Rice comments on U.S.-Turkish relations

Today Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed an audience at the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, expressing a desire for cooperation between the two governments. Rice assured her audience that the U.S. is developing a strategy to suppress the guerrilla organization PKK, or Kurdistan Worker’s Party. Rice also mentioned Turkey’s strategic location for oil transfer and the importance of investing in renewable energy, and said that the U.S. continues to support Turkey’s candidacy for membership in the European Union. Stressing the importance of an open democratic government and society, Rice said that the U.S. also supports amending Article 301 of the Turkish penal code that condemns criticism of the government.

When asked by an audience member about her perception of the recent NATO summit at Bucharest that she attended, Rice said that it was a great success with real conversation and progress and demonstrated that the Taliban in Afghanistan fears NATO. She also applauded the admission of new members despite controversy over enlargement of the treaty.

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NATO wants to work with the Russian government, not against it

Kurt Volker, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to NATO, says missile protection program desires to work with the Russian government, not against it. (0:30)
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UK shadow secretary says Lisbon Treaty could compromise NATO's primacy

Liam Fox, shadow secretary of state for defense in the United Kingdom, says the Lisbon Treaty could compromise NATO's primacy and international security; he also says that most European Union NATO members have not significantly contributed to operations. (0:45)
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Heritage Foundation speakers say NATO is crucial to international security

The Heritage Foundation hosted a discussion entitled "Post Bucharest: NATO and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance" to discuss the recent developments of the treaty agreement in light of last week's Bucharest summit.

Liam Fox, shadow secretary of state for defense in the United Kingdom, outlined the British conservative party's vision for NATO, which consisted of a unification and reinforcement of the treaty and more equal contributions from all members. Fox criticized the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, which he called a virtually renamed version of the previously rejected European Constitution, as well as talk of a potential EU pillar within NATO on the grounds that both threaten to undermine NATO's primacy and thus international security. He also refuted claims that NATO was no longer necessary in the post-Cold War world by stating the world is involved in a larger global network with shared interests and proliferating threats.

Kurt Volker, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to NATO, summarized the U.S. government's perspective of the Bucharest summit and its vision for NATO. Volker, like Fox, called for greater European investment in defense. He confirmed that NATO is prepared to accept Macedonia as a member as soon as it changes its unpopular name. He also emphasized that NATO desires to work in conjunction with Russia, not against it.

Both Fox and Volker called for an elimination of the gap between those who fight and those who fund NATO missions, emphasizing that NATO's success depends upon the cooperative efforts of all its members.

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