27 September 2001
Transcript: Remarks by Powell, Turkish Foreign Minister after Meeting
(Turkey is "together with the U.S. in this fight," Cem says) (1760)
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem made themselves available to the press after their meeting at the
State Department September 27.
Powell said that, in addition to conveying thanks to the Turkish
Government and Turkish people for their condolences over the September
11 terrorist attacks, he had also expressed appreciation for Turkish
over-flight support and the support Turkey has given the United States
in the United Nations and NATO.
Cem said Turkey is "together with the United States in this fight
against terrorists."
He also said he wanted to thank the United States for undertaking a
global campaign against terrorism because Turkey has suffered a lot at
the hands of terrorists, "and we know how valuable the American
leadership in this field is for all humanity."
Asked his reaction to the Taliban regime's perhaps having invited the
Reverend Jesse Jackson to Afghanistan, Powell replied: "I said to
Reverend Jackson last night, and then confirmed again this morning,
that our position is ... the Taliban regime knows what it must do and
should do with respect to the presence of al-Qaida and Usama bin
Laden, if in Afghanistan, and also with respect to the bases and
facilities in Afghanistan. And, as the President said, this is not an
issue for negotiation."
Powell also said that, while the campaign against terrorism is a
priority right now, the United States continues to attend to its
global responsibilities and the entire spectrum of its interests and
issues.
Following is the State Department transcript of the press
availability:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
September 27, 2001
REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL AND TURKISH MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISMAIL CEM AFTER THEIR MEETING
September 27, 2001
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's
been my pleasure to meet once again with my colleague from Turkey,
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. We have met many times over the last
eight months, and I think that's a sign of the strength of our
personal relationship, as well as the relationship between our two
countries.
On this occasion, I was pleased to express to the Minister our deepest
appreciation for the messages of condolence we received from the
Turkish Government and the Turkish people over the events of 11
September, and expressed my condolences to him for the lives of Turks
or Turkish-Americans who were lost at the World Trade Center. We both
recognize it is a World Trade Center, and so many countries lost
citizens in that terrible tragedy.
I was also pleased to express my appreciation to the Minister for the
other support they have provided to us in this time of crisis --
over-flight support, and the support they have given to us in the
United Nations and within NATO councils.
We do have a strong relationship with Turkey, and I know that in the
days ahead, as our campaign against terrorism unfolds, we will be able
to count on the support and active assistance of our Turkish friends.
So, Mr. Minister, it's a great pleasure to have you here again.
FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Well, first of all, I
want to say that the Turkish people feels deep in her heart the
suffering of the American people. And just to summarize all our talks,
we are together with the United States in this fight against
terrorists.
Today, we had the opportunity of comparing our analyses, our views,
and we tried to look into some areas of mutual interests or some
particularities which will bear an effect on the composition and on
the effectiveness of the coalition against terror. And I am very glad
to see that the American Government is doing the utmost, first, to
have a strong, effective coalition, and second, to bring this fight
against terrorists to its end.
And, of course, terrorism does not have a religion. This is complete
nonsense to call one or other of terrorist organizations, of referring
to Muslims or to Islamic terrorism, or to Jewish terrorism or to
Christian terrorists. That's one aspect which is of importance, of
relevance. The second one is that terrorism does not have a geography.
When we talk about terrorism and the bad that they do to people, it's
not only that particular country, that particular region, but
terrorism is present with its organizations, with its tools and means
in Africa, in Asia, in Europe as well. And we should, in our fight
against terrorism, we should always see that it's a global problem
with which we have to deal in all geographies, in all continents,
without any discrimination and with total solidarity.
I want to thank my American counterpart and the American people in
this courageous fight that they are initiating against terrorists,
because we have suffered a lot because of terrorism, and we know how
valuable the American leadership in this field is for all humanity.
And I thank you, again, Colin, for this meeting.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, as you all well know, with events in the
Middle East and elsewhere, even though the United States is fully
engaged in its war against terrorism, that other areas of US policy
must go on. And what can you say to those that suggest that how US
foreign policy is dictated and perhaps changed in the future will not
suffer because of the US war against terrorism?
And, for Mr. Foreign Minister, as your country is deeply engaged in
the Mid-East as well, how do you see the United States' engagement in
the Middle East crisis and its ability to help mediate this conflict
as essential to the US war on terrorism and maintaining a coalition of
Muslim states and other states?
Thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we don't have the luxury of only focusing on
one problem. At the same time that we're mounting this campaign
against terrorism, we're preparing for the President's trip to Asia
next month, the APEC Conference; we're working with our NATO allies,
our friends in the European Union in a variety of trade and other
issues. As you know, we're deeply engaged in the Middle East. We
continue to work on HIV/AIDS programs in Africa.
And so even though terrorism is a priority for us right now, I can
assure you that we are able to cover all the other bases and recognize
that the United States has global responsibilities, and a priority for
a particular period of time on one subject does not mean we can ignore
all the others. So I can assure you, we're hard at work across the
entire spectrum of interests and issues that we have.
FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: Well, I have always advocated that US presence
and involvement in the peace process is the decisive factor, and no
other country can play such a role. And I am very much -- I am very
content that, thanks to the insistence of my colleague, Colin Powell,
this meeting between Shimon Peres and Arafat took place. I think it is
essential for the composition and effectiveness of this coalition that
we are trying to build up.
In fact, I was in Palestine and Israel three days ago and tried to
speak with both parties, insisting for them to get together, to
consolidate this declaration of cease-fire and to build upon that
cease-fire a quest for talks, for negotiations and for peace. I think
the US has a lot to do -- a lot to contribute to this process, and I
am very happy that this is taking place.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what is your reaction to the overture to
Jesse Jackson that he should perhaps come to Afghanistan?
SECRETARY POWELL: I spoke to Reverend Jackson last night and again
this morning, and he advised us that he had received this message from
Taliban leadership. I said to Reverend Jackson last night, and then
confirmed again this morning, that our position is rather clear as
laid out by the President in his speech last week, and that is the
Taliban regime knows what it must do and should do with respect to the
presence of al-Qaida and Usama bin Laden, if in Afghanistan, and also
with respect to the bases and facilities in Afghanistan. And, as the
President said, this is not an issue for negotiation.
So Reverend Jackson is fully aware of our position and the strength of
our position, and whether he does or does not accept an invitation --
whether one has been offered or not, and there seems to be some
confusion about that -- is up to Reverend Jackson. But we have nothing
to negotiate. They know what our position is.
QUESTION: You don't have any objections to him going?
SECRETARY POWELL: He is free to travel. I don't know what purpose
would be served right now, since the position of the United States and
the international community is quite clear. And so it's a matter for
he and whoever he was speaking to over there to decide.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, just a few days ago the Taliban said they
couldn't find Usama bin Laden; yet today, we hear that the message of
the clerics has been passed on to him, that they would appreciate him
leaving the country.
How credible do you find this now, and do you think that this is an
attempt --
SECRETARY POWELL: How credible do I find which report?
QUESTION: Either.
SECRETARY POWELL: I can't -- I don't know how to handicap Taliban
reports. I'm quite sure that whether they had found him or hadn't
found him, knew where he was or didn't know where he was, he got the
message.
QUESTION: Sir, do you think that this is an attempt by some in the
Taliban to gain some sympathy from the United States to show that they
are trying to take care of this?
SECRETARY POWELL: I don't want to speculate on what their motivations
might be. What they ought to be motivated to do is to comply with what
the President put on the table last Thursday night in clear, certain
terms: to turn over Usama bin Laden, his top lieutenants; root out the
al-Qaida network within Afghanistan; destroy the bases and let us have
access to see that those bases have been destroyed.
Thank you.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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