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| NEWSMAKER: BULENT ECEVIT | |
 January 17, 2002  | |
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The prime minister of Turkey, a longtime ally of the United States, discusses peacekeeping in Afghanistan and concerns about Iraq.
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JIM LEHRER: A Newsmaker interview with the prime minister of Turkey. We start with some background from Spencer Michels.
Now, with the war winding down, Turkey has pledged 261 soldiers and six officers for the multinational peacekeeping force. And Turkey has offered to take over command when Britain withdraws its soldiers in three months. Turkey forms a nearly 1,000-mile wide bridge between Europe and the Middle East; among its neighbors: Iraq, Iran and Syria. Turkey was a strong ally of the United States in the Gulf War against Iraq, and U.S. and British planes still use a Turkish base as a launching pad to patrol the no-fly zone. The possibility of a new U.S. war against Iraq has provoked concern in Turkey, in part because of fears that it could lead to the rise of a Kurdish state on the border. Turkey has fought a 15-year war against Kurdish rebels at home. Women dress in western garb; it's against the law for them to cover their heads in some public buildings. Islamic parties are strictly regulated; Turkey is a rare parliamentary democracy in the region, but the military plays a strong political role. The current prime minister is 76-year-old Bulent Ecevit, a veteran politician who has served in that job four times since 1973. Ecevit arrived in the United States on Monday for a five-day visit. He met with officials of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, seeking relief for military debts and assistance for Turkey's faltering economy. At the White House yesterday, President Bush welcomed the prime minister, and praised his efforts in the war against terrorism.
SPENCER MICHELS: Tomorrow, Ecevit is scheduled to travel to New York, where he will visit the World Trade Center site before returning home. |
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| Turkish assistance for Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||||
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JIM LEHRER: I spoke to the prime minister this afternoon at his Washington hotel. JIM LEHRER: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. BULENT ECEVIT, Prime Minister, Turkey: Thank you. It's a great pleasure. JIM LEHRER: Are you satisfied with the way things are going in Afghanistan?
The armies, the difference of all of those armies that had been fighting each other and the Taliban took advantage of that to rule over the whole country. But thanks to the efforts, the initiative of the United States and of the several countries from the world, from Europe, including Turkey, it ended within a few weeks. I'm glad to hear that. JIM LEHRER: And did that surprise you as well as everyone else? BULENT ECEVIT: Yes, yes, indeed. Of course the problems do not end here. There is, as you know, there is no unified national Afghan army or police force. They have to be rebuilt from scratch. And in fact, I wrote a letter to Mr. Karzai when he took over the task of premiership... JIM LEHRER: He's running the temporary government now. BULENT ECEVIT: Yes. I suggested that we had experience in helping other countries build their military forces, and we would be willing and happy to do the same for Afghanistan, together with the United States.
BULENT ECEVIT: This is a different arrangement from what explained, but agreement has not yet been reached among countries, which will contribute to the security force. But there are indications that Turkey might be given this task. Of course we would try fulfill it. But apart from the military measures, security measures, of course, Afghanistan needs great help for building up its social life, its economic life. It has become a very poor country, neglected for many years. We have been helping, trying to help Afghanistan in many ways, even from the beginning of... the beginnings of the '20s, 1920s, when he we were fighting our own national struggle. Ataturk sent several Turkish staff officers to Afghanistan, helped them build their own army. And even very recently, when Taliban was in office, we took the humanitarian task of building hospital, for instance, schools and other arrangements. |
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| Watching Iraq | ||||||||||||||||||||
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JIM LEHRER: Are you optimistic that Afghanistan can be rebuilt as a stable and peaceful nation?
JIM LEHRER: There has been... There have been many suggestions and even overt threats in this country about the fact that the next step in the war on terrorism should be the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Do you support that? BULENT ECEVIT: Well, we don't want to interfere in the political questions of other countries, particularly neighboring countries, it would create serious problems for Turkey. What has been essential for Turkey is that Iraq should not be divided, because that would have adverse effects for Turkey. JIM LEHRER: You're talking about either -- a division based on the Kurds? BULENT ECEVIT: That's right, yes. JIM LEHRER: And then the Kurds in Turkey might unite with Kurds in Iraq and cause a problem?
JIM LEHRER: What do you say to what President Bush and others have said, is that as long as Saddam Hussein is in control of Iraq, Iraq will be a threat to the region. It is attempting to build weapons of mass destruction. BULENT ECEVIT: Yes, we certainly have to undertake all measures to see to it that the Baghdad regime is not organized and militarized in a degree and way that it would pose a serious threat for the region. We wouldn't allow that. And of course we have been cooperating with the United States through an air base in Turkey called Incirlik, where American aircraft are situationed. And whenever there is something that creates a suspicion, the aircraft in Incirlik intervene. So we keep an eye, a close eye on northern Iraq, because northern Iraq is a serious problem for us. It could be used as a basis for partitioning in Turkey, as well. Nobody could do it, but the efforts to do such a thing would cause serious problems in Turkey. So we are fulfilling our task in preventing serious armament stocks in Iraq within our possibilities. |
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| The perfect Islamic state | ||||||||||||||||||||
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BULENT ECEVIT: Yes. President Bush brought up the question yesterday when we visited with him. He expressed in strong terms that he can't... That he has to get rid of Saddam Hussein. JIM LEHRER: And you expressed back what you just said to me, the concerns of Turkey? BULENT ECEVIT: Well, that our main concern is that Iraq should not become a divided country. JIM LEHRER: And that... What did... Did you say what Turkey's position would be if the U.S. did take military action of some kind? BULENT ECEVIT: Well, we wouldn't even think of a military action because that would have extremely adverse results for Turkey. After all, we are on the borders. We have a common border with Iraq. And it's a very sensitive area geopolitically, but President Bush assured us that if and when Iraq may... The United States may take... They may decide to take a step, a serious step, they would consult with us. JIM LEHRER: I see. I'm sure you're aware of this, Mr. Prime Minister, but there are many American commentators as a result of September 11 and the war on Afghanistan have suggested that Turkey is a perfect example, a model for a majority Islamic state but a secular state. Do you believe... In other words, people were concerned about what might happen in Iraq or Iran or Saudi Arabia even. They all point toward Turkey as a model. Do you that your country and the way you operate is transferable to other countries, Islamic countries?
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BULENT ECEVIT: Although we dealt decisively with all terrorist organizations, we at the same time not only maintained, preserved our democracy, but kept improving it. We have in the last two years, we have passed 350 legislation in the parliament, most of which deal with democratization, human rights, and of course, economy. And while we fought against terrorism, we at the same-- our anti-secular forces-- we at the same time took care that we should abide, we should continue to abide democracy and human rights. And it is essential that in fighting terrorism, sacrifices should not be made on democracy. JIM LEHRER: Finally, Mr. Prime Minister, I read about the desire of Turkey to have a better economic relationship with the United States, particularly on some tariff relief on steel and other things, and my understanding is that you came up empty handed on this trip, is that correct?
JIM LEHRER: So you do not leave here disappointed, you leave here happy with... BULENT ECEVIT: No, I believe in the good will of the United States' administration. JIM LEHRER: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much. BULENT ECEVIT: Thank you. It has been a pleasure meeting you. |
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SPENCER
MICHELS: Within days of the September 11 attacks, U.S. fighter jets
at Incirlik Air Force Base, in southeastern Turkey, went on high alert.
The Turkish military also placed its units on alert, just one sign that
this strategically- placed country was siding with its long-time ally,
the United States. Since the war in Afghanistan began in October, more
than 4,000 military flights have passed through Turkish airspace, often
taking off from Incirlik. 
The
nation of 68 million people is 99.8 percent Muslim, but its government
has been rigorously secular since the founding of the modern Turkish
republic by Mustafa Kemal Atta Turk, in 1923. 
PRESIDENT
GEORGE W. BUSH: As a friend, you have been steadfast in your support
in the war against terror, and for that, my nation is very grateful.
We appreciate your leadership when it comes to foreign policy, and we
appreciate your leadership when it comes to economic policy. You and
your administration have made some very tough decisions, and the economy
is improving as a result of your leadership. 
BULENT
ECEVIT: Yes, much better than expected at the early stage. There was
expectations that the fights there, the operation there might be extended
for several months, even for several years. But within a few weeks it
ended, because obviously the Taliban wasn't a real force.
JIM
LEHRER: Well, now the United States apparently wants Turkey to kind
of run this new... The peacekeeping force eventually, right, and to
play a large role in the new... In rebuilding... 
BULENT
ECEVIT: It can be rebuilt if other countries with selfish interests
will not meddle, as has been done in the past. If politically Afghanistan
is left alone, Afghanistan people is left alone, they will mend their
own fences, they will form their own problems. But if too many countries,
as has been the case, interfere too much in the internal affairs, the
political situation of Afghanistan, then of course we can't hope satisfactory
results. But if we leave them alone, just satisfying ourselves with
social work, economic work and the building up of a national army, it
can make progress, hopefully within a short time. 
BULENT
ECEVIT: Well, I'm sure there are people of Turkish origin wouldn't want
to do that, but external forces would try to influence the situation
in Turkey. After all, we paid great prices because of the virtual partitioning
of Iraq. We missed at least $50 billion worth of incomes. And the separatist
terrorist organization, PKK, had easy access to Turkey to, inside Turkey.
JIM
LEHRER: Did you discuss this with President Bush or any other U.S. officials?
BULENT
ECEVIT: Certainly. We have proven, Turkey has proven that Islam can
be compatible with democracy, with modernity, and even with secularism,
so... But some Islamic countries had doubts about that. However, after
the tragic events of the 11th of September, several circles in other
Islamic countries began to think that after all the Turkish model should
be the model that they would take as an example themselves. It may take
some time, but I'm sure that a new feeling to that... In that regard
is becoming apparent in many Islamic countries-- not in all of them,
but most them. 
JIM
LEHRER: What do you say to critics who suggest that one of the ways
Turkey has been able to deal with potential problems from radical fundamentalist
Islamic groups is through rather harsh treatment of them, both in terms
of human rights violations and that sort of thing? 
BULENT
ECEVIT: No, I don't think so. On the contrary, the United States' Foreign
Office, State Department, issued a statement yesterday saying that our
strategic partner... America's strategic partnership in Turkey, which
is based particularly on security concerns and politics; in addition
to that, to supplement it, economic partnership also will be established,
and for that purpose a committee will be formed, the first meeting of
which will be held at the end of September, headed by Mr. Larson from
the American side. And this arrangement will take up all the economic
and trade relation problems between the two countries.