U.S.-Turkey Joint Statement on Intensifying Regional Cooperation

In a meeting of the Economic Partnership Commission in Washington on December 2, the United States and Turkey reviewed the success of their cooperation and business partnerships in Afghanistan and Central Asia and discussed current and future cooperation to promote stability and economic development in Iraq. Construction of the almost complete Kabul-Kandahar road in Afghanistan by Turkish firms is a prime example of this close and successful cooperation. The United States and Turkey share the goal of increasing their economic cooperation in Central Asia and Afghanistan to promote freer trade and development in the region.

Turkey is already making a significant contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq, including through the supply of electricity, petroleum products and humanitarian assistance. The United States and Turkey agreed to discuss improved transportation links between Turkey and Iraq, the possible provision of additional electrical power to Iraq from Turkey, and an enhanced role for Turkish firms in rebuilding Iraq. In January 2004, the U.S. Department of Commerce will host a series of conferences on Iraq reconstruction in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

The United States and Turkey agreed to build on recent visits by Iraqi officials to Ankara to streamline border-crossing operations and to secure the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline. The achievements from U.S.-Turkey cooperation in Afghanistan and Central Asia provide the model for future success in reconstructing Iraq.

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