USA: GREECE AND TURKEY VIE FOR U.S. SUPPORT AFTER ATHENS' REJECTION OF ANKARA'S CALL FOR MEDIATED TALKS
Record ID:
639764
USA: GREECE AND TURKEY VIE FOR U.S. SUPPORT AFTER ATHENS' REJECTION OF ANKARA'S CALL FOR MEDIATED TALKS
- Title: USA: GREECE AND TURKEY VIE FOR U.S. SUPPORT AFTER ATHENS' REJECTION OF ANKARA'S CALL FOR MEDIATED TALKS
- Date: 28th March 1996
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 28, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT APOSTOLIS KAKLAMANIS WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NEWT GINGRICH AT PHOTOCALL 0.06 2. MV: KAKLAMANIS SAYING GREECE WAS ASKING EUROPE AND THE U.S. TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTIVE INTEREST IN PEACE IN THE REGION/ AND SPECIFICALLY FOR SUBSTANTIAL AND NOT NEUTRAL SUPPORT SO THAT THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND (GREEK WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION) 0.35 3. GV: MEDIA 0.39 4. MCU: GINGRICH SAYING OBVIOUSLY THE U.S. HAS VERY CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS WITH BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY BUT THAT IT ALSO HAS A VERY DEEP COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING SOVEREIGNTY IN THE REGION (ENGLISH) 0.55 5. GV: TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE 1.09 6. GV: DEMIREL MEETING SPEAKER GINGRICH (3 SHOTS) 1.24 7. MV: DEMIREL SPEAKING ABOUT THE LONG STANDING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY (ENGLISH) 2.06 8. MV: GINGRICH SPEAKING ABOUT PROVIDING MORE SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM (ENGLISH) 2.22 TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 2: TRANSLATION: "THAT'S WHY GREECE ADDRESSES EUROPE AND THE U.S. WHICH HAVE SHOWN AN ACT OF INTEREST IN THE SPIRIT OF PEACE IN THE AERA. SO THAT WITH THEIR SUBSTANTIAL....NOT NEUTRAL STANCE ON THESE ISSUES THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 4: GINGRICH: "I'M GOING TO TRY AND WORK WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO FIND A WAY. WE HAVE VERY CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS WITH BOTH GREECE AND TURKEY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A VERY DEEP COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING SOVEREIGNTY IN THE REGION AND SAFETY IN THE REGION." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 7: DEMIREL: "TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD ALLIES AND THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER. THE LOYALTY TO EACH OTHER IS PROVEN. NOW THE CONDITIONS OF THE WORLD CHANGED. UNDER THE NEW CONDITIONS I BELIEVE THIS FRIENDSHIP HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 8: GINGRICH: "WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THE GREAT CHALLENGES THAT TERRORISTS POSE ACROSS THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. I THINK WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE ON THE ISSUE OF FIGHTING TERRORISM AND WORK WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF MORE SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 12th April 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA4QQF9AY6D869CIW4KL7ABEM6A
- Story Text: INTRO: Greece and Turkey vied for U.S. support on Thursday just days after Athens rejected Ankara's call for mediated talks.
The two nations came close to war in January over territorial issues but a clash was averted through last minute U.S. brokering.
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Greece and Turkey each sought United States (U.S.)support on Thursday (March 28) just two days after Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis turned down an invitation by his Turkish counterpart to discuss a series of disputes that brought the two nations to the brink of war last January.
President of the Greek Parliament Apostolis Kaklamanis and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel met U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in Washington within hours of each other, each pressing for heightened U.S. support.
Demirel, set to meet with President Bill Clinton on Friday, also had a closed-door meeting with Republican Presidential frontrunner Bob Dole.
The U.S. has indicated it would act as mediator in any negotiations between the feuding NATO allies if asked.
Gingrich told reporters during a photocall with Kaklamanis, "We obviously have very close friendships with both Greece and Turkey but we also have a very deep commitment to maintaining sovereignity in the region -- so we want to frankly work in a way to be able to reach a goal that is fair to both sides but at the same time recognises the importance of preserving sovereignity and safety in the region." Later, at his meeting with Gingrich, President Demirel said he hoped his three-day visit to Washington would strengthen ties between his nation and the United States.
"Turkey and the United States have been good allies. They have confidence in each other. It's a very old friendship," Demirel told reporters at the meeting at the U.S. Capitol.
Gingrich called for expanded trade with Turkey and added, "I think we should be more supportive in the fight against terrorism." Demirel will meet President Bill Clinton at the White House on Friday. Clinton's wife Hillary and their daughter Chelsea ended a three-day visit to Turkey on Thursday as part of an eight-day European trip which includes Greece.
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