His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Gül

On Turkey’s Role in the International Community: “On the foreign policy front...there is now almost no hot issue on the global agenda in which Turkey is not playing a visible role. Indeed, from Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan to Somalia, from Iran to the Arab Spring, and from our efforts to promote sustainable development to dialogue among civilizations, Turkey is making critical contributions to the most important issues facing [the] international community.”

On Turkey’s Increasing Global Assertiveness: “Turkey’s axis remains constant since it has long depended on the values we share with the free world. However, we have become more assertive in our actions aimed at bringing more stability and welfare to the broader region we live in. This assertiveness has also become evident in our accent, stressing more freedom, democracy, and accountability—not only for ourselves, but also for other nations.”

On Turkey’s Support for the Arab Spring: “As far as the Arab Spring is concerned, Turkey has been the most ardent supporter of this historic transformation process from the outset. Why? Because, every step toward democracy will make these countries more reliable partners of the international community while meeting the legitimate expectations of their own people.”

On Turkey and the Syrian Revolution: “For its part, Turkey is doing all it can to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Among others, we are now hosting close to twenty-five thousand Syrians who fled from the regime’s campaign of violence in the country. We are also in constant touch with the opposition represented by the Syrian National Council and encourage them to put forward a vision for a new Syria that will encompass every citizen in the country and fully ensure their rights." 

On the United States’ and Turkey’s Cooperation in Afghanistan: “The cooperation between Turkey and the United States is particularly important and noteworthy. Not only do our two countries have the necessary means to help maintain security in Afghanistan mainly by training the Afghan security forces, but we also have a crucial role to play in the national reconciliation efforts. Ultimately, the future of Afghanistan lies in the hands of its own people, and the key is to solve their internal differences and pave the way for an all-inclusive political process. Turkey and the U.S. are among the few countries that can support such an Afghan-led process.”

On Turkey and Missile Defense: “For Turkey, commitment to NATO and solidarity with our allies has never been in question. We fully appreciate the role of our alliance in the collective defense and security of its members. And we are resolved to do everything possible to contribute to its capabilities and programs. This is why we agreed to host a radar system on the Turkish soil which is the most crucial part of…NATO’s missile defense system, whose concept was approved at our last summit in Lisbon. We see the missile defense system as a vital collective capability of the alliance, which is well justified in the light of the current international security environment. It is by no means an aggressive or offensive move aimed at any specific country. On the contrary, it is a defensive measure designed to protect the people and territories of the alliance members."