Turkey Has Never Made A Mistake

Replying a question which said, ”the world public opinion is now curious about your response to Wolfowitz’s remarks about Turkey. Did Turkey make a mistake? Did Turkey encourage Iran and Syria?” Erdogan said, ”since the beginning of this issue, Turkey has never made a mistake, but it has sincerely taken steps which it saw necessary. While taking those steps, it has walked on this path without expecting anything in return. Besides, any dispute neither among our colleagues or our authorities that take decision on this issue is out of question.”

Meanwhile, guest Prime Minister Nastase said that he did not want to say anything about this issue when he was asked what he thought about Turkey’s Iraq policy.

Nastase said that it was a very complicated thing, and as a domestic issue, Turkey knew about this situation better than him.

PRESIDENT SEZER: I THINK WOLFOWITZ GETS NECESSARY RESPONSE

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday that U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz got necessary response.

Sezer received Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov.

When journalists reminded Sezer that statements were Paul Wolfowitz were harsh, Sezer said, ”I think he got necessary response”.

When asked from whom he got the response, Sezer said ”from the officials”.

JUSTICE MINISTER CICEK: ”WOLFOWITZ’S WORDS SAYING U.S. DIDN’T FULFILL ITS PROMISES TO TURKEY DURING FIRST GULF WAR PLAYED ROLE IN NON-ADOPTION OF MOTION”

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the words of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz who said that ‘we didn’t fulfil our promises to Turkey during the First Gulf War’ played a role in non-adoption of the motion on deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey.

Responding to questions of journalists after the parliamentary justice commission meeting, Cicek assessed the recent statements of Wolfowitz. Noting that Turkey abided by the reciprocity principle in its relations with the U.S., Cicek said that the bilateral relations particularly developed after the Second World War.

”Many Turkish citizens died due to the importance we attributed to the relations and to the friendship with the U.S. Dead bodies of more than 400 Turkish soldiers still rest in Korea,” Cicek said. Cicek noted that, when evaluating Turkish-U.S. relations, the 50-years of history had to be taken into consideration. He added that Turkey always responded positively to the demands of the U.S. also by taking into consideration its priorities and principles.

Reminding the journalists that Wolfowitz said in his earlier speech that ”we didn’t fulfil our promises to Turkey during the First Gulf War”, Cicek said ”I think that these words have been influential in non-adoption of the motion by the parliament. Turkey this time acted hesitantly. Non-fulfillment of the promises given to Turkey have played a role in that.”

Cicek stressed that the U.S. had to say ”where did we make a mistake?” and had to question it when assessing its relations with Turkey, Cicek said that Wolfowitz was at the top of persons who could assess it in the best way.

When he was recalled Wolfowitz words ”they told us to leave, we cannot stay in Incirlik”, Cicek said, ”It may be, but it must also be taken into consideration why the promises given to us have not been fulfilled.”

BAYKAL: WOLFOWITZ’S STATEMENTS MAY REFLECT HIS PERSONAL DISAPPOINTMENT”

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz’s statements might reflect his personal disappointment.

When asked how he evaluated statements of Wolfowitz, Baykal quoted Wolfowitz as saying that there was a need for close solidarity between Turkey and the United States in a new future by erasing the past.

Stating that Turkey was a democratic country and fastidiously complied with the rules of legal state and the Constitution, Baykal said, ”everyone who esteems the real democracy in Turkey should welcome this process by respect.”

Baykal said, ”it is natural for him to express the need for close cooperation between the United States and Turkey from now on. Precondition of ensuring such a cooperation is to accept that decisions of Turkey have been taken in accordance with its national interests and its own constitutional regime so far.”

He stated that he thought that this debate had no importance any longer and added that Wolfowitz’s statements might reflect his personal disappointment.

BAYKAL: THERE IS NO REASON FOR TURKEY TO APOLOGIZE FROM ANYBODY UNDER ANY CONDITION

Baykal said that ”there is no reason for Turkey to apologize from anybody.” Wolfowitz had said that Turkey should apologize in an interview with a private tv channel.

Baykal said that persons who assumed responsibility in government can’t govern the countries with feelings of disappointment. ”Countries can make cooperation by fulfilling the requirements of their responsibilities and by showing respect to each other,” Baykal said.

Baykal stated that there was chance for making cooperation for the future in this framework, adding that ”the unlucky point in the evaluation was about one made regarding the Turkish Armed Forces. This statement was made on behalf of an understanding which attributed great value to democracy and which wanted to bring democracy to the Middle East, creating a contradiction in itself which is difficult to explain.”

Baykal said that peace, trust and stability in the region could be ensured with the constructive role of Turkey, adding that ”Turkey displays an attitude which significantly contributes to lasting peace, stability and democracy in the region. I would like to consider the statement as a repercussion of the personal disappointment of Mr. Wolfowitz. The U.S. and Turkey made a very serious cooperation throughout the history, and it will continue to do so.”

Baykal said that Turkey’s taking decisions within its own legal structure and constitution would never bring an end to its relations with other countries, adding that everybody had to accept that.

When asked if there was any reason that necessitated Turkey to apologize, Baykal said that ”there is no reason for Turkey to apologize from anybody under any condition… The incidents will be assessed and revealed within history. Turkey has always taken decisions in a responsible manner. Everybody should know that. This is the starting point for making cooperation for the future.”

When reminded that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul found positive the statement of Wolfowitz, Baykal said that ”I share the view that the importance of Turkey has been stressed in that speech, but that’s all.”