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1553081
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May 16, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, Turkish Ambassador Melih Eisenbel
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1553081
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document
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May 16, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, Turkish Ambassador Melih Eisenbel
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Turkey
Arms transfers
Legislation
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1975-05-16
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5
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1975
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16
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1975-05-16
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5
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Ed
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Gerald Ford
Melih Esenbel, Ambassador of the Republic of
Turkey
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
and Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Friday - May 16, 1975
10:00 a.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
FORD
The White House
a
GERALD
LIBHARY
Esenbel: I have been away for five months.
Kissinger: He was Foreign Minister during the caretaker government,
Mr. President.
[The press came in. Photos were taken, and the press went out. ]
Esenbel: I have pictures of three Presidents -- Johnson, Eisenhower and
Nixon. I would like your picture in my Embassy.
The President: I would be delighted.
GUIDELINES,
B.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NARA, DATE 5/14/04
Esenbel: I had a session with President Koruturk before I left. He said
how much he appreciated your intervention in the face of Congressional
opposition. Koruturk said, "I consider him one of those American Presi-
dents who bases his action on principle -- like Truman." We like a friend
DECLASSIFIED
NSC 11/24/08, STATE DEPT.
who stands on principle so we know who will stand by us in case of difficulty.
The President: I feel strongly about this. I think Congress was wrong and
I will stand by you so long as I am here.
CLASSIFIED BY Henry A. Kissinger
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
BY.
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
REMISSION CATEGORY 5 (B) (1,3)
AUTOMITICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to determine
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
2
Esenbel: He is distressed about how Turkish public opinion took the
action that was taken against us. This act is seen as unacceptable to us.
Even sales of arms we paid for were stopped.
There is much pressure in Turkey -- people saying we are a great nation,
we have been humiliated and we must do something. I had to do some
criticizing of you to relieve the pressure, but I did my best to contain it.
The most important aspect was the man in the street is beginning to
doubt the credibility of the United States. That is very bad. I have been
explaining to the leaders of both parties these feelings.
The present government is moderate. Demirel I know well. No one
wants to take action against the United States. We are being pushed into
that corner. We have to find a way out.
The President: I met yesterday with Senator Mansfield. They think they
can get the bill through the Senate on Monday. My people are working on
the doubtful ones and I will call them up as necessary. Hopefully we will
have it through the Senate Monday.
Esenbel: That is very good news. And the House?
The President: That will after the recess.
Kissinger: The President will be meeting in Brussels with Demirel.
Esenbel: I will be there too.
The most important thing is to restore our good relations. Cyprus is not
the problem. Cyprus can be solved -- but not with artificial deadlines.
Kissinger: The February 5 deadline was a disaster. The Greeks wouldn't
give because that would avoid an arms ban; the Turks wouldn't give in
because it would appear as yielding under pressure.
Esenbel: I know that if this thing is relieved, Demirel will make a big
effort to be flexible. But he wants to be able to say the Turkish-American
relationship is not in trouble.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
GERALD A FORD
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
3
The President: That is why we want this legislation through the Senate -- - -
with as big as vote as possible. Then, after the recess and our talks in
Brussels, we can get the House to act.
Esenbel: Yes, it would be very helpful.
[The meeting ended. ]
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
2
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GERALD
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NARA DATE 5/14/04
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