|
Powell flies to Turkey in bid to repair relations
COLIN POWELL, the US Secretary of State, arrived in Turkey last night to salvage Washingtonâs relationship with Ankara before heading to Europe on a similar diplomatic repair mission. After weeks of criticism that We have ambassadors for that. British sources said that the most important element of the tour was that he would be talking to his French, German and other European "Karl!" "Yes, Mr. President." "Has the tech support person checked out the line for the personal telephone Mr. Chirac uses to reach me?" "Yes, Mr. President, apparently it's still down." "Good." "Shall I file that work order now?" "Not yet, Karl, I rather enjoy the peace and quiet." Americaâs closest allies â Britain, Spain, Italy and Denmark â want Washington to try to repair the rift with France and Germany and help to reunify the European Union. "And all the King's horses, and all the King's men ..." Although General Powell will be in Turkey for only one day, his arrival has been interpreted as a gesture of reconciliation. âPowellâs visit will be a turning point in overcoming the deadlock in US-Turkish relations,â the Turkish daily Radikal said. "Marvin, take notes." "Yes, Mr. Secretary." Diplomats in Ankara doubted that the Secretary of State would attempt to win any concrete concessions from the Turks, who last month refused to allow US forces to go through the country to open a second front in northern Iraq. As a result, the newly elected Government, headed by the Justice and Development Party, forfeited as much as £20 billion in US loans. "Marvin, you have the papers on that aid package we offered before?" "Right here, Mr. Secretary." "Make sure our friends in Ankara never see them again." "In the shredder, Mr. Secretary." Turkey even threatened to send troops into Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. It eventually backed down and 1,000 US paratroopers landed in the area at the weekend to pacify the region. More US forces are expected to arrive by air. âThere are bruises on both sides, but there is no need for long-term damage to the relationship if it is handled properly,â one Western diplomat in Ankara said. âThe Turks are very keen to have relations back where they were before.â "Marvin, you have the dinner menu planned with the Turkish Foreign Minister." "Yes, Mr. Secretary, vin d'crow, highly seasoned." "Make sure we serve it cold, Marvin." "It will be properly chilled, Mr. Secretary." General Powell will stop off in Belgrade after Ankara, before going to Brussels to meet foreign ministers from the "Do you have my talking points on the matter of EU participation in Iraq after liberation day, Marvin?" "Here, Mr. Secretary." "And the proper translations of the phrase 'drop dead'?" "In French, German, Russian, and Belgian, Mr. Secretary." "Make sure the Polish and Bulgarian ministers receive their invitations to the Iraq Reconstruction Conference, Marvin." "Engraved and ready, sir." A spokesman for the Greek Government, which holds the EU presidency, said: âWe are not opposed to these meetings, but it would have been good if Powell had taken such initiatives before the start of the war "Marvin, do we have anything for the Greeks?" "Nothing, Mr. Secretary." "Excellent. You've done well, Marvin." "Thank you, sir." Posted by: Steve White 2003-04-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=12304 |