PRESIDENT DEMIREL

April 22, 1999
		Following a report on the relationship between NATO members Turkey and Greece, Jim Lehrer talks with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel about the alliance's actions. Jim Lehrer also discusses the air strikes with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Nato at 50 coverage Strikes in Yugoslavia Coverage April 21, 1999: European journalists. April 8, 1999: How other countries are covering the events in Yugoslavia. April 1, 1999: Yugoslavia's UN Ambassador March 24, 1999: Comparing military capabilities. Feb. 25, 1999: Conversation on Turkey Complete NewsHour coverage of Europe.   Turkish Embassy in the U.S. Greek Embassy in the U.S. NATO US State Department Serbian Ministry of Information.	JIM LEHRER: Mr. President. Welcome. Sir what is your assessment of how well the NATO military action against Yugoslavia is going at the moment?
	Air strikes: A matter of time?
	SULEYMAN DEMIREL, President, Turkey: Well, actually NATO has plans and the military side of it is planned in detail we do believe. Then the NATO believes that the result can be obtained through air strikes and I think it takes some patience and then I think the people should have confidence in NATO. JIM LEHRER: There is new talk, as you know Mr. President, about seriously considering ground forces. What is your view of that? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Actually, the military part of NATO for the time being doesn't require any land forces and then they do believe that they can finish the job through air strikes. JIM LEHRER: You believe it's working then? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Well, I am not a military man. And then, you know, as politicians and civilian people what we do. We decide on something that there is trouble in Kosovo and that this trouble is to be removed and then military intervention became necessary and military side is being carried out by the military people. And the military people say that they have plans and then they are doing their…. they are implementing their plans, but there are some difficult conditions….air conditions and I think they can finish their job. JIM LEHRER: As a practical matter, if the military people came to you as the President of Turkey and said, "Look, we do need to introduce ground forces." Would you and your country support this, oppose it or will you wait and call it when it comes? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Let me say one thing. This is NATO at stake. And I don't think that countries…member countries of NATO -- should be able to bear the failure of NATO. NATO must be successful and that NATO cannot afford to fail, and therefore every country being a member of NATO for several years. They should do their best not to give any harm to the reputation and credibility of NATO. And then, if the military people come and if they say that the land forces are needed, definitely NATO should decide on it. And then, this is not a matter of Turkey, this is not a matter of the United States. This is a matter of whole NATO. And then I think the commitment all the member countries have against NATO, they should live up with the commitment they have. Definitely Turkey will live up with the commitment whatever necessary and then Turkey will do whatever NATO requires.
	Opening the door for refugees.
	JIM LEHRER: But as a special matter of geography, your country has a special stake in this conflict, does it not? Help Americans understand where Turkey stands in this and what its special stake is? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Well, I think…let me put it this way. Definitely, we are very sorry about what happened in Kosovo -- this deportation, this human misery, this genocide and this ethnic cleansing. And that there are people subject to this treatment, the Kosovars. And we have some special relations with the Kosovars because Kosovo was on the Ottoman Empire for 524 years. But the problem is now, these people -- the Kosovars -- are close to Turks or are close to Americans or are close to the Albanians. It's not the matter. The matter is they are human beings and they are being treated this way. I think it is inhuman. It is tyranny. And that it is a tragedy. And then that's why NATO is in the saving of these people, actually. This is totally humanitarian. Not the matter of Turkey. Not the matter of the United States as I said. Definitely, we are very sorry. Everybody is sorry. Everybody should be sorry. If a man is human being, he should be sorry about what's being done. JIM LEHRER: Now Turkey….some of these ethnic Albanian refugees are coming to Turkey. Is that correct? You have let several thousand in already? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Yes. We have committed 20,000 people should come to Turkey. And then we set up two camps. One is Albania. One in Macedonia. And then each one will take care of 10,000 people. That makes about….and then there are some people -- they already come…. And altogether, we are taking care of 50,000 people. And then, not because they are close to us. But, because they are displaced from their homes and no matter whether they are Albanian or they're coming from Turkish origin. There are Turkish people coming from Turkish origin too and speaking Turkish. But the problem is. I think if almost one million people displaced, and, I think, the civilized world should have something to do. That's what's happening.
	Redefining NATO's role.
	JIM LEHRER: And you believe. Turkey believes….this is a legitimate, real function of NATO to do this kind of thing. No longer just a defensive organization as it was set up to do against the Soviet Union? It has a new function and this is one of them? SULEYMAN DEMIREL: Well, as a matter of fact, the civilized world could do two things. One of them was, well it's not my business. I don't want to be involved in such a difficult thing and then if there is killing, all right I cannot do anything. This is one way. The other way is -- no one has today the right to kill the other. And this is I think the commitment of the civilized world to themselves. Being the civilized will not allow that some other people to be killed for nothing. Therefore, this is something which NATO should discuss whether this is my job or not. And NATO is doing exactly the resolution -- the United Nations Resolution 1199. This is inhuman. This is tyranny. This is ethnic cleansing. And someone should say something. I don't think the civilized world should sit and watch. Therefore, well, something should be done. JIM LEHRER: Mr. President thank you very much.

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