Archive of Press Releases and Official Statements

Ambassador Pearson's Remarks to the Turkish Media Outside the Consul General's Residence

Bebek, Istanbul
January 14, 2003

This was a lunch that I had requested because I wanted to have a chance to listen to the views of Turkish businessmen in Istanbul and who do business around the country and who do business internationally. I have had a number of talks with Turks in Ankara and other places around the country as well. So it was a very good opportunity for me, and I heard lots of ideas today.

For me personally, one of the most important things to work on are trade issues. We have agreed that trade between Turkey and the United States is too low, and these business people are in a prime position to help us to increase trade. I mentioned that I have written to about 50 U.S. textile companies last week to ask them to consider partnerships with Turkish companies, and we are also writing to U.S. companies in the fields of telecommunications, food processing and others. This is a concept that has worked very well in the construction industry, where we have Turkish and American partnerships that are, for example, building the American Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. We think if it works well in the construction industry, it ought to work well in other sectors. That was one of the things I talked about.

QIZs I discussed because they offer a real opportunity for new and established industries in Turkey to work with Americans to get new markets in the U.S. We agreed to look at other avenues so that we could together increase American investment in Turkey, and increase Turkish-American trade. That was it.

Q: Did you touch upon the issues of compensation for the Turkish loss during a possible war with Iraq?
A: Well, I told them that when Mr. Taylor and Mr. Grossman were here, we had presented to the Turkish government an idea, and that we had left to the Turkish government the decision on important segments of that issue. In other words, how much might be a credit and how much might be some other facility when it might be used, and what the terms might be. I explained to them that those are the discussions we are having with the Turkish government. With these gentlemen I wanted to concentrate on trade and other economic opportunities. But I did discuss it.

Q: What was your main request from the businessmen?
A: Just advice and help, because they understand the country; they understand the potential. The Turkish economy did well last year. Inflation is going down, interest rates continue to go down. The economic reform program is working. So I think the chance for Turkey to take advantage of this situation is there. And that is what we discussed: how to help the U.S. and Turkey work together to take advantage of this good trend.

Q: …….a support package after the operation?
A: That is what I just answered, this gentleman's question. I briefed in general terms on the fact that we had prepared a package. We looked at the analyses of investment houses in Istanbul and New York and in London about the Turkish economy. We prepared a package that is suitable to the range of impact that those houses gave us and that is what we offered to the Turkish government for consideration and that is what we are still discussing.

Q: Turkish businessmen have criticized the Government that they are taking very slow steps toward the possible Iraqi operation. Do you agree that the Turkish businessmen…?
A: I said on Friday that I am confident that we will be able to work out satisfactory answers to all the questions that exist. There is no crisis in the relationship. I had a very good talk with the Prime Minister on Friday night. I had a chance to get a briefing from the Foreign Ministry yesterday afternoon, as you know. We are satisfied that we are making progress in reaching mutually acceptable answers. Thank you very much.