WEYMOUTH: How is Turkey’s relationship with the United States? ECEVIT: At the moment our relations are at a rather low ebb. Our annual trade volume with the United States is only $6 billion, and this year it decreased. Tourism is important for Turkey, but Americans constitute just 5 percent of those who come here. Joint investments are below their potential. There is increasing military cooperation, but U.S. military assistance has been cut off.
When you met with President Clinton in September, did you agree to jump-start the talks on Cyprus? We didn’t go into details. He expressed the hope that talks would start [soon].
You used to be a critic of America. Has your view changed over the years? The world has changed, and everybody has to adapt to change.
Do you believe that Turkey will become a candidate for European Union membership at the Helsinki summit in December? Turkey should become a candidate; it is our right to become a member. Sooner or later the EU will extend a real invitation without unacceptable political conditions.
Won’t talks on Cyprus have to be underway for Greece not to veto Turkey’s entry? We don’t believe that a serious problem exists on Cyprus. Before the Turkish action in 1974, there was constant conflict on the island–either genocide against the Turks or factional conflicts between Greeks. Since then, there has been uninterrupted peace.
Would you like to see a Cyprus settlement? I would certainly like a settlement to be reached, not only on Cyprus but between Turkey and Greece. But we cannot risk another genocide against Turks on the island. The fact that there are two completely independent states on the island should be recognized. Diplomatic recognition may not be given, but it should be acknowledged that there are two different autonomous entities. [At the moment, only the Greek part of Cyprus has international recognition.]
No talks until that happens? Proximity talks.
Will those talks start soon in New York? I would suggest Cyprus–it’s beautiful.
There has been a big change in atmosphere between Greece and Turkey. Is this going to lead to peace? I hope so. I always believed that a real dialogue between the two nations would solve the basic issues. Of course, the earthquake [in August, after which Greece sent aid to Turkey] had a welcome impact on the dialogue already started between the two foreign ministers. It is not realistic to expect the basic issues to be immediately addressed–the Aegean, the continental shelf, seabed rights, territorial waters. The dialogue should be on economic and cultural matters.
Would you be willing to make an official trip to Athens? It’s too early to think of that, but I hope to meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the summit in Istanbul next month.
In November, you will go to Moscow and perhaps sign a bill for additional gas purchases. What is Turkey’s energy priority, the trans-Caspian pipeline supported by the United States or gas from Moscow? The trans-Caspian pipeline is a priority. But we had signed an agreement with the Russian Federation and have to abide by our agreements.
It has been said in the past that you were soft on Saddam Hussein. We are afraid of partitioning Iraq. It would upset the balance in the region and may increase the threat of separatism in Turkey.
Steps such as U.S. aid to the Iraqi opposition in the north? Nothing can be obtained by supporting the opposition. They can’t be influential. But the people in northern Iraq could contribute to the relative democratization of Iraq if they established a dialogue with Baghdad.
Can Saddam be overthrown? We have to live with the regime. You can’t forcefully change the regime.
How do you feel about the U.S. bombing of northern Iraq from Turkish air bases? We have been cooperating with the United States, but we have our concerns.
There are rumors that you are not well… I have no health problems, but some may wish I had.
