is absolutely straight as an arrow. He's the only witness I
can say who testified before my committees multiple times that I
never, never -- and I mean this sincerely -- once ever wondered
whether I was being misled or I was being misled by omission -- never
one single time. And that is a rare commodity in this town, and almost
any other town. And so I realize, Mr. Ambassador, I'm probably ruining
your reputation by acknowledging this, but I -- if I were a little
freer to tell you, I still seek his counsel, and he's still an
incredible asset to the United States government.
I'm delighted to be here with all the Turks and Americans who through
business, family, friendship help carry this relationship forward
every single day.
As we meet here today, as you all know, there's violent protests in
the streets of Turkey, which raises concerns around the world,
including in my own country. To state the obvious, only Turks are
going to be able to solve their problem, but the United States stands
for certain clear principles in these circumstances: nonviolence from
both government and demonstrators; respect for the freedom of assembly
and a free and independent press.
Turkey's future belongs to the people of Turkey and no one else. But
the United States does not pretend to be indifferent to the outcome
because we firmly believe that countries with open societies,
political systems and economies, democratic institutions and a firm
commitment to universal human rights, these are the countries that
will thrive and be the most powerful countries in the 21st century.
Today -- today's Turkey has a chance to demonstrate that there's no
need to choose between economic advancement and democracy, between the
system that empowers the winners of elections and yet protects those
who are in the opposition.
One reason Turkey's economy in my view, Mr. Prime Minister, has
thrived so much over the past decade is because it's realized the
benefits of the steps it has taken toward greater political openness.
Its economy has tripled. It's gone from the world's 26th largest to
the 17th largest today. And Prime Minister Erdogan has a goal that it
be one of the 10 largest economies.
Turkey has brought inflation from 100 percent to 6 percent and made
its last IMF payment in May. Turkey has set a goal for it being in the
top 10 economies by 2023. And I'm confident with the right choices,
Turkey will accomplish that goal.
Toward that end, the U.S. and Turkey launched a framework for
strategic and economic commercial cooperation in 2009. We've already
seen a 75 percent increase. I'm preaching to the choir here, I know --
but a 75 percent increase in trade, reaching $20 billion -- still much
too small, but growing with overwhelming potential as I discussed with
Prime Minister Erdogan when he was here -- $5 billion dollars of U.S.
direct investment in Turkey, $1 billion of Turkey investment -- direct
investment into the United States with a hope for more.
Still as the Prime Minister and I discussed when we spoke together in
front of the U.S.-Turkey Chamber of Commerce during his very
successful visit here, the potential to do more is so vast; more to
improve the business climate and attract investment, more to realize
the immense opportunities in the areas of light tech, pharmaceuticals
and energy; and more to help bright Turkish students access American
universities. Today there are already more students from Turkey at our
universities than any other country in the European Union, and we
welcome that. And we want to see more. That deepens the roots of
relationships.
And we've recently set up a new high-level committee that will allow
us to move forward on issues that will unlock greater trade,
investment and innovation. We'll keep Turkey informed of the progress
of the U.S. trade talks with the EU, so that when the time is right
we'll be able to take our trade relationship with Turkey to the next
step.
There are also encouraging signs that Turkey is willing to take
important steps forward in resolving outstanding issues with the
Kurds, the Greek Orthodox Church and others. And we hope to see a
similar vision in progress when it comes to Turkey's longstanding
problems with Armenia and Cyprus. But these are courageous leaders
that exist now. The past is not the anchor that it's been in the past.
We also want to keep working closely with Turkey on many strategic
challenges -- the many that we both share. We're both members of the
most powerful military alliance in history. Since 1952, Turkey has
been a member of NATO. Our commitment to the collective defense is
critical, manifest in the Patriot missile batteries in Turkey's
border, but also the world has change. Its change, in many respects,
and our relationship today is about more than just defense. We've been
military allies for a long time. But it's beyond that today.
It includes our work together on issues and organizations as diverse
as the G20, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the challenges that are
of a changing Middle East. But just as we have in the past, we're
going to continue to have some disagreements, we always do, as NATO
allies -- and all NATO allies do. We've disagreed in the past with
Turkey about Israel. But Turkey understands and no one doubts that our
commitment to Israel's security and survival is absolute. That's why
we're so pleased that Prime Minister Erdogan and Prime Minister
Netanyahu began to reestablish the strategic cooperation between the
two countries that they had in the past. We encourage them to keep
working constructively to repair those ties.
We will, as allies, sometimes disagree on tactics but we are all
working toward the same thing -- a two-state solution, an independent
Palestinian state and a secure Israeli state; a successful Egyptian
transition; a democratic multi-ethnic nonsectarian Syria with
institutions intact; a non-nuclear Iran. On all the major issues, we
are in agreement whether or not occasionally tactically we disagree.
That is consequential.
And it falls to each of us to shore up the foundations of our strength
at home, because in the 21st century, greatness among nations is
defined not simply by the size of the country, by the dynamism of its
economy, by the openness of its -- it's more by the dynamism of its
economy, the openness of its markets and society; its ability to build
and draw on new talents of its citizens and help them deliver their
dreams. That's the new definition as a practical matter.
Your success, Deputy Prime Minister, as an ally and as a strategic
economic and democratic partner, is profoundly -- profoundly -- in the
naked self-interest of the United States of America.
The Turkish people will be authors of their own future, but they
should know that the United States, Mr. Prime Minister, stands ready
-- stands ready as an ally and a friend to help make that future more
secure, prosperous, and democratic as Turkey celebrates its 100th
anniversary as a republic.
That's our goal in this relationship. Turkey is a vital ally. And the
promise that Turkey holds for the entire region as an emerging major
power, if it works, is all for the good for everybody.
So, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it's always a pleasure to be with you.
We've had a lot of private conversations and I have no doubt about the
trajectory of your country. We're happy to come along for the ride. We
wish you all the success in the world. And thank you all for keeping
this relationship so vibrant.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)