02 February 1998
TRANSCRIPT: GROSSMAN, RALSTON REMARKS AT TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY
(Feb. 2 remarks in Ankara, discussing Iraq) (1220) Ankara -- "It is the will of the international community that Saddam Hussein be thwarted in his attempts to get weapons of mass destruction and to threaten his neighbors," Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman said following meetings February 2 at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "This is very much in the security interests of Turkey, and very much in the security interests of the United States. Indeed, we have heard very clearly this morning Turkish concern about weapons of mass destruction," Grossman said. "As Secretary Albright has stressed, and the president has stressed, we prefer a diplomatic solution, but at this stage of the crisis, I think it is fair to say that all options are open." General Joseph Ralston, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that President Clinton "asked that I come to Turkey to explain the U.S. military views as well as listen to the views of the Turkish government. We have had a very good exchange this morning, as the secretary had mentioned. "Let me state up front that we believe firmly that a diplomatic solution is best. However, we must prudently plan for the eventuality that it may not happen..... No decisions have been made on the use of force. As a result, there are no new requests of the Turkish military." Following is the transcript of their remarks: (Begin Text) A/S GROSSMAN: Thank you very much for coming this morning. Let me do two things if I could. First, I would like to introduce General Ralston, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who, many of you know, has a long history of good cooperation with Turkey. Second, let me just give you a picture of what we have been doing this morning and what we are going to do next. We arrived last night. We have seen General Bir this morning for breakfast. We have just had the good fortune to see Under Secretary Haktanir for a very good conversation. We are on our way in a couple of minutes, so this is unfortunately going to be a short session, to see General Karadayi. We will then fly to Istanbul where we have the good chance to visit Foreign Minister Cem. So I think that is a very complete set of talks here in Turkey this morning. We are very pleased here, obviously, to be in Turkey, and myself, I'm very pleased to be back, as you might imagine. And I'm certainly honored to be traveling with the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We are here today because Turkey is important to the U.S. And we are here today because we want to explain U.S. views to Turkey on this confrontation between Iraq and the UN, and obviously to hear Turkish views in this regard as well. I would say that there has been a very great deal of conversation about this subject over the past few days. Our superb ambassador here, Mark Parris, has been in very close contact with your senior leadership. U/S Haktanir has been in contact with our U/S, Ambassador Pickering. Yesterday, the secretary of state, while she was on her travels, had a conversation with Mr. Yilmaz. And there will be other high-level diplomatic communications, as well. I just had the opportunity to be with Secretary Albright in Paris, Madrid and London and as she has said, the situation is a grave one. The world is, I believe, absolutely united in believing that Saddam Hussein must comply with UN Security Council resolutions. And as yesterday's statement by the Turkish government makes clear, this is a problem between the United Nations, the UN Security Council, UNSCOM, and Iraq. Why is it that people are so interested in this, that Saddam Hussein should comply? Because it is the will of the international community that Saddam Hussein be thwarted in his attempts to get weapons of mass destruction and to threaten his neighbors. This is very much in the security interests of Turkey, and very much in the security interests of the United States. Indeed, we have heard very clearly this morning Turkish concern about weapons of mass destruction. When UNSCOM cannot do its job, then we are in a situation where we are much worse off. And that is why Saddam Hussein must comply with the resolutions of the United Nations. As Secretary Albright has stressed, and the president has stressed, we prefer a diplomatic solution, but at this stage of the crisis, I think it is fair to say that all options are open. General Ralston. GEN. RALSTON: Thank You, Mr. secretary. First of all, I would like to state that the president of the United States asked that I come to Turkey to explain the U.S. military views as well as listen to the views of the Turkish government. We have had a very good exchange this morning, as the secretary had mentioned. Let me state up front that we believe firmly that a diplomatic solution is best. However, we must prudently plan for the eventuality that it may not happen. The Turkish military, the U.S. military are strongly in agreement with the dangers of weapons of mass destruction. No decisions have been made on the use of force. As a result, there are no new requests of the Turkish military. Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom are part of Operation Northern Watch. That operation is continuing, and I believe that is all that I have to say. A/S GROSSMAN: We will take a couple of questions and, as I say, we are going to visit General Karadayi. Q: Do you have anything to say about Foreign Minister Cem's going to Baghdad? A/S GROSSMAN: Obviously, we will have the chance to talk to Mr. Cem here at 2:00 o'clock. I think, as Secretary Albright and our ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Richardson, have said in relation to other envoys, that we prefer, we want to see a diplomatic solution. And so the people who go to try to get one have our understanding. We are skeptical, given Saddam Hussein's history in all of this and what the past has been like and his inability to keep his word, that somebody is going to be successful. But since we want a diplomatic solution, we wish people well. We would be the first people to congratulate them. But we are skeptical of this. The second important point here is: what's the message? And we believe the message of any envoy to Saddam Hussein must be to comply, to comply, and to comply with UN Security Council resolutions. We'll take one more. Q: Did you demand anything from Turkey about use of Incirlik Airbase? A/S GROSSMAN: Let me say two things. First, we don't demand of Turkey. Turkey is an ally of the United States. And so, I don't use that word ever about anything we do with Turkey. Second, I think General Ralston has very adequately and eloquently answered that question. OK. Thank you all very much. (End text)
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