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04 December 2002

Wolfowitz Says Turkey Has Role to Play in Dealing with Iraq

(Dec. 3 remarks by Deputy Defense Secretary at foreign ministry,
airport) (640)
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz met with Turkish officials
in Ankara December 3 and afterwards told reporters that Turkey has a
role to play in dealing with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
"The more closely that Turkey works with the United States the better
our chances are of avoiding a war," Wolfowitz said, adding that any
impact on Turkey "will be much better managed if Turkey is intimately
involved in the planning from the outset."
In brief remarks earlier at the airport, Wolfowitz said, "our chances
of a peaceful outcome of the Iraq problem are going to be greatest,
the more cooperation we have from our partners and allies - and Turkey
is clearly one of our strongest partners and allies that has been
throughout."
Following are transcripts of his remarks outside the Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and at the airport:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Department of Defense
REMARKS BY U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PAUL WOLFOWITZ OUTSIDE THE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ANKARA, TURKEY
December 3, 2002
DEPUTY SECRETARY PAUL WOLFOWITZ: Hello. After a very constructive
meeting with the Prime Minister, we've just had very good discussions
here at the Foreign Ministry. It is just a very positive thing to work
with an ally like Turkey. The more closely that Turkey works with the
United States the better our chances are of avoiding a war. Our
military and diplomatic planning must proceed because Saddam Hussein
must see that we are serious. He has to see that he is surrounded by
the international community. Turkey has a role to play. The economic
and security impact on Turkey will be much better managed if Turkey is
intimately involved in the planning from the outset. And we've also
talked about how to manage so that if there is a crisis in this
region, Turkey's economy will continue to be strong. That's one of our
objectives as well. Thanks very much.
(end transcript of remarks at foreign ministry)
(begin transcript of remarks at airport)
U.S. Department of Defense
REMARKS BY U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PAUL WOLFOWITZ AT THE
AIRPORT, ANKARA, TURKEY
December 3, 2002
DEPUTY SECRETARY PAUL WOLFOWITZ: Merhaba. It's great pleasure to be
back in Turkey. Obviously there is a very full agenda of subjects to
be discussed.
The President of the United States sent me and my colleagues here and
to London to talk to our closest allies about the issue of Iraq, of
how we could work together to try to ensure that the provisions of UN
Security Council Resolution 1441 are implemented - hopefully,
peacefully. And our chances of a peaceful outcome of the Iraq problem
are going to be greatest, the more cooperation we have from our
partners and allies - and Turkey is clearly one of our strongest
partners and allies that has been throughout.
We're very well aware there are many other issues on Turkey's agenda,
particularly the issue of membership of the European Union. I spoke
about that subject when I was in London yesterday. And we've been
doing everything that we can to assist Turkey in its aspirations. And
I'd be very interested in hearing from Turkish officials if there are
other things that we can do. I realize that in addition the economic
challenges, Turkey faces multiple, international challenges right now.
But I feel confident that, working together as we always have, that
we'll be able to look back on this period as a period that moved into
a new and better and positive era, even though we have problems
overcoming those problems, will lead to a much better future for
everyone in this region and particularly for Turkey. So, it's a
pleasure as I say to be back here. It's a great ally, it's always
useful and informative to meet with Turkish officials. And we're
looking forward to a very productive if short visit.
We'll take questions from the press later on. But not right now.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)