Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Ritz-Carlton Hotel AT THE 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS
US Department of State
Oct 31 2011
USA
Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State
Thank you. Thank you so much, and it is a great pleasure for me to be
here this evening. I want to thank Ambassador Rich Armitage for that
introduction and for his long service to our country. I also want to
thank Tom Kennedy and Jim Holmes and everyone at the American-Turkish
Council. I am delighted that our respective ambassadors are here,
Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador Tan. And I am pleased to welcome
Defense Minister Yilmaz. Thank you, sir, for being here.
As has already been reported, Deputy Prime Minister Babacan could
not make it because of plane trouble, but I was able to speak with
him earlier today, and he extends his warmest greetings to all of
you. And I will be seeing him when Im in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Before I begin, I want to say, on behalf of President Obama and the
American people, that our thoughts and prayers are with the families
who have lost loved ones and their homes in the recent earthquake,
also with the rescuers and with the people of Turkey, because of the
scenes of heart-wrenching suffering, but also exhilaration, bravery,
and compassion that lift the spirit: the tiny baby girl who was
pulled alive after being trapped for 48 hours, then her mother and
her grandmother being saved, and then a 13-year-old boy. These great
testaments to the resilience of the human spirit were very touching
to all of us.
Now, sadly, the recent earthquake is not the only time we have grieved
together. Less than two weeks ago, two dozen Turkish soldiers were
killed in a vicious terrorist attack by the PKK. The United States
stands with Turkey in the fight against violent extremism. And I
was proud to join with Foreign Minister Davutoglu just last month
to co-chair the new Global Counterterrorism Forum. That is just
one example of the breadth and increasing sophistication of our
partnership. I think President Obama set the tone when he addressed
the Turkish parliament during his first foreign trip as President
and underscored the importance of this relationship to both of our
countries.
Now, I have to confess that some Americans, including quite a few
on Capitol Hill, have questions about the future of this vital
partnership. And they wonder about its durability and they wonder
about the future role that Turkey will play in the region. And from
what I have read, I know that there are many Turks who also have
questions about our partnership. I think its the responsibility of
the leadership of both of our countries to answer those questions. So
I want to emphasize that the United States welcomes Turkeys growing
role in the region and on the world stage. Now, we do not always see
eye-to-eye. In fact, no two nations or two friends or even two members
of the same family ever do. But we are confident that as Turkey
assumes the responsibilities that come with increased influence,
our partnership will become even more productive in the years ahead.
Tonight, I want to focus on an aspect of our relationship that
sometimes receives less attention but is increasingly central to
our future together; that is, U.S.-Turkish economic ties and Turkeys
growing economic leadership in the region. As I explained in a speech
earlier this month in New York, the Obama Administration is elevating
economic statecraft as a pillar of American foreign policy so we
can continue to lead in a world where power is often exercised in
boardrooms and on trading floors as much as in battle space.
The context for this discussion is the remarkable growth that
Turkey has experienced in recent years. The Turkish economy tripled
in size over the past decade. More people found jobs, started
businesses, bought homes. And when I talk with Turks, from students
to entrepreneurs to government officials, I see a confidence and
optimism and it is for a good reason. Turkey can be proud that it
has become the 17th largest economy in the world, with ambitions to
reach the top 10 in the coming years.
This story sometimes called the Turkish Miracle is well known. But
its strategic implications are perhaps less well understood. So I
would like to make four points: first, that a strong U.S.-Turkey
relationship has contributed to Turkish prosperity; that, in turn,
Turkeys economic growth should further strengthen our partnership;
that for Turkey to take full advantage of its new opportunities, it
will have to consolidate democratic progress at home and peace and
stability in its neighborhood; and finally, that Turkeys economic
leadership can be a powerful force for progress across the region.
First, the role of our alliance in supporting Turkeys prosperity.
There is no doubt that the lions share of the credit rests with this
generation and preceding generations of Turkish people whose talent,
ingenuity, and hard work made it possible. Over the last decade,
successive Turkish governments made important economic reforms
that paid off. They opened the economy to foreign investment,
curbed inflation, sought closer economic integration with Europe,
and extended development beyond the major cities. These steps were
crucial. But I would argue that a strong partnership with the United
States also played a role.
This starts with security, which, after all, is the foundation of
stability and prosperity. Our work together in NATO has helped keep
the shipping lanes of the Mediterranean open and safe. We faced
down aggression in the Middle East. We helped bring stability and
prosperity to the Balkans and Central Europe, allowing Turkey to
establish profitable new trade and investment relationships.
Our expanding cooperation on counterterrorism, our work together on
21st century threats through the new NATO Strategic Concept, and the
new missile defense radar that NATO will deploy are reminders of the
continuing contributions that the alliance makes to Turkeys security
and that Turkey makes to the security of the alliance.
But its not just security. Its also access to a global economic system
that is open, free, transparent, and fair one that the United States
pioneered and continues to protect. Turkey has thrived in this system
as a member of the G-20, which the Obama Administration has helped to
elevate as the premier forum for international economic cooperation
and for greater involvement in the global marketplace as well. In the
long run, we believe that Turkey would enjoy even greater prosperity
if it one day joins the European Union a step that the United States
has consistently supported.
My second point is that just as our alliance has contributed to Turkeys
prosperity, that prosperity can in turn strengthen our alliance. For
too long, our economic relationship has lagged behind our security
partnership. But there is reason to hope that is starting to change. In
the first eight months of this year alone, our bilateral trade grew
by nearly 50 percent. Members of the American-Turkish Council, such
as Boeing, Sikorsky, Raytheon, are doing more and more business in
Turkey. That has benefited workers and consumers in both countries. But
I believe we can do even better. With the help of those of you in
this room, we can take this relationship to the next level and build
a partnership for prosperity as durable and dynamic as our security
alliance.
That is why, under the leadership of President Obama and President Gul,
we have intensified our diplomatic engagement, including through our
joint Economic Partnership Commission, which brings together experts
from across both governments to discuss everything from protecting
intellectual property rights to boosting energy trade along the
southern corridor, to positioning Istanbul as an international
financial center. And I would applaud the recent signing by Prime
Minister Erdogan and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan of a very important
energy agreement. We are exploring the ways the United States can
help Turkey take advantage of advanced bond and capital markets in
a way that would have been impossible only five years ago.
The Obama Administration also puts a premium on reaching beyond
traditional diplomacy to engage directly with the private sector, civil
society, and diaspora communities. We believe that these partnerships
can help us leverage new energy, innovation, and resources. President
Obama hosted the first Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Washington
last year, and we are pleased that Prime Minister Erdogan will be
hosting the second summit in Istanbul this December.
And in fact, Vice President Biden will be representing our government
there. The Global Entrepreneurship Program we launched last year
is already working with the Turkish business community to train and
support the next generation of entrepreneurs there.
And we are pleased that, just last month, the new U.S.-Turkey Business
Council held its first meeting. And on my last visit, in July,
I met with the Istanbul chapter of Partners for a New Beginning,
a public-private initiative that the United States helped launch
to build new ties between businesses, NGOs, and communities. Under
its auspices, the Coca-Cola Company, Cisco, the Istanbul Chamber
of Commerce, and other partners are working with Turkish women
entrepreneurs to provide new seed grants, training, and mentoring.
Intel is promoting technology entrepreneurship at Turkish universities,
and numerous other joint ventures are underway. The more Turkey grows,
the more we can trade, build, and prosper together. And for Americans,
eager to drive our own economic recovery, that is vitally important.
The third point is that Turkeys ability to realize its full
potential depends upon its resolve to strengthen democracy at home
and promote peace and stability in the neighborhood. The ongoing
constitutional reform process is a valuable opportunity, and Ive
had very productive conversations with President Gul, Prime Minister
Erdogan, Foreign Minister Davutoglu, and others about this process,
about its inclusivity and transparency that results in a document
that deepens respect for human rights for all Turkish citizens,
including the right to speak and worship freely. All minority groups
need to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed. I was
particularly impressed by Prime Minister Erdogans statement during
Ramadan that property would be returned to religious minority groups,
and we also hope to see other positive steps, such as reopening of
the Halki Seminary.
A vibrant economy depends upon the free exchange of ideas, the free
flow of information, and the rule of law. Strengthening due process,
cracking down on corruption, helps any country grow more rapidly,
and also protecting a free and independent media, which plays a role
that is very important. And of course, true prosperity must be shared
widely. And for me, that means that all of the strong and accomplished
women leaders in government, business, and civil society in Turkey
should be given the opportunity to fully participate, and, in turn,
they, along with their male counterparts, should further empower all
women that will be critical for Turkeys continued development. This
requires, as we know from our own experience, unrelenting effort.
Looking beyond Turkeys borders, there are concerns, and we have worked
closely with our Turkish counterparts, because we know that Turkey has
a unique opportunity in this time of great historic change, with the
so-called Arab Awakening, to demonstrate the power of an inclusive
democracy and responsible regional leadership. For example, we have
worked closely with Turkey on supporting the central institutions of
Iraq and helping to integrate Iraq economically into a larger region.
Turkey has been vocal in its condemnation of President Asads brutal
campaign of violence against its own people, and Syrian opposition
groups have met and organized in Turkey. And Turkey has opened its arms
and hearts to more than 7,000 Syrians who have found refuge across the
border. The Turkish Government understands that the longer President
Asad stays in power and oppresses his own people, the more the risk
rises that Syria descends into chaos and conflict that threatens not
only Syrian but those beyond its borders.
The United States is also encouraged by the signs of progress between
Turkey and Greece, including last years joint cabinet meeting and the
establishment of a strategic cooperation council. But we have been
concerned by the deterioration of relations between Turkey and Israel.
We believe this relationship has served both countries well over the
years, and it is positive that both governments have left the door
open to reconciliation, and we continue to urge both countries to look
for opportunities to put this important relationship back on track.
We also are focused on Cyprus. All parties agree on the fundamental
goal of achieving a lasting settlement on the island that results in a
bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. The United States supports the UNs
mediation on the Cyprus issue, and we believe that public rhetoric
on all sides must be kept to a minimum to give the parties space
needed to achieve a solution. And while we recognize the right of the
Republic of Cyprus to explore for natural resources in its exclusive
economic zone, including with the assistance of U.S. companies, we
look forward to both sides benefiting from shared resources in the
context of an overall agreement.
Similarly, improving relations between Turkey and Armenia would be a
positive step, and we hope that the Turkish parliament will ratify the
protocols during its current session and normalize ties with Armenia.
These festering conflicts hold back progress and development in the
region. Reducing tensions with neighbors, increasing stability, is a
recipe for expanded growth and influence. Turkeys leaders understand
this, which is why they have been reaching out over the last years.
But it does take bold choices and strong political will, not only on
the part of Turkey, but on the part of all of the countries.
Now, the final point I want to make and it is related is that we
believe Turkeys economic leadership has the potential to support
positive change far beyond Turkeys own borders or own neighborhood.
Turkey sends more than a quarter of its exports to nations in the
Middle East and North Africa. Its companies are, therefore, investing
heavily across the region. Turkish businesses are helping to rebuild
Iraq. They are one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment
in Egypt. And Turkish planes have already resumed flights to Libya.
Along with political change and reform must come economic reform in
this region. To succeed, the Arab political awakening must also be
an economic awakening.
President Obama has outlined a comprehensive economic agenda to support
the democratic transitions now underway, and Turkey is a valuable
partner in this effort. We want to increase access for transitional
democracies to U.S., European, and Turkish markets. We want to open
the door for those countries that adopt high standards of reform and
trade liberalization to construct a free, open, and integrated trade
and investment area. Increasing trade would help diversify economies
and create opportunities, particularly for young people.
So for Turkey, with its investments across the region, the benefits
of greater integration, economically and politically, are substantial,
and its capacity to support this integration is likewise substantial.
In fact, Turkeys growing influence is key to helping integrate and
modernize the economies of the Middle East and North Africa. This
vision is, we believe, what should be the hallmark of our partnership
in the years ahead, because if we look at this important relationship
through an economic lens, we see even more promise than we have seen
in the past.
In fact, we see Turkeys growing leadership holding great potential
benefits yes, first and foremost for the people of Turkey, but then
far beyond your borders. For the United States, this is reason for
optimism. As I leave you here and set out again for Turkey, I am
confident about the state of our alliance and the alignment of our
interests, proud of what we have accomplished together, and hopeful
for what we will achieve in the future together.
I thank all of you for your commitment to this relationship. The
banner behind me says 30 years, and 30 years has seen a great deal
of change, not only inside both of our countries and between us,
but in the world that we are now facing. And I am convinced that
the work you are doing to bring our two nations closer together,
to deal with the challenges and seize the opportunities before us,
is absolutely essential, certainly for my country, for our security,
for our future, and I believe also for Turkey.
So thank you for welcoming me tonight, and I look forward to continuing
to work with you. Thank you all very much. (Applause.)