U.S. Department of State
21 January 2007
Turkey Key Partner on Mideast Issues, State’s Burns Says
U.S., Turkey seek nuclear-free Iran, end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By Melody Merin
USINFO Special Correspondent
Under Secretary Burns speaks to the press after meeting Turkey’s
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara January 18. (©AP Images)
Washington — Calling his meetings with top officials in Turkey a
"very good visit," U.S. Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns
emphasized Turkey’s role as a "valued strategic partner" in the effort
to resolve many issues in the Middle East, including those involving
Iraq, Iran and Lebanon.
Burns met with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul January 18-19 to discuss
the current state of U.S.-Turkish relations and various issues in the
Middle East. From Turkey, Burns will travel to Israel, where he will
meet with Prime Minster Ehud Olmert and other top Israeli officials,
and to Jerusalem, where he will meet with Palestinian officials.
(See related article.) In a press availability following his meeting
with Gul, Burns described his discussions with members of the Turkish
government as "a series of very good conversations" in which both the
United States and Turkey reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear-free
Iran and peace and stability in the Middle East.
"I think there’s a high degree of unity between Turkey and the United
States on the need for peace in Iraq, on the need for Iran to … not
become a nuclear weapons state, on the need for support for Prime
Minister [Fouad Siniora] in Lebanon and the need for peace between
Israel and Palestinians," said Burns, adding, "Turks can be a force
for stability in the Middle East."
In an interview with Mehmet Ali Birand, Burns thanked Turkey for its
work in Afghanistan and its support for the Iraqi government and said
the United States is "very grateful that we are allies in NATO."
He also noted that both countries oppose the Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK), a terrorist group fighting to create an independent
Kurdish state in Turkey’s southeast region. (See related article.)
Reemphasizing the United States’ commitment to help the Turkish
government to "diminish the number and severity of PKK attacks on
Turkish soldiers and civilians," Burns urged the European community
to close the political offices of the PKK.
Turning to the January 19 murder of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink,
a vocal supporter of human rights and democracy, Burns expressed his
condolences and called the murder "an outrageous act of criminality."
"We look forward to see Turkish justice and we look forward to see
these killers brought to justice," he said.
In a separate statement, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara also expressed
hope "the perpetrator of this heinous crime will quickly be brought
to justice."
Transcripts of Burns’ press availability and his interview with Birand,
as well as a statement on Dink’s death, can be found on the Web site
of U.S. Embassy in Turkey.
For more information on U.S. policy, see The Middle East: a Vision
for the Future and Southeast Europe.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information
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