ID :
176558
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 17:31
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https://oananews.org//node/176558
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U.S. assistant state secretary says Turkey is part of NATO mission
WASHINGTON (A.A) - 19.04.2011 - U.S. assistant secretary of state said on Monday that Turkey was a part of the NATO's Libya mission.
Philip Gordon said, "as a part of the alliance and bilaterally we're in very close touch with the Turkish Government about aims and means, and Turkey is absolutely on board for this common mission at NATO."
"On the first part, I would note Turkey was one of the 28 allies and six partners that signed up to this very specific commitment that I outlined," Gordon told a press conference on NATO's Berlin ministerial.
Gordon said Turkey was also one of the 28 allies that agreed to enforce the no-fly zone, to enforce the arms embargo, and to carry out militarily the protecting civilian mission, including with common NATO assets that Turkey owned part of.
"And so let's just be clear, Turkey is a part of this mission, they embraced – indeed they were one of the strongest voices for NATO taking over the mission. And so as a part of the alliance and bilaterally we’re in very close touch with the Turkish Government about aims and means, and Turkey is absolutely on board for this common mission at NATO," he said.
Gordon said, "I refer back to what has come out of Doha and Berlin, and Turkey was a key part of all of that."
What was clear and what all of these governments had signed up to was the basic principle that Qadhafi needed to go, Gordon said.
Gordon said, "so any discussions that have been had – it is true that a couple of envoys from Tripoli have gone off and had discussions, and we understand that they are hearing the same thing everywhere they have gone, including Turkey."
"And so I think the line of the international community there is pretty clear. And look at the chair statement out of Doha, where it said that Qadhafi has lost all legitimacy and needs to leave power and leave the future of Libya up to an inclusive political process for the people of Libya," he said.
Gordon said, "the NATO governments, the 28 allies plus the six partners who were there, including Turkey, signed up to a statement that strongly endorsed those conclusions in Doha, and I think the United States was adequately clear as well, that Qadhafi needs to leave power."
"And I think that's what they hear from us. Any envoys or emissaries that have come out of Tripoli have heard just that in unison from the international community. And where Benghazi and the TNC (Transitional National Council) is concerned, the TNC has links to a number of countries – has been engaged in dialogue with a number of countries, including us. Secretary Clinton has twice met with Mahmoud Jibril, who's an important representative of the TNC. Mr. Jibril spoke to the Doha conference. He was in London at a number of side meetings with ministers. In Doha, he actually spoke to the assembled foreign ministers and presented his vision – the TNC's vision – of the future of Libya, and has received significant support. And Turkey has been a part of that process together with us and many others," Gordon also said.
Philip Gordon said, "as a part of the alliance and bilaterally we're in very close touch with the Turkish Government about aims and means, and Turkey is absolutely on board for this common mission at NATO."
"On the first part, I would note Turkey was one of the 28 allies and six partners that signed up to this very specific commitment that I outlined," Gordon told a press conference on NATO's Berlin ministerial.
Gordon said Turkey was also one of the 28 allies that agreed to enforce the no-fly zone, to enforce the arms embargo, and to carry out militarily the protecting civilian mission, including with common NATO assets that Turkey owned part of.
"And so let's just be clear, Turkey is a part of this mission, they embraced – indeed they were one of the strongest voices for NATO taking over the mission. And so as a part of the alliance and bilaterally we’re in very close touch with the Turkish Government about aims and means, and Turkey is absolutely on board for this common mission at NATO," he said.
Gordon said, "I refer back to what has come out of Doha and Berlin, and Turkey was a key part of all of that."
What was clear and what all of these governments had signed up to was the basic principle that Qadhafi needed to go, Gordon said.
Gordon said, "so any discussions that have been had – it is true that a couple of envoys from Tripoli have gone off and had discussions, and we understand that they are hearing the same thing everywhere they have gone, including Turkey."
"And so I think the line of the international community there is pretty clear. And look at the chair statement out of Doha, where it said that Qadhafi has lost all legitimacy and needs to leave power and leave the future of Libya up to an inclusive political process for the people of Libya," he said.
Gordon said, "the NATO governments, the 28 allies plus the six partners who were there, including Turkey, signed up to a statement that strongly endorsed those conclusions in Doha, and I think the United States was adequately clear as well, that Qadhafi needs to leave power."
"And I think that's what they hear from us. Any envoys or emissaries that have come out of Tripoli have heard just that in unison from the international community. And where Benghazi and the TNC (Transitional National Council) is concerned, the TNC has links to a number of countries – has been engaged in dialogue with a number of countries, including us. Secretary Clinton has twice met with Mahmoud Jibril, who's an important representative of the TNC. Mr. Jibril spoke to the Doha conference. He was in London at a number of side meetings with ministers. In Doha, he actually spoke to the assembled foreign ministers and presented his vision – the TNC's vision – of the future of Libya, and has received significant support. And Turkey has been a part of that process together with us and many others," Gordon also said.
