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1553229
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September 12, 1975 - Ford, Turkish Businessmen
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1553229
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document
title
September 12, 1975 - Ford, Turkish Businessmen
citationUrl
collections
Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
subjects
Greece
Cyprus
Turkey
Arms transfers
Legislation
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1553229
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12
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1975-09-12
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9
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1975
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day
12
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1975-09-12
month
9
year
1975
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1
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e6a06d4cc665da94
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6171
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Mr. Feyyaz Berker, President, Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen's Association
Mr. Necati Akcaglilar, Chairman, Tekfen Construction
and Installation Co , Inc.
Mr. Fuat Bezmen, Chairman of the Mensucat Santral,
Textile Industries Group
Mr. Fred Burla, Director, The Burla Group of
Companies
Mr. Muzaffer Gasioglu, Chairman of Gazioglu Trading
and Manufacturing Group
Mr. Jak Kamhi, Chairman of Profilo Holding Co., Inc.
Mr. Sahap S. Kocatopcu, President, Turkish Glass
Works Industry Group
Mr. Asim Kocabiyik, Chairman of Borusan Group of
Companies-Pipe and Steel Industry
Mr. Rahmi Koc, Vice Chairman, President of the Koc
Holding Co., Inc.
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE GUIDELINES, state 3/10/04
Mr. Arman Manukyan, President of Manukyan Brothers
Co.
Mr. Halit Narin, President, Turkish Confederation
of Employer Association
DATE 6/3/04
Mr. Melih Ozakat, Chairman of the BMC Group and
Ozakat Holding Co., Inc.
Mr. T. Gungor Uras, Secretary General, Turkish
Industrialists and Businessmen's Association
DECLASSIFIED
Mr. Altemur Kilic, Editor-Publisher - Former Press
E.O. 12958, SEC.
Counselor of Turkey in Washington
Mr. Vural Savas, Tercuman Newspaper
Mr. Robert Hartmann, Counsellor to the President
Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
Mr. Ron Nessen, Press Secretary to the President
A. Denis Clift, Senior Staff Member, National Security
Council
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
TOP
CLASSIFIED
KISSINGER
File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
SECRET/NODIS
-2-
DATE AND TIME:
Friday, September 12, 1975
11:00 - 11:20 a.m.
PLACE:
Cabinet Room, The White House
SUBJECT:
Turkish Arms Embargo
President: Please, won't you all sit down. We'll have the press photographers
in here for a couple of minutes.
(To Mr. Berker): I understand you went to the University of Michican,
although probably much more recently than I did.
Berker: Yes, Mr. President, I was the Class of 1948.
President: I was '35.
Berker: Well, we are very proud to have a President from Michigan.
President: (To press photographers) Good morning everybody. Are you all
spry this morning? We gave them quite a workout yesterday. It was beautiful
in New Hampshire, almost Indian Summer there.
Kilic: Mr. President, Mr. Berker is not only from the University of Michigan,
but in Turkey they think he even looks like you.
President: No, he's younger and more handsome.
(Press photographers leave)
President: At the outset, in the first place, I am very grateful that you are
all here. Secondly, I think it is appropriate that you are representing Turkey
and that your own strong views are being taken into consideration. It is
important that you are telling another side of the story on the embargo.
I am sure that you all know how I have felt from the beginning that the Congress
has been wrong on this issue. Secretary Kissinger and I have worked hard to
convince the Congress how much it has been in error. and how counterproductive
the aid cut-off has been. Americans cherish the relationship between Turkey
and the United States. It has been excellent, and I hope that this tragic problem
we currently face is only temporary, not permanent.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS
-3-
I assure you that this decision of the Congress is totally contrary to my
views, to those of Secretary Kissinger and to those of the great majority
of American people. I want to do what I can to get this road block eliminated.
Secondly, with that done, I want to rebuild the relationship of trust and mutual
effort between Turkey and the United States.
I am very unhappy about the development of the earthquake in Turkey. I
am sure that you know that I was in touch with your President and we made
an immediate offer of assistance, and that offer is far broader than what
we have been able to do thus far. We are awaiting word from your govern-
ment. It is my understanding that the latest estimate is some 3, 000 victims.
Berker: Yes.
President: We'll do what we can.
We had hoped to move the legislation out of the Rules Committee this week.
Unfortunately, the Chairman of that committee is adamantly opposed and
it is too late for action this week. The House will be back after the recess
next week and we hope to get a ruling by the Committee by Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday at the latest. The Chairman of the Committee is
difficult. However, I think we have the necessary votes in the committee
and a narrow margin in the House. I will be interested to know how you
have been received during your visit. Mr. Berker will you make a report?
Berker: With your permission, Mr. President. We have been welcomed
by each member of the Congress we have visited. They have been sympathetic.
We saw Brademas and Sarbanes and had a hearty talk. They both said that
if Turkey was able to show a solution, they would vote to restore aid. They
said that this is not an effort to disgrace Turkey but that there has been, in
their view, a breach of the US-Turkish Arms Agreement. We explained our
views. We said that the Turkish government and Turkish public opinion
cannot comprehend this U.S. action. We said we had acted legally in
Cyprus following the Greek coup -- as you know, your Under Secretary Sisco
and Foreign Secretary Callaghan were involved at the time. Mr. President,
Turkish public opinion deeply believes that a solution to Cyprus should come
soon. Our actions have been legal. We have been safeguarding the Turkish
minority in Cyprus. Now that we are talking, we believe that the Turkish
government and people will accept a fair solution. to the island.
As private citizens we cannot give assurances, but we believe in our hearts
a solution is possible. The differences have already been reduced to a very
narrow gap. We believe that the US-Turkish friendship we are trying to
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS
-4-
save after three decades of friendship must be saved. Our objective is
to bridge this friendship damaged by Congress. The Turkish army and
the Turkish people are proud; we can't yield under pressure. The members
of the Congress understand, but then they point out that the arms agreement
has not been obeyed and that this has implication for similar agreements the
United States has elsewhere in the world. We are not lawyers, but we
believe the second action on the island can be defended. Brademas says
that the first Turkish action was legal and that he has no problem with it but
that the second action was not. The second action, that of August 20, is
where Brademas places his legal position.
President: If I might interrupt, I have had many conversations with Brademas
and Sarbanes. They never start with July 15, with the assassination of
Makarios, the Greek effort to put in Sampson, the move to put in 700 Greek
forces in the Greek-Cypriot National Guard, they never talk about that.
The problem is that if we stay in the past saying who did this and who did
that, we will not be able to achieve a solution. Brademas and Sarbanes
concentrate on August 20. Others say July 15. If we just go back and forth
this way it will only be more difficult to find a solution. I have listened to
Paul Sarbanes and John Brademas. We are old friends from my days in
the House of Representatives -- I never agreed with them much, but we
are old friends. They keep saying that Turkey has to do something about
the refugees, that Turkey has to take that action and this action to do some-
thing to justify repeal. You are more familiar than I with the difficult political
situation in Turkey. We are familiar with the difficult situation in Greece.
We know that we can't expect movement in the negotiations until the embargo
is ended.
On one thing, I have put my reputation on the line. I have said that if we
get the embargo lifted it is mandatory that the government of Turkey make
the most forthcoming effort possible to settle the Cyprus problem. If we can't
get a settlement quickly, then the next time there is legislation -- and it is
coming up only two months from now -- the Congress will do the same thing
again. It is essential once the embargo is lifted that Denktash and Clerides
move quickly. We should not try to write the formula, that is for the parties
to do. But time is important.
Berker: We will take your words home, Mr. President, and convey your
views to our government and people. We will explain that the U.S. Congress
is not against Turkey, but that we are faced with a political problem. Our
delegation is also hoping to make a trip to Greece as soon as the opportunity
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS
-5-
is available. We think that dealing as businessmen we have greater
flexibility. We will carry the flag of friendship to Greece. We are even
looking forward to joint ventures. We are proud and grateful for your
stand. We will keep this moment in our hearts for our lifetimes.
President: Thank you. I think it is good that you are planning to go to
Greece. We are apprehensive that if the problem goes on a bad political
situation may develop in Greece. This would not be in the interests of
NATO or US-Turkish interests.
I want to come back to one essential point. I had two fine talks with
Prime Minister Demirel. He wants to be helpful, but I understand his
political problem. He can't do it unless public opinion supports him.
He has to have the backing of leaders such as you. Time is of the essence.
If it drags on, Brademas and Sarbanes will say, we told you so, we'll
have a replay of the entire problem. If I can leave one message, it is to
get a settlement once the American embargo has been lifted.
Berker: Time is important. We'll tell this, Mr. President, to our
government, and we will make sure our public knows your words.
President: I hate to run. As you may know, I'm heading off for St. Louis
and other places today. I want to thank you all again for coming.
Turkish Delegation: Thank you, Mr. President.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
6171
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET/NODIS
ACTION
September 12, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SCOW CROFT
Mr. kex Clift
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Memorandum of Conversation: President's
September 12 Meeting with Turkish Businessmen
The memorandum of conversation at Tab I is forwarded for your
review, approval and inclusion in the President's files.
RECOMMENDATION
That you approve the memorandum of conversation at Tab I.
APPROVE B
DISAPPROVE
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
NSC MEMO, 11/24/96, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
BY, Labs
, NARA. DATE 6/3/04
K
DOC
RECD
NBR
INITIAL ACTION o
NSC CORRESPONDENCE PROFILE
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9
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9
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7506171
REFERENCE:
CIRCLE AS APPROPRIATE
CLIFT
TO: PRES
FROM: KISSINGER,
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UNCLAS LOG IN/OUT
SOURCE/CLASS/DESCRIPTION
KISSINGER
COLBY, W
OTHER
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NO FORN
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SCOWCROFT X
SCHLESINGER, J
C
EYES ONLY EXDIS
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CODEWORD
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SUBJECT: Memcon of Pres mtg w/ Turkish Businessmer
Sept 12 1975
INTERNAL ROUTING AND DISTRIBUTION
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OCEANS POLICY
INTELLIGENCE
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approve memcon
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SUBSEQUENT ROUTING/ACTIONS
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