Rice: We are Fully Committed to a Unified Iraq
It was noted that they discussed Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, and Cyprus but did not touch on the issues of Iran and the Incirlik air base. Turkey’s concerns over recent developments in Kirkuk were also relayed to the US. According to sources, while Erdogan spoke of Turkey’s sensitivities regarding Kirkuk to the visiting US Secretary of State, he also emphasized that he was speaking as a "friend and ally". Rice, on the other side, stressed that Kirkuk belongs to whole of Iraq and its future will be determined by all Iraqis: "There will be no permission for any excessiveness in the city. The Iraqi administration will not allow for any excessiveness. That’s why we have been working for an election to be held and democracy to be consolidated." Rice also conveyed that they know of Turkey’s sensitivities in all issues and will continue the "dialogue of strategic co-operation". Signifying that they want good relations with Turkey, Rice noted that they have been working to end the isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Very strict security mesaures were taken during the US Secretary of State’s arrival at the airport.
Rice waits for 20 minutes
Vice Turkish Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, Minister of State Mehmet Aydin, Turkey’s Washington Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, Foreign Ministry Deputy Under Secretary Ertugrul Apakan and Prime Ministry advisers attended the meeting between Erdogan and Rice. The plane carrying the US Secretary of State landed at the Ankara Esenboga Airport at 06.05 p.m. Erdogan, on the other hand, arrived at the airport at 06.25 p.m. so Rice had to wait for Erdogan for 20 minutes in the plane. According to reports, the US Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman presented Rice a final briefing about the meeting in the meantime. Rice was welcomed by diplomats from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in Ankara at the same time was also met by diplomats but it was striking that there were no Turkish ministers to welcome the both guests. Before his meeting with Rice, Lavrov met with Turkish Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Ali Tuygan. It is indicated that Tuygan asked Lavrov for support on Cyprus during the negotiations. Lavrov announced that they are not against the ending of the isolation of TRNC and support the United Nation’s (UN) initiatives. It was noticeable that no announcements were made after the Rice – Lavrov meeting which lasted for 2.5 hours but apparently discussed the details of the December 24th summit between the US and Russian Presidents, Greorge W. Bush and Vladimir Putin. Today, Rice will meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Gul.
